A Ramble in Ambleside

Elterwater & Rydal Mount

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Walk 6.5 hrs (17km)

Total Ascent 700 m

Highest Point 331 m

Welcome to this Signature Hike

With this awesome Signature Hike guide you’ve got all the best tips on what to see and where to go in Ambleside and the surrounding area, you won’t waste any time getting out there. We’ve included only the very best recommendations, with the help of some real insider knowledge from our local legends.

Read the infomation below to learn more about your walk before you head off.

Ready to walk?

Be sure to download your PDF guide for the walk and make sure you have the OS maps app downloaded.

Or email yourself the guide:

Before you start

Here’s 3 important things you need to know before you head off:

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Save This Guide

Save the PDF guide on your device that you’re going to use on the walk. (This contains all the handy information, from how to get there, points of interest and pubs, taxis etc).

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Download OS Map App

This is how you will navigate your way around the route. The link for the route is in this guide and will take you to the OS Maps app.

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Click here for Android

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Battery

Make sure you have plenty of battery. We hope you have a great walk.

The Curator Henry Machin

Meet the Curator

Henry is a Mountain Leader who splits his time between the UK and the Spanish Pyrenees. Happiest when exploring some corner of forgotten countryside, he’s passionate about landscape history and wildlife conservation. From Devon originally, Ambleside and the Lakes are an exciting change for him and he loves going up there when he can.

“I love that this hike takes you from London in less than 4 hours and throws you right up into the heart of the Lake District. Ambleside is in the middle of the Lake District National Park and it feels like the perfect place to explore from. Once a market centre of the wool trade, the town is now a buzzing hub for all sorts of adventure activities and rich Lakeland culture. Walking, surrounded by high fells, shimmering lakes, deep wooded valleys and rushing rivers, you feel blissfully far from anywhere here – this was the home of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth and it’s easy to see how this immense landscape can inspire. If you’re new to the Lake District this walk really gives you a sense of why it’s such a special place and if it’s not your first time, this is a great new corner, well worth exploring.”

Adventure Summary

Ambleside, Cumbria

This hike circles Loughrigg Fell, the great hill (fell is an Old Norse word for mountain) that sits above Ambleside, taking in the summit and its spectacular views over some of the Lake District’s highest peaks and most beautiful lakes. The route climbs and dips its way over rough farmland and high, open fell land, before dropping down to Skelwith Bridge in good time for a morning coffee. Winding your way along the bank of the River Brathay, passing both the Skelwith Force waterfall and the small and peaceful Elterwater, you reach the charming stone village of Elterwater, where there’s a good pub, before climbing onto Loughrigg Fell once again and dropping into the shady woodland on its northern slopes.

The steep climb up to Loughrigg’s summit is rewarded by the views when you reach it, and from here it’s all downhill. The descent takes you past the mystical-feeling Rydal cave, into the luscious, wooded river valley once lived in by Wordsworth, where a well-earned pit-stop at the Badger Bar pub in Rydal puts you on the home straight: a gentle walk along the river, back to Ambleside.

Hike Highlights

Spectacular views

Climb to the top of Loughrigg Fell and earn a spectacular view across the Lake District.

Two outstanding pubs!

The Britannia Inn is the perfect stop before the peak. Then reward yourself at Badger Bar after Rydal Cave.

Rydal Cave

Rydal Cave is a man-made cavern with stunning rock formations and a serene, reflective pond.

Train

Trains from London Euston usually require one change at Oxenholme Lake District or Lancaster. The bus from Windermere to Ambleside departs from the train station and takes 15 minutes. The 599 bus goes about every 20 minutes during the day. The 555 and 516 also cover the route but more infrequently. A taxi from the train station to Ambleside costs about £16.

By Car

Ambleside is a 5 hour drive from central London. Rydal Road Car Park (LA22 9AY) is the most central long-stay car park. It can be busy in peak season.

Sometimes, we can get so caught up in reaching our destination that we forget to take in our surroundings. When in fact, some of the best moments on a walk are the ones spent not walking. It is not until you stop and look a little closer, that you truly see the magic of where you are.
Our hikes are not about how fast you walk, but about how much you take in. We share these beautiful trails with an abundance of wildlife and there’s always something to marvel at – so long as you take the time to look around.

