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Lake Grasmere
Lake Grasmere
5
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Top ways to experience Lake Grasmere and nearby attractions

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  • Anuj_Mithani
    Mumbai, India4,703 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Memorable Lake District experience
    This is one of the most beautiful, rewarding walks in the Lake District. We parked at the Stock Lane pay and display park (takes cards), though parking was available for cheaper down the road by Wordsworth Cottage and for free in a layby along the road leading to Ambleside, as we discovered later. The initial stretch was along the main road A591, before the footpath begins. Near the River Rothay footbridge, remember to take two detours – one towards Rydal Cave with terrific views over Rydal Water and another up the Louhrigg Terrace for the iconic views over Grasmere. We walked clockwise returning to the Grasmere village, and refuelled at the Sarah Nelson shop. A must do whilst in the Lake District.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 October 2023
  • dexfast t
    Jacksonville, Florida11 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful, scenic stroll around the lake.
    I completed the walk in slightly over an hour, which was ideal for meeting my step goal. It's a bit downward, but if you pace yourself, it shouldn't be too tough for youngsters or elderly legs! The beautiful vistas and photo opportunities are well worth it.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 October 2023
  • Simon
    Washington, United Kingdom465 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A nice walk
    The parts where you can access the lakeside are lovely to walk around. Pretty flat terrain with good quality paths. It's unfortunate that on one side of the lake the road runs right along the lake shore, so you have to walk along a busy road, and on the other side of the lake the shore is privately owned so the path redirects onto a minor road into the village.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 February 2024
  • Suratrichard
    Surat Thani, Thailand2,564 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfection!
    There’s something magical about this lake. It’s not the largest in the Lake District but it is set amongst breathtaking countryside. The village itself does become extremely crowded so, in order to see the Lake and its surrounding countryside at its best, park at the White Moss Common car park on the left hand side of the road heading towards Rydal and Ambleside. Cross over the road with care due to speeding vehicles and once over the road and into the woods, turn left to walk to Rydal and right to walk to Grasmere. It’s a great walk through the woods in either direction and is particularly beautiful in spring and autumn, The more adventurous visitor can go up higher onto Loughrigg Terrace for more spectacular views over Grasmere. Silver Howe is also a good walk. For more views head up to Allen Bank( National Trust) from the village. Within the village are many cafes and restaurants. There are toilets but be warned, admission is 60p and is payable by card only. Well worth visiting this little gem of a lake.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 May 2024
  • David Rostron
    Perth, Australia66 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Swim with a view
    I live in Western Australia now, but this is by far the most beautiful place I have ever swam. It's a half mile walk from White Moss Car Park, and very worth it. The lake is calm and flat, so great for kids, however, gets deep very quickly. The water is crystal clear, and even in shallow water, fish are present. I swam a fair way out, and could still see my feet in the deep. A totally breathtaking lake, and an unforgettable swim.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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maisymeg
Wigan, UK2,809 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
We walked from The Daffodil Spa along the busy road for around 10 minutes to start this walk but once off that it was a lovely peaceful walk around Lake Grasmere in beautiful weather.
Even though it was midweek and off season we saw lots of other people walking, so this is not a walk if you want solitude. We enjoyed seeing some of dogs there swimming in the cold, calm water.
The path follows the lakeside then you have a steep hill up before descending into the lovely village with a good choice of shops, a few cafes and hotels.
Written 27 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura T
Middlesbrough, UK7,685 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022
Grasmere Lake offers a lovely circular walk all the way around the lake of approx 3.5 miles.

We parked at the huge carpark on the outskirts of Grasmere, just a short 5 minute walk from shops in centre. Stock Lane Carpark, LA22 9SJ at cost of £8 for all day. There is 1 electric car charging point here.

