Rydal Water

At only ¾ mile long, ⅓ mile wide and 55ft deep, Rydal Water is one of the smallest bodies of water in the Lake District. It is nestled in the Rothay Valley between Ambleside and Grasmere not far from the hamlet of Rydal. The lake is supplied and drained by the River Rothay, which flows upstream from Grasmere and downstream towards Windermere. 

It is still popular with the public due to its connections to Wordsworth; at the western end of the lake there are steps leading up to Wordsworth’s Seat, heralded as William’s favourite viewpoint. 

One of the most famed walks around Rydal is the loop which includes two of Wordsworth’s homes, Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount. It also passes Rydal Cave. Overlooking the lake is Nab Cottage, residence of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s son, Hartley Coleridge, and Thomas Quincey. 

The waters in the southern section of the lake are leased by Lowther Estate to the National Trust, whilst those of the northern half belong to the estate of Rydal Hall. 

From the lake’s edge you can access Rydal Hall which has pretty gardens open to the public. There are also privately owned luxury glamping huts available to rent nearby.