Badgers are in more than just the name of this traditional cosy pub – most nights they come to feed under the trees at the back of the pub and they even have a live, online ‘Badgercam’ set up in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, with which you can keep track of their visits. The Badger Bar is part of the Glen Rothay Hotel, a very interesting building with parts dating from the 17th century – the wood-panelled dining room off the bar is the earliest part. Delicate, gothic windows and much else were added in the 19th century and even later additions make for a remarkably higgledy-piggledy building and a great pub!

Points of interest

Places to enjoy along the route

AMBLESIDE

Ambleside boasts a rich history and a vibrant community. Dating back to Roman times, Ambleside was once a vital Roman fort known as Galava. Today, remnants of this fort can still be explored near the northern shores of Lake Windermere. The town itself is a maze of charming, narrow streets lined with traditional stone cottages, cozy cafes, and local shops. In the 19th century, Ambleside became a popular destination for artists, writers, and poets, drawn by its inspiring landscapes. This artistic heritage is evident in the numerous galleries and literary connections found throughout the town. Notably, the Armitt Museum houses a collection of works by Beatrix Potter, who lived nearby and contributed significantly to the area's conservation.

ELTERWATER

Elterwater, a village steeped in history, was historically centered around farming and quarrying. Its name, derived from the Norse words for "swan lake," reflects its ancient roots and the tranquil body of water nearby. In the 19th century, Elterwater thrived with slate quarrying, which significantly shaped its development and architecture. The remnants of this industrial heritage, including old quarry sites and traditional stone buildings, can still be seen today, offering a glimpse into the village's industrious past amidst its natural beauty.

LOUGHRIGG FELL

The summit of Loughrigg Fell has magnificent views over much of the Lake District. To the south Lake Windermere, England’s largest and most iconic lake, stretches out before you. Closer and to the south-west is Elterwater, fringed by woodland and thick reed beds. To the west is the mouth of the Great Langdale Valley (Langdale means long valley in Old Norse) where, on the horizon, stand some of the tallest and most iconic peaks in the Lake District including the pyramid-shaped Bowfell at the head of the valley and the craggy Langdale Pikes on its northern flank. To the north you look out over the lake of Grasmere – set in a saddle of green meadows, suspended by the surrounding fells. Beyond Grasmere to the north-west, the Helvellyn Range dominates the skyline.

RYDAL CAVE

This huge and mystical-feeling cave on the northern slopes of Loughrigg Fell is actually a mark of the landscape’s human history – an abandoned 19th century slate quarry cut into an impressive rocky outcrop. The quarry provided roofing slate to the local villages – an example of which can be seen on Ambleside’s Bridge House.

RYDAL MOUNT

The home of William Wordsworth from 1813 until the poet’s death in 1850. Wordsworth spent the greater part of his life living with his family at Rydal Mount, working alongside his often-underappreciated sister, the diarist and poet, Dorothy Wordsworth.Dorothy Wordsworth, whose portrait sits above a fireplace in the house, wrote vivid and poetic accounts of her walks including an early ascent of Scafell Pike (the highest peak in the Lake District) which she climbed in 1818. She worked closely with her brother and he often incorporated her then unpublished writing into his own work. It’s worth booking an excellent guided tour of Rydal Mount. Open during the on-season Saturday-Thursday, 10.30am-4pm.

The insiders guide to

Ambleside

🍽️ EAT

The Old Stamp House

Bellis Cafe & Bistro

🍺 DRINK

The Britannia Inn

The Badger Bar

🛏️ SLEEP

Waterwheel Guesthouse

The Glen Rothay Hotel

📍 DO

Armitt Museum and Library

Wordsworth Grasmere

Ambleside Climbing Wall

Windermere Lake Cruise

🚶WALKS

Stockghyll Force Waterfall (40mins)

Jenkin Crag (1hr)

Rydal Water Circle (3.5hrs)

What’s Next?

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A Ramble in Ambleside, Cumbria ⏱️ 6.5hrs