| Name of walk | Loughrigg Fell, Ambleside and Rydal Hall |
| Date of walk | 2014-03-10 |
| Distance walked (miles) | 9 |
| Duration of walk | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Weather | Blue skies and sunshine, warm. |
| Peaks on walk | Loughrigg Fell |
| Walked with | Brendan |
| Parking | Rydal Church |
On Monday Brendan and I drove to Rydal Hall, parking by the church, in order to walk up Loughrigg Fell. We would have lunch in Ambleside and walk back through Rydal Park, visiting Rydal Hall. A walk of 9.5 miles. The weather was superb. Blue skies and sunshine and it was very warm.
Rydal Church
Opposite The Badger Bar is the bridge entrance to the shores of Rydal Water.
View north.
Looking across to Nab Scar.
We then took the higher path that leads up to Rydal Cave.
View back out.
Then continued along the terraces, before taking the path up to Loughrigg Fell.
View down Grasmere from the route up.
The Crinkles still have some snow.
The Langdale Pikes
Summit photo. Loughrigg Fell is one of the easiest and quickest fells to walk up. Note that it is me that carries the heavy ruck-sack all day! After all, I have only had three heart operations and two knee arthroscopies....but I am still the fit one in the family!
Looking down on Elterwater.
We walked over to the crags to get a view down to Loughrigg Tarn and Elterwater.
A closer view to Loughrigg Tarn.
A closer view of Crinkle Crags.
Lots of small tarns on the summit of Loughrigg Fell.
The fell is very undulating. We head south for Lily Tarn.
Yet another picturesque tarn.
View South towards Lily Tarn and Windermere.
Panorama of the view east. This includes the fells of the Fairfield Horseshoe, Red Screes, Wansfell Pike and Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick.
Following the wall up towards Lily Tarn. View back showing the way we came.
Lily Tarn.
It was a very warm day and it was very tempting to just sit and admire the view, but my stomach was reminding me that it was lunch time, so we continued on.
Another small tarn. It used to have a fine built cairn in the centre, which seems to have not survived the weather.
We climbed up the final set of crags to get the view down to Windermere and Ambleside.
Ambleside.
A good view to the Fairfield Horseshoe.
A small cairn that overlooks Ambleside.
We now head down for lunch.
The bridge over the River Rothay. We walk through the park coming out on the road by the Primary School, church and Zefferellis, where we would have lunch.
Spring!
After a zucchini, ricotta cheese and chili pizza we did a bit of shopping before heading back through Rydal Park.
Rydal Hall is owned by the Diocese of Carlisle. Eco Pod at Rydal Hall. They cost £30 a night for two or more nights. Cheap!
When I reached the grounds of Rydal Hall I headed for The Grot. This was built in 1668 as a place to frame and enjoy the lower Rydal Waterfalls. The entrance is via The Quiet Garden.
View out through the Grot window.
The bridge opening on the right has ivy hanging down masking the entrance, quite magical!
Walking up the steps to Rydal Hall.
Rydal Hall. It is a Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre. There is a choice of 30 ensuite bedrooms inside the main house plus a range of accommodation within their idyllic 34 acre site including a youth centre, campsite, a cottage, and three eco-pods.
The walk took about 4.5 hours, plus the time we spent in Ambleside. A very easy walk with plenty to see and do.
Jo.
