Rydal Water Circular Walk Via Rydal Cave

This is an easy circular walk in the Lake District, taking you around Rydal Water, over to to Grasmere, and back via Rydal Cave.

Looking across Grasmere on a foggy day on the circular walk around Rydal Water to Rydal Cave.

We were last in the Lake District one month ago, before leaving for Scotland. Now, on our way back down to London, we popped back in to break up the journey.

After two months of living in the van during autumn/winter without heating, I was tired and cold. However, I couldn’t not come to the Lake District and not do a walk, so this one around Rydal Water seemed perfect. Short and easy.

Looking across Rydal water with a green hill on the other side partially covered in fog on the walk back to the start.

What to expect on the walk around Rydal Water

There is a bit of a hill near the start, after which it levels off for the rest of the walk (with a few small undulations). Up that hill, you will have a lovely view looking down to Rydal Water, first walking on an easy path, then slightly more rugged trail with some tree roots, dirt, and rocks about.

You will then go down the hill and walk alongside the River Rothay, to reach Grasmere, before looping around to get to Rydal Cave, where you can have a little explore inside.

After Rydal Cave, it’s a short walk to get back to the start.

A dirt trail on the side of a hill on the left, with a river below to the right, on the walk towards rydal Cave from rydal Water.

A trail slithering through the fern covered hill on the walk towards Rydal Cave in the Lake District.

Standing looking out of Rydal Cave to some leafless trees through the fog, on the circular walk around Rydal Water.

What is Rydal Cave?

I only recently learnt this, but it’s actually a man made cave from slate quarrying. It’s still nice and impressive though, with little stepping stones leading you inside.

Looking into the dark rydal cave with stepping stones leading inside, on the circular walk around Rydal Water.

Logistics for the Rydal Water circular walk via Rydal Cave

Start/Finish: Pelter Bridge car park (pay and display – accepts contactless), just outside Ambleside. Post code is LA22 9LW.
Alternate start: If you don’t have a car, you can easily get here by bus, but you will be starting the walk from Rydal Mount and Gardens (which I show you in the walk guide below).

How to get there by car: If driving from Ambleside towards Rydal Water/Grasmere, take a left turn over the bridge (on a road called ‘Under Loughrigg’), then an immediate right, and you will reach the car park.
How to get there by bus: Catch the number 555 or 599 bus, and get off at the Church for Rydal Mount stop. 555 runs between Kendel and Keswick via Ambleside. 599 runs between Bowness on Windermere and Grasmere via Ambleside.
Distance: 4.3 miles circular

Time: 1h 50min
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Gravel, dirt, tree roots, some rocks, some mud.

Option to shorten the walk: Yes. You can skip out Grasmere and walk straight to Rydal Cave. This shaves off just over 1/2 a mile. I will show you where in my guide below.
Amenities: Early on in the walk, there is the Badger Bar at the Glen Rothay Hotel. Half way through the walk there are public toilets. A tea room at the Rydal Mount and Gardens, which is just past the Church of St Mary, in the first half of the walk.
Time of year: We walked to Rydal Cave and Water during winter.

Dog friendly: There was livestock walking about, on the first part of the loop around Rydal Water. No stiles.

A few white sheep standing on the grass, with a stone wall and trees behind.

Tips for the walk

I have read recommendations to take a torch for inside the Rydal Cave, however, I have been a number of times and never needed one. Maybe I didn’t walk in far enough? Big spiders live in caves, so I’m always cautious with them.
Some of the terrain is rocky and uneven, with some tree roots and mud. For this reason I recommend hiking boots. It’s not a deal breaker though. The walk is short, and chunks of it is on easy path.

As it’s the Lake District, take a rain jacket just incase.
I have read that the car park fills up quickly, so if you are here during peak season, you should get here early. It was fairly empty when we were there, although it was winter.

Map for the for the Rydal Water and Cave circular walk

You can find my more detailed route map for the Rydal water walk on AllTrails

More walking route guides near Rydal Water and in the Lake District will be at the end

A guide to the Rydal Water walk via Rydal Cave

Before I start, I must point out that the first lot of photos were taken with my iPhone, which is why they will look different. We set off on the walk around Rydal Water before sunrise, and it’s less faff taking photos in the dark with the phone.

