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One of the Lake District’s prettiest villages is Grasmere, nestled in a vale just north of Grasmere lake and crowned by magnificent fells and mountains on all sides. This is romantic England at its purest: immediately south of town is the rugged peak of Helm Crag (aka ‘the Lion and the Lamb’), while to the north is the ancient cairn known as Dunmail Raise. All around it are the scattered hamlets and farmsteads, while dense woodlands and lush meadows fringe the lakes of Grasmere and Rydal Water and Loughrigg Tarn.
Hardly surprising that painters, poets, writers and craftsmen were drawn to the area. Wordsworth described the vale of Grasmere and Rydal as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’, before moving here permanently. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey and Sir Walter Scott also stayed here, whilst the writer Thomas de Quincey moved into Dove Cottage on Wordsworth’s departure.
From the 18th century onwards, many artists journeyed here in search of ‘the picturesque and the sublime’, including William Green, John Constable and Turner. In more recent times, the Heaton Cooper family succeeded in capturing the changing moods of the Lake District in watercolours.
Food & Drink in Grasmere and Rydal
Anyone who visits Grasmere and nearby Rydal, just has to experience a post-walk cream tea. Tearooms, some of which are hidden away in beautiful surroundings, will guarantee you a warm welcome, with a variety of teas and coffees on offer and scones and homemade cakes to die for. Well worth plotting into your walking plans!
For a small place, Grasmere does well with its fine dining experiences, whilst still maintaining an unstuffy and relaxing atmosphere. It even boasts a Michellin Star restaurant, where fine dining is taken up to another level. Fine dining is available in many restaurants here, offering exquisite explosions of flavours, where the food is absolutely faultless.
Grasmere also has some amazing quirky cafes with twinkling lights and scatter cushions creating a lovely ambiance in which to enjoy a very high standard of food. As with many of these charming little cafes-come-restaurants, they’re very popular, so it’s wise to book ahead if you’re going in the evening.
After a long day on the Grasmere fells, stepping into a welcoming pub is like a little piece of heaven. They’re all dog-friendly with reliable WiFi and offer a superb choice of local ales and award-winning food. There’s everything from a 16C coaching inn, full of old world charm and roaring log fires and panoramic views - to characterful walkers’ bars, offering tasty classic pub food. For the beer buffs among you, there’s a wide selection of ales approved by CAMRA. But before you leave Grasmere there’s one more must-try foods – the delicious sweet treat, Grasmere Gingerbread.
Culture & Heritage
Grasmere’s early history was all about farming, the manufacture of wool as well as some mineral and rock extraction. In the middle of the 16th century, Grasmere was home to 15 ‘fulling’ mills, where newly woven fabrics were pounded in soapy water with heavy hammers (or ‘stocks;’ hence Stock Lane in town) to shrink the fibres and therefore create denser, fuller fabric.
Local woods were coppiced to supply charcoal for iron ore smelting and bark for tanneries, and with greater prosperity in the 18th century came a building spurt, with the stone drawn from local quarries – White Stone quarry on the A591 was one of these (it’s now a car park).
Several packhorse trails once radiated out from the village; the ponies carrying cloths, fleeces, and other goods to markets in Keswick, Penrith and Kendal (via Ambleside). The old packhorse trail between Ambleside and Grasmere used to be the main route between the two towns before the new turnpike road (now the A591) was opened in 1770.
For most contemporary visitors, though, it’s the arrival of the Romantics from the middle of the 18th century that really put Grasmere and the surrounding area on the map. Painters, writers and poets in search of the picturesque and romantic notions of beauty came to explore the Lake District. William Wordsworth (1770–1850) came to live here in 1799 and spent much time walking in the area, composing lines of poetry based on what he experienced. His most inspirational years were spent at Dove Cottage (1799–1808). He and his family then moved to the more spacious Allan Bank (1808–1811), followed by a short stint at the Rectory (1811–1814) and lastly to Rydal Mount (1814–1850). Fellow poets and writers, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey and Sir Walter Scott, were frequent guests of the Wordsworths.
