Grasmere and Rydal Water

Starting in Grasmere somewhere near the church, it being an obvious landmark, head out of the village on Stock Lane towards Ambleside - if you came out of the church you would turn left. Past the shops, and Stock Lane car park to the roundabout at the junction with the A591.

Cross over and take the minor road with the 6'6" width restriction. It directly passes Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth shop. Continue on as the road climbs gently. A small pond is found at the top of the rise, and just before the road turns sharply right behind a barn bear left to take the minor road signposted "Public Footpath to Alcock Tarn and Coffin Route to Rydal".

Past another tarn, called variously Skater's Tarn, Wordsworth's Tarn, or White Moss Tarn, the lane becomes a gravel track, which gradually deteriorates to a rough path in places. At Brockstones bear right.

As the path meets a wall, bear left and keep high to avoid having to climb back up to the gate.

Eventually, after 1.5km (0.9 miles), the path goes through a gate into a lane which drops into Rydal beside Rydal Mount. Turn right, pass the church and down to the A591.

Turn right and walk along this busy road, there is a pavement on both sides, cross when it's clear or just before the Badger Bar (about 100m (110 yards)) cross over and drop through the hole in the wall. Immediately you will see the Dipper Bridge footbridge over the river. This bridge was restored after Storm Desmond wrecked the old one in December 2015.

Cross, and then turn right to follow the river bank. At the lake, bear left to go round the shore. Go through the gates and keep to the lower path by the shore, below Jobson Close.

As you reach the old barn on your right, the path climbs quite steeply to a junction of four paths. Take the right fork which is narrow and immediately drops down to follow a wall. Don't continue on the wider track that is Loughrigg Terrace.

Follow the wall down to the footbridge over the Grasmere outfall and bear left to continue round the lake shore.

Go through the gate, a smooth track is just above the water's edge here. Keep following the shore line. After some distance the woodland to the right becomes fenced in fields. With stunning views across the lake the end of this path comes all too soon and you are forced to turn left up to the road.

At the road turn right to head towards Grasmere village. There is a little traffic on this country lane so care will be needed where it narrows and on corners. There are still good glimses of the view back down the lake and to the fells on the other side.

You enter the village on Red Bank Road opposite the church.