Walking clockwise around the lake the first part of the walk is a bit disappointing as you are walking along the main road with no views of the lake. After a short 15 minutes though you are able to cut through some picturesque woods and head towards the lake. After a lovely walk through the trees we reached a small bridge, here we detoured away from the lake and headed uphill to Rydal Caves. After the caves we walked downhill and strolled alongside Rydal Water (also very busy on a hot and sunny day in June!) and made our way back to Grasmere Lake. When we reached the bridge again we went left this time for a beautiful walk along the shore of the lake. Close to the bridge is a very popular swimming spot. We found a place to sit and while my husband went wild swimming I paddled and cooled off my hot and swollen pregnancy feet in the lovely cool water. So if the weather is nice, definitely remember to take your swimsuits with you on this walk!

The walk around the lakes is flat and the paths are very good, it was only to get up to the caves that we had to walk uphill and it was pretty steep in places. The cave was crazy busy on a bank holiday weekend, so although we loved this walk and would definitely do this again if ever in the area we would avoid weekends and peak periods as it was just too crowded. The lakes whilst very busy are large enough that you can usually find a quieter spot.

We highly recommend this lovely walk. It took most of the day for us, as I was walking slowly as nearly 9 months pregnant and the weather was HOT!
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emma T
Thornton Cleveleys, UK6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020
A fabulous short walk around Grasmere lake with some stunning views. Nice, easy to follow footpath and not at all challenging. Ideal if stopping in Grasmere to pass a couple of hours on this gentle stroll and recommend stopping for a warm drink at Faeryland.
Written 12 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RaynesMark
Wimbledon267 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2021 • Solo
A stones throw from Rydal, Grasmere lake is a bit of a hike from Grasmere village. The village is endearing with a few shops including a Beatrix Potter shop, a cafe on the river and a few other places to eat. There is a tiny and famous gingerbread shop. Parking is a bit pot luck. If you can park in the school, that's a really neat spot, but get there early. There are other small car parks that rapidly fill. There is a field on the edge of the village that can also be opened up for parking and there is also causal parking outside of the village. Part of Grasmere lake is not accessible to the public, hence the long hike to the bankside. Once there though there are quite a few spots where you can sit and swim or take in the natural beauty. There are plenty of refreshments in the village, but nothing on the lake, so bring your own. Grasmere is definately an arrive early lake and village.
Written 25 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave S
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Grasmere Lake is amazing, beautiful views, calm water, relatively quiet even in Aug. Great for Kayaking or SUPs. However, do not park at either White Moss Car Park. They bill for every second from when you drive in, and if you pause to put boots on or get stuff out the car before you pay and it’s not covered, you’ll get a £100 fine, even if you’ve paid for a period and go 10 mins over. Loads of people stung by this - Google it. Total scam. Prices are extortionate as well (£10 for 4hrs).

Go to Grasmere lake, just don’t park at either White Moss Car Park
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alastair R
Glasgow, UK135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
We walked over from Abmleside, and this took us roind Grasmere. The views from either end of the lake and along the side were spectactular on a sunny day, with refelctions of the hills in the calm waters. The paths are easy to walk, so suitable for all ages
Written 15 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

n55ffc
Radcliffe on Trent, UK1,543 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Couples
Despite the rain we decided to walk around the lake and were rewarded with the most beautiful views across the lake. The autumn colours were fantastic despite the miserable weather. Well worth a visit, highly recommended.
Written 27 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Caroline B
Tring, UK677 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Friends
Excellent sign posting. Lots of parking. We parked in Grasmere village. Well kept pathways. Lots of places to sit at the edge of the lake. Great opportunities for swimming and kayaking. Visitors bring their own kayaks and paddleboards. No toilets. It’s a little like a country park. So you can get shade on a hot day
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sammy1232018
Washington DC, DC348 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Friends
Extremely enjoyable! This quite lovely and short hike of about 3 1/2 miles was such a treat! The trail was easily marked meandering one through the village homes and then the lake itself. We saw plenty of bird life, people swimming, and picnics. We did have a downpour for a bit which didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the view! I enjoyed this hike far more than lake Windermere because it wasn’t nearly as crowded and the views were perfect.
Written 3 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Natasha D
Leicester, UK28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021 • Couples
This is a stunning location. There are several walks around the edge of the lake - with the opportunity to make them more challenging by following the routes on the sides of the fells.
We have just spent our 5 day honeymoon here - with beautiful sunshine and no rain. We will be back!
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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