However, the phone also makes it look like full daytime despite the fact it was dark. This is why the lighting will suddenly change as I talk you through the walk.

Anyway, starting from the car park, walk out of it and turn left to walk up the road. When you reach the house, you should see a gate and entrance to the trail on the right. Go through it.

Now walk downhill through the woods, then exit through the gate in the wall on the other side.

Steps leading downhill under the woodland trees with a ground covered in red fallen leaves.

A trail surround by fallen red leaves and tree roots, and a broken tree up ahead.

This will take you out into the open, along a gravel trail, with a white building visible ahead on the other side of the river. Walk towards it, over the bridge, to reach the road.

A gravel trail through the grass leading to a bridge, and a white building on the other side, on the Rydal water circular walk.

A man walking along the wooden bridge with a stone wall ahead, and a white budding behind it, on the way to Rydal Water.

The white building is the pub. From here, turn right, then left into the Rydal Mount Gardens. This is where you will be starting if you took the bus.

Rydal Mount Gardens and Church of St Mary

Now, we took an unnecessary detour by accident here. If you are following my map, there is no need to do the loop (you can if you want to through).

You want to actually walk to the church, which will be straight up and right. At the church, go through the archway to the left of it.

A stone wall with a metal gate, and a church on the other side.

Through the arch you will see a green sign pointing into the church to ‘Le Flemming Gallery’. We didn’t go and look, but I’m curious what is up there. Maybe go and check it out and let me know 🙂

From here, keep following the path, and it will lead you through a gate and onto a road, where you turn left.

Slightly up the road, you should see a tea room (or a sign for a tea room) on the left. Keep going up the road, then turn left in the photo below.

A wide path, with a stone wall and hedge on the right side. The leaves of the hedge are red brown. — Turn left onto this path

Walk around Rydal Water

Walk through the gate, and along a trail by a stone wall, and you will soon reach a more open area, where you will get a lovely view down to Rydal Water.

A trail with a stone wall on the left and bushes on the right on there walk towards Rydal Water.

A wide trail with a big tree ahead to the left and a moss covered stone wall on the right.

Looking down to Rydal Water on a foggy day, on the walk around it. There is a big tree covered hill on the other side. — Camera change

From here you simply follow the main trail. At first things will be quite open, with a view to Rydal Water on the left, then parts of the trail will be more enclosed by trees and a stone wall. This is where the trail becomes more rugged.

A dirt trail with fern on the right and a moss covered stone wall on the left.

An undulating dirt trail, with a fern covered hill to the right, stone wall to the left and leafless trees up ahead, on the walk around Rydal Water.

When you reach a point with an obvious left turn (photo below), turn left to walk downhill. Keep going all the way to the bottom where you might have a little stream to cross, before you reach the road.

A trail leading downhill to the left, surrounded by bushes and fern. there is a stone wall ahead, with a just about visible field on the other side, and woodland trees in the distance. — Turn left here

A leaf covered dirt trail leading down through the leafless trees.

A small stream across the trail in the woodland. — The stream

Top tip: Look out for a waterfall on the right

A small waterfall surround by trees, with a leaf covered trail to the right, along the Rydal Water walk.

Walk to Grasmere (or not)

At the road, you should see a little hut on the other side, in the woods to the right. That’s the toilet.

Cross over the road and walk around the toilet, then at the next junction, take the right. This will take you on a nice easy trail to reach a bridge.

A road, with woodland and a small hut on the other side. There is light shining through the window of the hut.

A trail split, with the right trail lea dinging to a mini bridge. — Take this right turn

Looking across the grass towards the river on the Rydal water and cave circular walk. There is a picnic bench on the grass, and woodland trees on the other side of the river.

A bridge leading over the river into the woodland.

Cross over the bridge into White Moss Woods, and from here you can decide where you want to go next….

A wooden signpost pointing to rydal water and to Grasmere.

Turn right, and you will be at a junction (photo above), where you can turn left to walk towards Rydal Cave, or right to walk towards Grasmere.

I do recommend going to Grasmere first. It’s only a little bit extra of a walk, and it’s really lovely.

At first, the trail is less obvious (or it could just be the old autumn leaves were covering it), then it will appear and take you on a nice little journey alongside the river.

