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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.
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.
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.
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?
Brimstone Spa, is exclusively for residents of the Langdale Hotel, Langdale Lodges and Brimstone…
Warm and welcoming Bed & Breakfast accommodation in the heart of Grasmere Village.
Tweedies Bar & Lodge with 2 restaurants and public bar serving guest ales, world beers, excellent…
The Britannia is a traditional 500-year-old Lakeland Inn nestling in the village of Elterwater and…
We have two lovely cottages win the village of Elterwater in the Langdale Valley, which we have…
The Langdale Hotel & Spa in the heart of the Lake District, is the perfect place for getting away…
The Bunkhouse at Rydal Hall is ideal for groups staying for retreats or events who prefer a simpler…
The Wordsworth Hotel is a truly historic and beautify appointed 4* Lake District Hotel with a…
Like the poets of antiquity, Wordsworth turns to vocal groves as sites of commiseration and…
Our elegant Signature Restaurant is famed for its excellent wine list and award-winning fine…
This contemporary bistro with beds is a stone’s throw from the idyllic village of Grasmere.
Our licensed Yan Bistro promises a delicious seasonal menu inspired by our farm’s history - rustic…
We're Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire and we provide bus services in Barrow, Carlisle,…
The epic swimrun event is back! An adventure through the stunning forests, lakes and mountains of…
This independent, hostel is perfectly situated in the picturesque village of Elterwater, at the…
We are an independent brewery & distillery, proudly part of the Grasmere community. We make drinks…
Set in over thirty acres of garden, woodland and natural beauty in he Lake District UNESCO World…
Art gallery and art shop run by the Heaton Cooper family, selling original paintings and prints…
Nestled in the heart of the English Lake District Victorian House provides the perfect antidote to…
What was Christmas like when the Wordsworths lived at Dove Cottage 200 years ago? Have a go at some…
Stove Bar and Restaurant offers something for everyone all day and evening merging great indoor and…
Curated and hosted by poet Kim Moore, our contemporary poetry reading series continues throughout…
William Wordsworth knew a thing or two about the value of ancient trees. His poem 'Yew-Trees'…
Grasmere Brewery & Distillery was founded in 2018. Small & experimental, we love making what we…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Grasmere lake lies to the south of Grasmere village, around which there are some gentle walks for those that prefer the lower ground.
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.
Grasmere
We are an independent brewery & distillery, proudly part of the Grasmere community. We make drinks we like to drink ourselves: refreshing beers & delicious gin. Try everything we make in The Good Sport, our Grasmere tap-room.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
518 reviewsGrasmere
Our elegant Signature Restaurant is famed for its excellent wine list and award-winning fine dining, awarded an AA rosette for culinary excellence.
Make time to drink in the beauty of Grasmere and the surrounding fells as you indulge in a…
Grasmere
Enjoy live classical musical played by a harp quartet at Allan Bank. Informal performances will take place in the Wordsworth Study at various points across the day starting from 11am.
Great Langdale, Ambleside
The Langdale Hotel & Spa in the heart of the Lake District, is the perfect place for getting away from it all.
Elterwater, Ambleside
The Britannia is a traditional 500-year-old Lakeland Inn nestling in the village of Elterwater and the fells of the Langdale Valley. Real ales, traditional food and real log fires.
Ambleside
Set in the heart of the Lake District national park, come visit us at our exclusive location set in the estate of Rydal hall. Our campsite is suited for a quiet stay for families, individuals, and couples looking for a peaceful break in the great…
Grasmere
Voted Best Small Hotel at the 2018 Cumbria Tourism awards, Rothay Garden is a delightful Lakeland hotel, overlooked by majestic fells in the vale of Grasmere, surely the perfect choice to enjoy a holiday in Cumbria's English Lake District.
Grasmere
What was Christmas like when the Wordsworths lived at Dove Cottage 200 years ago? Have a go at some Georgian Christmas crafts, including making pomanders and wreaths.
Ambleside
This independent, hostel is perfectly situated in the picturesque village of Elterwater, at the heart of the Langdale Valley in the English Lake District.
Grasmere
Broadrayne is a traditional Lakeland Farm with a small cluster of former 17th to 19th century farm buildings nestling round a picturesque farmyard in the beautiful Vale of Grasmere.
Grasmere
Grasmere Brewery & Distillery was founded in 2018. Small & experimental, we love making what we love to drink: from beers to cider, to premium spirits. Everything is made by hand, here in Grasmere, with good quality ingredients.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
518 reviewsAmbleside
Stay in a luxury Shepherd's Hut at the stunning Victorian House Hotel in Grasmere. Perfect for a relaxing stay after days exploring the Lake District with private riverbank views.
AMBLESIDE
Rydal Cave is a large cavern on the north side of Loughrigg Fell, above Rydal Water. This famous lakeland beauty spot is actually man-made, as a result of slate quarrying.
Ambleside
Our 2 luxurious Micro Lodge Pods have been hand built for couples wanting a romantic retreat or a place to chill out for a few days. Located on Broadrayne Farm in the very heart of the Lake District National Park.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
41 reviewsRydal Water is one of the smallest lakes and is very popular partly because of its Wordsworth connections. Steps lead up to 'Wordsworth's Seat'.
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.
Ambleside
Brimstone Spa, is exclusively for residents of the Langdale Hotel, Langdale Lodges and Brimstone Hotel and is reserved for adults only, and considered is one of the best spa’s in The Lake District. It is a place to relax and revive with seven…
Ambleside
At Victorian House we have a mission to make Cumbria Greener by 2037! We aim to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of those travelling into Cumbria to ensure the lakes may continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. Located in the idyllic…
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