Traveller's Guide to the South and Central Lakes

26 3 The bridleway brings you out around the back of Wordsworth’s home, Rydal Mount, a great place to stop and explore or just to enjoy a tea or coffee. From Rydal Mount turn right onto the lane and follow it a short distance, downhill to Rydal Church. Carefully cross the A591 to the bus stop opposite the church and catch the bus back. . A St A591 Grasmere Loughrigg R P i Grasmere Rydal Water WINDERMERE 2 3 1 Dove Cottage Rydal Mount Grasmere Grasmere to Rydal Coffin Trail Walk Running through the meadows of Rydal Park and across the slopes of Nab Scar is a very old track, known locally as the Coffin Trail, due to the fact that the only consecrated burial ground in the area was the graveyard at St. Oswald’s in Grasmere and the track was used to transport coffins on their final journey. Walking the Coffin Trail from Grasmere to Rydal then taking advantage of the bus for the return journey makes an excellent outing. The scenery in this corner of the Lake District was a strong inspiration for Wordsworth and the route passes two of his homes, Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount. Both are open to the public and with an early start can easily be visited on the walk. Start: Grasmere, GR NY336076 Finish: Ambleside, GR NY376045 Distance: 3.8 miles (6.1km) Time: 3-4 hours Height gain: 200m Terrain: Roads, fell tracks and paths. 1 Take the road from the centre of the village following signs for Ambleside and Dove Cottage. To reach Dove Cottage cross the A591. The safest place to do this is by the mini roundabout. Follow the lane by Dove Cottage which forks left uphill, to join the bridleway. Head along the bridleway following signs for Coffin Trail. 2 The bridleway pops in and out of the trees and dips up and down until it meets a junction with another bridleway which drops off to the right, towards White Moss Common. Ignore this and continue east, keeping Grasmere and Rydal Water on your right. Romantic walk at Rydal Mount