Ten easy-to-follow, circular walk route maps from Ambleside in the Lake District
We discovered Ambleside to be a busy little market town which has grown from its beginnings as a Roman Fort (Galava) to be one of the most popular walking destinations in the Lake District.
It is located in the southeastern part of the Lake District National Park, Ambleside sits at the northern end of Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.
We found Ambleside to be a fabulous base from which to explore the Southern Fells and The Eastern Fells of the Lake District with lots of local walks for all grades and abilities.
There are plenty of circular walks from Ambleside, from long, medium, or short, for both novice and experienced hikers alike, that you can start and complete from the centre of Ambleside.
Here are just a few of our ideas to get you going:
Short, low-level walks from Ambleside
Grasmere
Photo: David Hayter
Grasmere
Photo: David Hayter
Rydal Hall and Grasmere via The Coffin Route from Ambleside
We loved this popular and easy low-level 8¾ miles route that took us through Rydal Park, past Rydal Hall & Gardens (worth a look round, if you have time) and The Grot, Grot-House or Grotto. This grade II listed building is a summer house built in 1668 by Sir Daniel Fleming where wwe could admire the spectacular Rydal Falls.
Beyond Rydal Mount, a former home of the poet William Wordsworth, we follow the Coffin Route with good views of Rydal Water and skirting the base of Nab Scar to reach Dove Cottage, another of William Wordsworth's former homes (also worth a look round, if you have time). From there, it was nothing but a short stroll to Grasmere village.
After a well-earned cuppa we paid a visit to the very special Grasmere Village Gingerbread™ Shop. Grasmere Gingerbread™ was invented in 1854 by Victorian cook Sarah Nelson, who mixed and baked her spicy-sweet, chewy concoction inside her tiny cottage next to St Oswald's church, now The Grasmere Gingerbread™ Shop.
She used to sell her wares to villagers and visitors from a table top placed on a tree stump outside her front door. Nowadays, the shop counter is in her front room, but the owners still dress in Victorian costume, and the Gingerbread is just as scrummy.
Rydal Cave
Photo: John Almond
Our return route brought us back to Ambleside via Grasmere and Rydal Cave. Rydal Cave is a large cavern on the north side of Loughrigg Fell, above Rydal Water. It came into existence as a result of slate quarrying. At the entrance, there is a shallow lake full of fish. Strategically placed stepping stones allowed us to enter the cave and reach the much drier floor space inside.
After exploring the cave, we followed the river Rothay back to Ambleside via and Rothay Park. It toute tooks us about 3.5 hours.
For details of the route and a hand-drawn, geo-accurate, highly detailed map - see Walk c292 Rydal and Grasmere from Ambleside.
Ambleside Waterfall Walk – Stock Ghyll Force
Stock Ghyll Force
Photo: Peter Hall
From the Rydal Road Car Park, we went SE (right) into the centre of Ambleside. After following the one-way system past the Information Centre & the Salutation Hotel, we headed E (left) on a narrow lane beside 'The Market Hall' (signed 'Waterfalls'). At a junction, we went NE (left - signed 'Waterfalls') and continued gently uphill, passing behind the Salutation Hotel. After joining a lane (signed 'Stockghyll Wansfell Pike') we followed a sign 'to the waterfalls'. We climbed up the lane past housing & Kelsick Grammar to reach the very impressive Stock Ghyll Waterfalls. About 2 miles, there and back, allow 1 hour.
For details of the route and a hand-drawn, geo-accurate, highly detailed map - see Walk c455 Stock Ghyll Waterfalls & Wansfell Pike from Ambleside which includes the section up to Stock Ghyll Force before going on to climb Wansfell Pike.
When the weather turns
The famous bridge house in Ambleside
Photo: David Hayter
If you want a day off from walking, there are plenty of other things to do in Ambleside. Check out Ambleside Museum for a fascinating flavour of local life over the centuries. Also worth a visit if Beatrix Potter is your thing, as it houses a variety of artefacts from her life and work - the author of Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddleduck lived nearby at Hill Top - see Walking in the Footsteps of Beatrix Potter for more details.