Once the new turnpike roads were completed in the late 18th century and the railway had arrived in Windermere in 1847, Victorian tourists came in their droves to experience the landscapes that had inspired the Lake Poets.
Surrounding Areas
Rydal - The hamlet of Rydal is associated with two influential families: the Le Flemings and the Wordsworths. Rydal Hall was the home of the Le Fleming family who moved here from Coniston Hall and Rydal Mount was Wordsworth’s home for the last 37 years of his life.
Thirlmere - Thirlmere is a pretty, clear lake with a wooded shoreline and is best enjoyed from the west shore which winds its way through the trees.Thirlmere was once two smaller lakes called Leatheswater and Brackmere. The two lakes were joined by a footbridge until damning in 1879 created a rise in the water levels and Thirlmere was formed as the two lakes overflowed. It now serves as a water supply for Manchester.
Did you know?
Peace OakThe Peace Oak in Broadgate Meadow (next to the river), was planted by Canon Rawnsley on 19 July 1919 to mark a day of peace on the anniversary of the start of World War One.- Rydal Coffin RouteThe Rydal Coffin route was originally the main route between Ambleside and Grasmere (the modern road only dates from 1770).
- Sweet ChestnutAn ancient sweet chestnut in the grounds of Rydal Hall is estimated to be over 500 years old, and probably planted before the current hall was built in 1600.
- The Battle of Dunmail RaiseAccording to legend, a battle took place here in AD 945 between King Dunmail of Cumberland and a combined force of Anglo-Saxons and Scots.
- Dora's FieldDora’s Field was bought by William Wordsworth as a plot of land to build a house on when he was threatened with eviction from Rydal Mount.
- Rydal CaveThe cave, situated above Rydal Water, is a man made cavern that served as a slate quarry supplying excellent quality slate to the local villages, more than two hundred years ago. These days visitors can walk into the gaping mouth of the cave and explore the awesome mini ampitheatre complete with jagged rocks and a flooded pool inhabited by small fish and insects.
Highlights
Set in over thirty acres of garden, woodland and natural beauty in he Lake District UNESCO World…
Set in over thirty acres of garden, woodland and natural beauty in he Lake District UNESCO World…
The Wordsworth Hotel is a charming four-star hotel with a tranquil spa and a AA-Rosette awarded…
Voted Best Small Hotel at the 2018 Cumbria Tourism awards, Rothay Garden is a delightful Lakeland…
Brimstone Spa, is exclusively for residents of the Langdale Hotel, Langdale Lodges and Brimstone…
With stunning views onto the fells, our Stargazer Rooms with their huge windows are ideal for…
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and…
The final day involves crossing the backbone of the Helvellyn range back to the start at the Inn on…
Whatever the reason for your visit and whatever the weather outside, you can expect to sleep…
Situated at the northern end of Grasmere, yet just 5 minutes walk into the village centre, Raise…
Tweedies Bar & Lodge with 2 restaurants and public bar serving guest ales, world beers, excellent…
Stove Bar and Restaurant offers something for everyone all day and evening merging great indoor and…
The Langdale Hotel & Spa in the heart of the Lake District, is the perfect place for getting away…
These two traditional Lakeland cottages are beautifully situated in Great Langdale valley in the…
Enjoy a cosy holiday in The Old Sawpit. This Elterwater property has lots of character, and sleeps…
A warm, comfortable, centrally situated 4-star guest house. All rooms have en suite bath and shower…
The Britannia is a traditional 500-year-old Lakeland Inn nestling in the village of Elterwater and…
A wide range of products for children and families focused around Peter Rabbit and Friends, but…
Electric bike charge point
This delightful traditional 2-bedroom Lakeland cottage is idyllically situated in a quiet, elevated…
Located in the idyllic village of Grasmere, Victorian House Hotel provides a central base to…
Electric bike charge point
Rydal Water is one of the smallest lakes and is very popular partly because of its Wordsworth…
Whatever the reason for your visit and whatever the weather outside, you can expect to sleep…
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Number of results: 71
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Address
Grasmere, CumbriaCumbria
The second day purposefully heads for the heights to cross over the barrier of the central fells into Borrowdale. Fortunately an easy walk through Grasmere village, home to Wordsworth and inspiration to Coleridge, and then a steady climb up the old…
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHGrasmere
Discover Grasmere’s hidden footpaths and stumble across a spectacular waterfall while learning about William and Dorothy Wordsworth’s lives and writing.
