The first outing for this October's selection of Autumn Walks is a classic circular route from the historic village of Rydal in the central Lake District.
Fascinating geology and mountain formation processes that shaped the postglacial Landscape that can be enjoyed around the area date back as far as hundreds of millions of years. In more recent history, Rydal has become synonymous with the famous Lakeland Poets - William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.
Rydal Water is the shallowest and one of the smallest Lakes in the National Park. Together with neighbouring Grasmere and the River Rothay, the bodies of water and surrounding deciduous woodland provide a wonderful habitat for a diverse range of different wildlife species. It is a wonderful place to visit in autumn with vivid colours and an atmospheric feel.​​​
​
The overall distance is 10.5 kilometres, or around 7 miles, and the walk is expected to take 6 to 7 hours at a gentle pace. Good mobility and a reasonable level of fitness is required to take part in this walk.
This activity will begin at Rydal Hall, a Grade II listed stately home built in the 1600's that has extensive gardens that are maintained to a high standard and stunning to walk through. The Hall is now a hotel and there is also a popular campsite in the grounds. Close by is Rydal Mount, a former home of William Worsdworth.
Heading into the woodland beside the River Rothay, there is a relatively flat and easy start to the day. We will soon be surrounded by aged beech and oak trees, forming a canopy high above that provides a protective layer for more delicate plants and wildlife to thrive peacefully on the forest floor or within the trees themselves.
​
The River Rothay is a particularly good area to enjoy wildlife. Brown trout can be spotted in the water and there is an abundance of different bird species such as grey heron, common kingfisher, various duck varieties, dipper and wagtail.
As the path climbs the hillside, a wonderful panorama begins to open up. The rugged crags over on Nab Scar and looming above on Loughrigg remind walkers that we are indeed in the heart of the mountains, while the surrounding woodland and serene sight of Rydal Water creates a calming feel at all times of year.
​
It is quite common to see others enjoying open water swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding on Rydal Water. Fans of water sports are drawn to the lake's shallow depth and easy to access shoreline.
Nab Cottage can be sighted beneath Nab Scar. A well preserved old building that used to be the home of Simon Taylor Coleridge, who famously penned the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".​
​​We will soon find ourself passing one of the smaller of the two sites occupied by Rydal Caves, formerly known as Loughrigg Quarry. The site was extensively worked in the 1800's where a large volume of slate was extracted and subsequently used for roofing and other building purposes in nearby villages such as Ambleside.
​
The larger of the two caverns stands proudly on a prominent part of the hillside with the mouth and most of the inner floor flooded with water and is home to shoals of minnows. The view from outside the cave is very picturesque and this is a popular location for photos.​
​
Following a short break at Rydal Caves, the route will lead westwards above Rydal Water on a series of undulating paths before bringing us past White Moss and down to the southern shore of Grasmere.
Down by the water's edge of Grasmere, it is possible to look north to Dunmail Raise and take in the view of surrounding fells such as Helm Crag, Stone Arthur and Seat Sandal with larger summits like Fairfield and Helvellyn hidden out of view. Gentle aves lap the gravel strewn shore and birds flutter around the shore, creating a peaceful mood.
Following the west edge of Grasmere, the route ahead lead through pretty woodland and across some open fields before a short section on the road into Grasmere village, where it is intended to call by the Grasmere Gather Kitchen and Hub for a lunch break.
​
Once rested and fed, we will head out of the village, crossing the A591 and passing Dove Cottage, another famous building from the 1600's that was later another place where William Wordsworth lived.
The final stage of the walk will take us along "the Coffin Trail", which often conjures up imagery of the supernatural. Also known as a "Corpse Road" or "Lych Way", this was an ancient trail used by people from days gone by to transport the bodies of deceased villagers. In this case, there was no consecrated ground where the dead could be buried in Ambleside or Rydal and so a long and arduous journey to Grasmere was required.
Coffin Trails often have folklore and superstition attached to them and the Rydal Coffin Trail is no different. There are many local stories of spirits being encountered and paranormal apparitions along this path. Who knows what spooky sights we may witness on a misty autumn afternoon?!
After traversing the hillside to the north of Rydal Water, the Coffin Trail emerges back at Rydal Hall and that will conclude our scenic and informative day out.
​Important details about this specific activity.
​
The entire route accrues 11km, or 6 miles, with around 200m ascent, and is expected to take 6 to 7 hours​. This activity is usually quite a social outing with lots of discussion, time to take in the scenery and enjoy a lunch break at The Gather in Grasmere - expect a gentle to moderate pace throughout.
It is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
There are some some hillside slopes, exposed tree roots and uneven terrain. If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
​
Waterproof trail shoes or more sturdy boots are suitable for this activity.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
​
Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
As mentioned, it is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
​​​
It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
​
Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
​​​
​
​​
Meeting point and transport information.
​The activity meeting point is Rydal Hall, Rydal near Ambleside (LA22 9LX), where there is day parking available.
​
Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
​​​
There are frequent, reliable buses from Windermere, Keswick and other neighbouring villages. Lots of various accommodation is available in the vicinity of Rydal, Grasmere and Ambleside, including camping, hostels, B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Please ask me if you need advice on where to stay or transport links.
​
​
​
What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
​
Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
​
Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
​
It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities that are at a moderate or even gentle pace.
​
I am qualified, insured and experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
​
​​
​
​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
​
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.