For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

When we set off from home around 10:15am it was a very dull grey day. The plan was to go to Ambleside to get myself a new pair of boots and if the weather was fine to have a short walk up to Stockghyll Force. However as we neared Ambleside the weather was fine and with some sun so after finding a place to abandon the car at Waterhead (not easy) we decided to walk from Waterhead to Rydal along the "back road" past Miller Bridge and Stepping Stones. At Rydal we first paid a visit to Dora's Field before returning to Ambleside via Rydal Hall. At Ambleside we walked up to Stockghyll Force and then after purchasing a shiny new pair of boots we made our way back to Waterhead.

Having decided to make a short walk out of the shopping trip we abandoned the car near Waterhead. The day was quite pleasant as we made our way to the waterside.

The Wateredge Inn was recently reopened by HRH Prince Charles after the November '09 floods.

We walked through Borrans Park.

A cloud topped Wetherlam in the distance.

Next a visit to the Roman Fort of Galava with views to the Fairfield Horseshoe and Red Screes.

The Rothay Bridge from the Ramblers Bridge as we make our way to the "back road" to Rydal.

The Riverside built in 1866.

The River Rothay

Miller Bridge

Views to Fairfield as we continued along the road.

Fox How. There is usually a splendid show of daffodils here but I think there are a lot of "blind" ones now.

Continuing along the quiet lane. The lane is for access onloy and should not be used as a short cut.

Stepping stones across the Rothay

Stepping Stones Country House.

William Wordsworth, the great Poet would have known this house by its former name of "Spring Cottage". For in 1881 his youngest son-also named William purchased the house for the sum of £1600. He was fairly wealthy thanks to his famous father giving him in his will his lucrative post of Stamp Distributor for Cumberland & Westmorland, with an annual income of mare than £400. The house was to remain in the family until 1935, and there are still descendants today living in nearby Rydal Mount. Wordsworth married late, at 32,and had fathered his last child, William, when he was 40. Sadly only his two sons were to survive him. His favouite-Dora died in 1847 and is buried in the nearby church at Rydal.

Approaching Pelter Bridge and I can see the ice-cream van....hurry up Edith!

Nab Scar

St Mary's Church, Rydal

A walk through the National Trust owned Dora's Field

The Rash field next to the churchyard was bought by Wordsworth originally to build a house. The house never materialised. After his daughter Dora died in 1847, William went down to the field between Rydal Mount and the main road, and together with his wife, sister and gardener, planted hundreds of daffodils as a memorial to Dora.

We next walked into the grounds of Rydal Hall through which we would return to Ambleside.

A busy bee.

The lower falls of Rydal Beck and the grotto.

As we walked through Rydal Park the clouds began to thicken but the day stayed fine.

A look back to the western leg of the Fairfield Horseshoe

The Bridge House at Ambleside was originally an apple store for nearby Ambleside Hall, and was built over Stock Beck to escape land tax.

Before going for my boots we decided to walk up to Stockghyll Force

Stockghyll Force.

After getting my boots we returned to Waterhead passing the Ambleside Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin.

Next Walk:     9th April 2010 - Lake District - Heughscar Hill and The Cockpit from Askham

Last Walk:     7th April 2010 - Lake District - Great & Little Langdale 

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