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHTelephone
01539435544Grasmere
How do you bring Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) to life for a modern audience? Professor Fiona Sampson joins students from Baylor University, Texas, to discuss their shared ambitions in attempting to do just that. Professor Sampson has just…
Address
Broadgate, Grasmere, AMBLESIDE, Cumbria, LA229TATelephone
015394 35217AMBLESIDE
With stunning views onto the fells, our Stargazer Rooms with their huge windows are ideal for enjoying the night skies. The elegant rooms have handpicked furnishings and with the well fitted bathrooms and luxurious toiletries, they provide a…
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHTelephone
01539435544Grasmere
Professor Sir Jonathan Bate, award-winning biographer, joins Jeff Cowton and Simon Bainbridge to talk about his new book 'Radical Wordsworth', which explores Wordsworth's radical life as a thinker and poetical innovator. He will reflect on what he…
Grasmere
Make yourself comfortable in the former home of National Trust Founder, Canon Rawnsley. Only partially restored and decorated, this isn’t a typical National Trust experience.
Address
Grasmere Gingerbread®, Church Cottage, Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9SWTelephone
015394 35428Grasmere, Ambleside
Church cottage originally built in 1630 as the village school. Established in 1854 as Sarah Nelson's Original Celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHGrasmere
Budding writers and outdoor adventurers will love these drop-in afternoons.
Cumbria
Buses to and through Grasmere:
555 Lancaster - Kendal - Windermere - Ambleside - Grasmere - Keswick - Carlisle.
599 Kendal - Windermere - Ambleside - Grasmere - Lakeside (summer). Open top service during good weather.
599 Kendal - Windermere -…
Grasmere
Situated at the northern end of Grasmere, yet just 5 minutes walk into the village centre, Raise View House has uninterrupted views of Easedale and the surrounding fells, including the famed Lion and the Lamb.
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHGrasmere
Revitalise your senses, stretch your muscles and bond with family members.
Address
The Studio, Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9SXTelephone
015394 35280Ambleside
Art gallery and art shop run by the Heaton Cooper family, selling original paintings and prints from 4 generations of the family.
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Ambleside
Set in over thirty acres of garden, woodland and natural beauty in he Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rydal Hall is the ideal venue for retreats, events, activity weekends or just a family holiday.
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Grasmere, Lake District, LA22 9SHTelephone
01539435544Grasmere
Artistic kids of all ages will love these Christmas workshops. We'll be introducing the Wordsworths and their writing before getting creative with crafts.
What was Christmas like when the Wordsworths lived at Dove Cottage 200 years ago? Learn about…
Address
Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Red Bank Road, Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9SWTelephone
015394 35300Grasmere, Ambleside
Tweedies Bar & Lodge with 2 restaurants and public bar serving guest ales, world beers, excellent selection of wines. Set in 3 acres of mature grounds. Newly refurbished throughout.
Address
Grasmere, CumbriaCumbria
Grasmere and Great Langdale are separated by a long ridge of low fells. It starts life at Blea Rigg where it abuts the shapely Alpine like peaks of the Langdale Pikes then extends in a roughly south easterly direction to terminate at the lofty…
Grasmere
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and high thinking’. The sights, sounds and smells bring to life the bustling family home the Wordsworths would have known over 200 years ago.
Address
Wordsworth Grasmere, Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SHGrasmere
These themed mornings are the perfect way to introduce poetry and the natural world to your little ones.
Grasmere
Whatever the reason for your visit and whatever the weather outside, you can expect to sleep soundly within the walls of this 17thC coaching inn. Many of our bedrooms have views across the garden towards Helm Crag.
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Ambleside
Electric bike charge point
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