Do not miss Bridge House, one of the smallest houses in Britain (and the former home of the Ambleside Tourist Information Centre). It is said to be built on a bridge to avoid paying local land taxes. For a wide choice of retail-therapy opportunities, Ambleside boasts a plethora of top quality outdoor shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants to suit every taste.
Hotels, B & Bs (Bed & Breakfasts), Pubs and Inns and Places to Stay.
Ambleside has a fine collection of Hotels, B & Bs (Bed & Breakfasts), Pubs and inns, and Places to Stay to suit every requirement and pocket.
Walking the Wainwrights from Ambleside
There are twelve Wainwrights you can walk from Ambleside Town Centre - see our feature:
for details of the routes and highly detailed, geo-accurate, hand-drawn route maps.
And if Wainwright Bagging is your thing, then don't miss our very popular Walk All 214 Wainwrights in just 59 Walks feature.
10 easy-to-follow, circular walks from Ambleside in the Lake District
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.75 miles (14 km) |
| Ascent: | 558 ft (170 m) |
| Time: | 3½ hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Scandale Beck - Rydal Park - Rydal Hall - Rydal - Rydal Mount - Rydal Water - Coffin Route - Dove Cottage - Grasmere Village - Silverhowe - The Lea - Grasmere - Red Bank - Rydal Cave - Jobson Close - Rough Intake - Pelter Bridge - Foxghyll - River Rothay - Rothay Park - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 3.25 miles (5 km) |
| Ascent: | 1,428 ft (435 m) |
| Time: | 2½ hrs |
| Grade: | |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Stock Ghyll Force - Wansfell Pike - Stock Ghyll Force - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6 miles (9.5 km) |
| Ascent: | 1,401 ft (427 m) |
| Time: | 3½ hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Rothay Park - Ivy Fell - Loughrigg Fell - Loughrigg Terrace - Rydal Water - Loughrigg Caves - River Rothay - Pelter Bridge - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5 miles (8 km) |
| Ascent: | 1,769 ft (539 m) |
| Time: | 3.75 hrs |
| Grade: | |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Stock Ghyll Force - Wansfell Pike - Baystones (Wansfell) - Wansfell Pike - Stock Ghyll Force - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6 miles (9.5 km) |
| Ascent: | 2,192 ft (668 m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Stock Ghyll Force - Wansfell Pike - Baystones (Wansfell) - The Hundreds - Nanny Lane - Troutbeck - Robin Lane - High Skelghyll Farm - Skelghyll Wood - Jenkin Crag - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5 miles (12 km) |
| Ascent: | 2,519 ft (768 m) |
| Time: | 5.25 hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Snarker Pike - Red Screes - Scandale Pass - High Sweden Bridge - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75 miles (15.5 km) |
| Ascent: | 3,551 ft (1,082 m) |
| Time: | 7.25 hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Snarker Pike - Red Screes - Scandale Pass - Little Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike (Scandale) - Low Pike (Scandale) - High Sweden Bridge - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11 miles (17.5 km) |
| Ascent: | 3,633 ft (1,107 m) |
| Time: | 7.75 hrs |
| Grade: | |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Rydal - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Rydal Fell (Heron Pike North Top) - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Rydal Head - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike (Scandale) - Low Pike (Scandale) - High Sweden Bridge - High Sweden Coppice - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.5 miles (20 km) |
| Ascent: | 3,411 ft (1,040 m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Rydal - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Rydal Fell (Heron Pike North Top) - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Rydal Head - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - Little Hart Crag - Scandale Pass - Red Screes - Snarker Pike - Ambleside
|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.25 miles (19.5 km) |
| Ascent: | 3,984 ft (1,214 m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: | |
Detailed walk route map PDF
complete with GPS Waypoints
Route Summary:
Ambleside - Rydal - Nab Scar - Heron Pike - Rydal Fell (Heron Pike North Top) - Greenhead Gill Head - Stone Arthur - Great Rigg - Fairfield - Rydal Head - Hart Crag - Dove Crag - High Pike (Scandale) - Low Pike (Scandale) - High Sweden Bridge - High Sweden Coppice - Ambleside