A ground covered in fallen red leaves with leafless trees all around.

A bit further along you will walk through a gate in the stone wall, to continue walking alongside the river, this time on a stone paved trail. This will lead you all the way to Grasmere.

A stone paved trail on the left and river on the right on the walk towards Grasmere and then Rydal Cave. there are woodland trees on the other side of the river.

Walk to Rydal Cave

To get to Rydal Cave from Grasmere, turn back, and you should see a stone step type dirt path to the right. Go up and along it.

A path on the left and stone step trail on the hill on the right. The hill is covered in red fern. — Take the right

A man walking on a trail, slithering across the red fern covered hillside on the way to Rydal Cave.

The trail will take you on some gentle undulations, and when you reach an open area with a few trail options, continue on the trail straight ahead, then moments later, take the right trail.

A junction with a dirt trail to the left and grass trail ahead. — The open area. Oddly, I didn’t take a photo of the actual trail you need to walk on. It’s to the left of this photo

A trail split with a ground covered in red fern ahead. — Then this is the right trail you take after

You will be able to see the trail continuing on in the distance on the right. This is where you will be walking to reach Rydal Cave.

The trail along here is a little rugged, and there are some rocky bits to climb down (nothing aggressive though).

As you continue walking, you will start to get a lovely view of Rydal Water to the left below, before reaching another open area.

A man climbing down some rocks on the walk towards Rydal Cave.

Looking down the hill to Rydal Water on the walk to Rydal Cave. There is low hanging fog above the water.

A large open area, with woodland trees ahead and a trail on the right. — The open area

Rydal Cave will be just ahead to the right. If you keep going straight, you won’t miss it.

When at Rydal Cave you can go and walk inside. How far inside is up to you 😉

Looking towards the black hole of Rydal Cave. — Rydal Cave

Leave Rydal Cave to walk back to Rydal Water

When you are done with Rydal Cave, stand so it is behind you, and walk along the trail that takes you straight ahead and down to the right (see photo below).

This will lead you around another cave, then when you reach the river stream, turn left.

Looking down a hill with a few gravel trails, and some woodland ahead. — Go straight down there to walk with those trees to your left

Looking towards a cave surround by tree branches and fern. — The other cave

A rocky stream of water, with leafless trees on either side, and the banks of the stream covered in brown fallen leaves. — Turn left when you get here

A little warning, it gets quite rugged and rocky down here. It doesn’t last long though before you reach the nice civilised path again, which takes you around Rydal Water.

A rocky trail leading downhill with leafless trees along the trail side ahead, on the circular rydal water walk.

A path leading straight ahead, with Rydal Water just visible to the left, near the end of the circular walk.

Looking down towards Rydal water surrounded by fog, near the end of the circular walk.

Continue to walk with Rydal Water to your left, and when you reach a junction with a gate, go through the gate, where you will the walk with a moss covered stone wall to your left.

Keep going and this will lead you back to the car park.

The path leading to a wooden gate in thew stone wall.

A wide path lines with moss covered stone walls on either side. There is a shed on the other side of the wall to the left, and the facade of a house just about visible ahead to the right.

More walks near Rydal Water and in the Lake District

If you fancy a tougher and longer walk which includes Rydal Cave, then you could try this one from Ambleside to Elterwater. It will take you up Loughrigg Fell which gives you a breathtaking view down to Grasmere.

If you want to stick with the easier/shorter walks, you could try Ambleside to Sweden Bridge which does have a bit of an uphill slog, but then you go downhill for the rest of it. I really enjoyed this walk, and would happily do it more times.

You could also try the Ambleside Waterfall walk. This is very easy and short, but potentially a bit more touristy.

If you like views, but don’t want a massive hike, then I recommend the Walla Crag Walk near Keswick. It won’t take up your whole day, but it’s still long enough that you feel you have had a nice little workout.

For something a bit more special, then you should head to the Old Man of Coniston. This is a tough one, both in terrain and elevation. But if you are up for a challenge, then you will love this (I think).

Pin it for later: Rydal Water and Rydal Cave circular walk

Rydal water and cave circular walk guide in the Lake District National Park.

For more things to do in the area, you can check out the Visit Lake District website.