If you do not know before you visit it, you will know after you do, that
Grasmere's most famous resident was William Wordsworth. He described it as
" the lovliest spot that man has ever found" and lived in Dove Cottage
there from 1799 to 1808. He and his family later lived in the Rectory and
in Allan Bank, before moving to Rydal. William, his wife, his sister and some
menbers of his family are buried in the churchyard at Grasmere
There is a Wordsworth and Grasmere Museum.
The tiny schoolroom, built by public subscription in 1687, is now the Gingerbread
Shop, which is a Cumbrian specialty, and its recipie is a closely guarded
secret
The lake itself is about 400 yards to the south of the village
Rydal Water
Wordsworth moved to Rydal Mount in 1813 and lived there until his death
in 1850. It is still ived in by his descendants and contains original furniture,
books, family portraits. The gardens are as they were in Wordsworth's day.
Rydal Mount is open to the public for the summer each year
On the opposite side of the hill can be seen the striking facade of Rydall
Hall, now a Church of England diocesan conferance centre
White Moss Common has a car park, and is the start of a nature trail that
goes out over a wet shore walkway. And in May the Penny Rock Woods are full
of bluebells.
Rydall Water itself is owned by the National Trust
Elterwater
Elterwater is a small village at the mouth of Langdale valley. It is where
the Langdale Beck meets the Brathay River.
Elter Water is a small privately owned lake - its anme comes from the Norse
for "swan" and Whooper swans still come in winter.
The common to the east is managed by the National Trust. And nearby are
working quarries that dig out the green Westmoreland slate for building
Skelwith Bridge
Skelwith bridge takes the Ambleside to Coniston road across the River Brathay.
You can buy various green slate products here are the Kirkstone Galleries.
And a number of guided walks start from here - you can get details of the
walks at the National Park Information centre in Ambleside.
A few yards there is a signposted footpath to Skelwith Force, a 15 foot
waterfall on the River Brathay. To the north, Loughrigg Tarn is worth a visit
Wrynose Pass
The Wrynose Pass is dramatic and steep. The road from Elterwater to Broughton
in Furness rises steeply (1 in 3 in places) to 1281 feet. Just before
the summit is the three shires stones where the three old counties of Cumberland,
Westmoreland and Lancashire met
On your descent, there are outstanding views over Wrynose Bottom and beyond
to Hardknott Pass
