Parking
Use the lower White Moss Common car park south of the A591, postcode LA22 9SE; dedicated disabled spaces are available. Toilets with baby changing are about 40 m from the car park, and buses 555 and 599 serve the A591.
Overview
About White Moss Common to Steps End
An out-and-back walk of 2.4 miles in total, with a typical time of around one hour. It starts and finishes at the lower White Moss Common car park and turns back at Steps End on the shore of Rydal Water.
Why go
- Rydal Water shore payoff
- Accessible White Moss Bridge
Heads up
- Steep wooded sections
- Four small water crossings
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation54–90 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 White Moss Common to Steps End, 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 White Moss Common to Steps End
The walkFrom the lower car park, follow the path to the River Rothay footbridge and cross at White Moss…
From the lower car park, follow the path to the River Rothay footbridge and cross at White Moss Bridge. The route then climbs through a steep wood before easing out at Jobson's Close and joining the shore path along Rydal Water. Continue to Steps End, then retrace the same way back to the bridge and car park.
Terrain and accessibilityThe official grade is "For some".
The official grade is "For some". The wood section is steep with uneven, gravelly ground, and there is one small ford plus three small stream crossings. Only class 2 or 3 mobility scooters are suitable for the full route. The bridge itself is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, so it works as a short there-and-back objective on its own.
Wildlife and viewsDucks, dippers and herons are all possible along the river and lake.
Ducks, dippers and herons are all possible along the river and lake. Bluebells appear in the woodland in spring. From the shore path there are views towards Nab Scar and Loughrigg Fell, and the open ground by Rydal Water makes a good picnic stop. Bring a lens or camera setting suited to both shaded woodland and open water.
Getting there and facilitiesParking is at LA22 9SE, south of the A591, with disabled spaces.
Parking is at LA22 9SE, south of the A591, with disabled spaces. Toilets with baby changing are about 40 m from the car park. Buses 555 and 599 run along the A591.
DogsDogs may use the public route.
Dogs may use the public route. Keep them under close control or on a short lead near common land and livestock.
Longer alternativeA circuit taking in Rydal Cave and Loughrigg Fell is a separate, harder outing rather than an…
A circuit taking in Rydal Cave and Loughrigg Fell is a separate, harder outing rather than an extension of this walk. Plan for more distance, more climbing and rougher ground if you choose it.
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.
