YHA hopping in The Lake District - YHA Grasmere to YHA Ambleside

Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way, there are one Wainwright, two lakes and one pub. Explore Rydal Cave.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.06 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 325 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 368 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 324 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 43 m

Description de la randonnée

(S) From YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe turn left down the road (Easedale Road) to the village.

(1) At the T-junction with Broadgate, turn right to go past the bus-stop and follow the main road as it bears left and weaves through the village. Then take the next road on the right Red Bank by the side of the garden center and out of the village past a hotel.

The road bends to the left and goes close to Grasmere Lake. Stay on this road for a while (walking on the right to face oncoming traffic) until you reach a low white building on the left and a track leading off to the right, indicated "No Vehicles" and a Public Footpath sign to Hunting Stile Crag.

(2) Follow this track (South-South-East) through Redbank Wood (ignore the path going right to the crag) to meet the road again further on. Bear right up the road.

(3) After 50m turn off left (East) next to a traffic sign "Expect and respect walkers and cyclists" that goes down by a dry-stone wall to join a gravel path and turn left again.

(4) At the juntion with Loughrigg Terrace take the steep stone pitched path that leads up to the summit of Loughrigg Fell (Wainwright fell at 335m above sea level).

(5) From the summit of Loughrigg Fell, head South-East towards Windermere and weave your way through the labyrinth of paths that criss-cross the fell. At a cairn, go past an unnamed tarn, still heading roughly South-East to reach the top of Ivy Crag. Drop down to what Wainwright called "the Amphitheatre" otherwise known as Black Mire.

(6) Keep to the right on what is normally drier ground. A marker cairn at the col shows the way down with the Fairfield Horseshoe in the distance. The path passes through an area of juniper bushes before reaching the Loughrigg Quarry and Rydal Cave.

(7) Stepping stones allow you to explore the cave before continuing right along Loughrigg Quarry track. Go through the larches that make up the majority of Rough Intake Wood. There are some great views over Rydal Water and just past a simple bench the route reaches a gate where the bridleway comes up from the shores of the lake.

Go through the gate and continue along the gravel path with trees on both sides to reach Steps End cottages. The metalled road leads to the Pelter Bridge car park.

(8) Continue along the road to reach the actual Pelter Bridge but don't cross the River Rothay. Turn right along this fairly quiet road that runs along the right-hand side of the river. Continue on this road (remember to walk on the right to face oncoming traffic) for about a mile to cross a cattle grid and reach a footbridge that leads into Rothay Park.

(9) Take the exit that goes past St. Mary's church and out onto Vicarage Road. Bear left to go up to the juntion of the Rydal Road and left to go past the Bridge House (National Trust Information Centre). Go a little further along the road and turn right up Smithy Brow to reach the Golden Rule pub.

(10) A Grade II listed traditional pub, it was voted "Britain's Best Post-Walk Pint" in 2019 so well worth a visit. From there, turn right into North Road to go over Stock Ghyll and to the A 591 with the Tourist Information Centre on the corner.

(11) Bear left past the memorial column and go past the Ambleside Inn. Past the Old Market Hall and the Old Courthouse , past the White Lion and Royal Oak to turn right into Church Street.

(12) Keep straight on when this becomes the Rothay Road, with the miniature golf course on the right. Go past Wansfell Road and Ambleside Manor keeping left at the junction with the Coniston Road. Go past Ambleside RUFC and the Galava Roman Fort. The road bends left then right to come out next to the jetties and pier for the lake ferries. Go straight on along the shore to reach YHA Ambleside. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 88 m - YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 73 m - Broadgate
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 95 m - Public Footpath sign to Hunting Stile Crag
  4. 3 : km 2.88 - alt. 168 m - Traffic sign "Expect and respect walkers..."
  5. 4 : km 3.13 - alt. 159 m - Loughrigg Terrace
  6. 5 : km 3.97 - alt. 323 m - Loughrigg Fell
  7. 6 : km 4.79 - alt. 267 m - Black Mire
  8. 7 : km 6.99 - alt. 117 m - Rydal Cave
  9. 8 : km 8.09 - alt. 61 m - Pelter Bridge car park
  10. 9 : km 10.53 - alt. 54 m - St. Mary's church
  11. 10 : km 10.99 - alt. 65 m - Golden Rule
  12. 11 : km 11.19 - alt. 66 m - Memorial column
  13. 12 : km 11.5 - alt. 52 m - Rothay Road
  14. E : km 13.06 - alt. 46 m - YHA Ambleside

Practical information

  • Good strong and comfortable boots are essential and waterproofs are always recommended.
  • Food and water for the journey will be needed but don't leave anything behind apart from your footprints. Don't take anything away with you apart from photos and good memories.

The YHA is a great institution and I guess most fell walkers have stayed at a hostel at some time in their lives. Funny how they were created "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels".

In the nearby area

Before leaving Grasmere, a quick visit to the church yard by St. Oswalds will give you the chance to visit Woodsworth's grave. This is a comfortable route, so take time to enjoy the scenery around you and spend a bit of time exploring Rydal Cave. Once you get to Ambleside there are plenty of things to see but treat yourself to a drink in the Golden Rule. Don't rush it, there is time enough and there are some fantastic views to be appreciated. Look around and take in the beauty that is The Lake District. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.