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Historic building
Bridge House
17th-century house built over Stock Beck in the middle of Ambleside, now owned by the National Trust.
A mini guide to
Ambleside & Grasmere
A walking town at the head of Windermere and Wordsworth's village, linked along the Rothay valley
Photos
1 / 9Welcome to the area
A walking town at the head of Windermere and Wordsworth's village, linked along the Rothay valley
Ambleside lies at the head of Windermere, a mile inland from the lake at Waterhead. The National Park Authority describes it as a town of outdoor shops, bookshops, cafés, restaurants and a movie theater, and the start and end of many classic walks. It has the remains of a Roman fort at Waterhead and Bridge House, a 17th-century house built over Stock Beck.
Rydal Water and Grasmere lie to the north-west along the Rothay valley, and the Grasmere Trail links Ambleside and Grasmere for walkers and cyclists. William Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage and Allan Bank in Grasmere and later at Rydal Mount, and is buried at St Oswald's Church. Grasmere is also known for its gingerbread.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Waterfall
Stock Ghyll Force
Waterfall on Stock Ghyll, the stream that runs from Red Screes through Ambleside to the River Rothay.
Museum
Armitt Museum and Library
Museum, gallery and library on Rydal Road; its website features Beatrix Potter material.
Directions Website Report a problem with Armitt Museum and Library
Roman site
Ambleside Roman Fort
Remains of a Roman fort at Waterhead, dating from the 1st or 2nd century AD.
Lake pier
Waterhead
Bay a mile south of Ambleside where Windermere boats call, with boat rental and cafés.
Writer's house
Rydal Mount
Home of William Wordsworth from 1813 until his death in 1850, now a writer's house museum.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Ambleside & Grasmere and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk the Grasmere Trail
The trail links Ambleside and Grasmere along the shores of Rydal Water and Grasmere and can be walked or cycled.
2
Easy-access routes
The National Park Authority lists four Miles without Stiles routes around Grasmere and Rydal, including White Moss Common, Grasmere Jubilee and the Loughrigg Tarn circuit.
3
Swim with care
Grasmere has no motor boats and Rydal Water is popular with wild swimmers. The Authority publishes a Swim Safe code; read it before getting in.
4
Daffodils at Dora's Field
Dora's Field beside Rydal church is covered in daffodils in springtime, according to the National Park Authority.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Ambleside & Grasmere (area photo): Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bridge House: Oscar Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stock Ghyll Force: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ambleside Roman Fort: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Waterhead: James Harrison, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rydal Mount: RachelRodgers, CC BY 3.0, source
- Dora's Field: Jennifer Petrie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rydal Water: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rydal Cave: Oscar Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Loughrigg Terrace: Ian Greig, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dove Cottage: Sourav Niyogi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- St Oswald's Church: Brian Clift, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Grasmere Gingerbread: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Allan Bank: Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Grasmere: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keswick & Derwentwater: Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ullswater & Pooley Bridge: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coniston & Hawkshead: Martin Jeffries, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wasdale & Eskdale: John260660, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Windermere & Bowness: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Lake District