Rydal Hall is a Grade 2 listed building which today is used as conference centre and retreat in the village of Rydal, operated by the diocese of Carlisle.  It is just across the road from Rydal Mount, William Wordsworth’s home from 1813 up to his death in 1850.  The original hall was built in the 16th century and enlarged over the years, with the current front being added in the early 19th century.  There are some attractive Edwardian gardens laid out in 1911, but the most interesting feature for landscape photographers is a small waterfall on Rydal Beck which can be viewed from a summerhouse known as the Grot.  This tiny building was built in 1694 and has been used by many artists to paint the waterfall – most notably by John Constable.  The gardens are not particularly large, but are attractively laid out, and at the top of the gardens there is a cafe in a pleasant spot overlooking Rydal Beck.

Higher up on Rydal Beck there are attractive woodlands and more waterfalls. The woodlands are particularly attractive during autumn with some splendid autumn colours.

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Location and Parking

Postcode : Rydal Mount – LA22 9LX.  Pelter Bridge: LA22 9LW

The village of Rydal is on the A591 between Ambleside and Grasmere in the Lake District.  There is not much to the village – just a single road climbing to Rydal Mount, with a church, a few houses and Rydal Hall.  It is however a very popular location due to its association with William Wordsworth. If a space is available, it is possible to park on the left side of the road up to Rydal Mount, for which there is an honesty box payable at the church. An alternative is to park at the car park at Pelter Bridge, which is on the left side of the A591 if travelling from Ambleside, about 0.2 miles before reaching Rydal Village.  Pelter Bridge itself is an attractive spot on the River Rothay.

Part way up the hill in Rydal village, there is a gate on the right leading into the gardens at Rydal Hall.  Cross in front of the hall passing a Quiet Garden on the right.

Continuing past the Quiet Garden, a bridge over Rydal Beck is reached, from which there are views of The Grot and Rydal Falls. The Grot is a small building built in 1694 as a viewing location for the waterfall.

The Grot can be reached by taking the path through the Quiet Garden which leads under the bridge to the summerhouse.

Above the hall, there is a cafe, with views of more cascades on Rydal Beck.

Continuing upstream from the cafe, some attractive woodland is reached, and there are more falls and cascades and a footbridge across the river. This area is particularly attractive in autumn.

After crossing the footbridge it is possible to continue to climb alongside the beck. Higher up there is a weir, followed by two more waterfalls, the upper one having a large chockstone trapped at the top of the fall where it tumbles into a narrow gorge.

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