Parking
Use the southern White Moss Common car park off the A591 between Grasmere and Ambleside. It is easy to miss when approaching from Grasmere and is separate from the north car park; follow signs for White Moss Common.
Overview
About Rydal Water and Caves Circular
Why go
- Rydal Water, woodland and a genuine cave in one compact loop
- A satisfying outing without a fell summit
Heads up
- The cave approach is rocky and steeper than the lakeside paths
- The route mixes wet stepping stones with uneven woodland ground
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation53–102 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Rydal Water and Caves Circular, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Rydal Water and Cave from White Moss0:00 / 1:19
“You're approaching White Moss, the starting area for walks beside Rydal Water and up to Rydal Cave.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wordsworth Grasmere: Inside Dove Cottage
- Rydal Mount: Garden and Fell Walk
- Grasmere: Riverside, Gingerbread and Lake
- Easedale Tarn: Waterfalls from Grasmere
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Rydal Water and Caves Circular
Route and distanceA circular walk starting and finishing at White Moss Common, 3.2 miles (5.
A circular walk starting and finishing at White Moss Common, 3.2 miles (5.1 km) for the full loop. All distances quoted here are for the complete circuit, not one way.
Route characterThe loop links woodland tracks with the shoreline of Rydal Water, crossing a bridge over the…
The loop links woodland tracks with the shoreline of Rydal Water, crossing a bridge over the River Rothay and following paths beside field walls. Small shallow streams are crossed on stepping stones, and a rocky path climbs to Rydal Cave, a man-made quarry opening set into the hillside above the lake. Footing varies from smooth woodland track to uneven stone and tree roots.
Getting thereThe start is the southern White Moss Common car park on the A591 between Grasmere and Ambleside.
The start is the southern White Moss Common car park on the A591 between Grasmere and Ambleside. Approaching from Grasmere the turning is easy to miss, and it is a separate car park from the one on the north side of the road.
SafetyThe cave approach is rocky and can hold loose stone, and rock has fallen from the cave ceiling…
The cave approach is rocky and can hold loose stone, and rock has fallen from the cave ceiling in the past, so admire it from outside rather than entering. Stepping stones, lakeside rock and woodland roots are slippery after rain. Waterproof footwear with grip is worth having year round.
DogsDogs are welcome on this loop.
Dogs are welcome on this loop. Keep them on a lead through the field sections and anywhere sheep or other livestock may be grazing, and under close control near the lake shore.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
