How To Visit The Rydal Waterfall: FULL Easy Guide (2023)
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When you type into Google ‘Rydal waterfall’, it’s hard to find clear directions leading you to the right place. That’s because there isn’t exactly a named ‘Rydal waterfall’, and it’s in fact at Rydal Hall.
But luckily for you, it’s one of the easiest waterfalls to reach in the Lake District!
🦉 EXPERT TIP: The Rydal waterfall is a five-minute walk from the Rydal Hall main gate. There is no climbing, uphill walking or scrambling needed to reach the Rydal waterfall.
So, let’s discuss the quickest, easiest and simplest way to visit the Rydal waterfall.
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- 17 EPIC Things To Do In Grasmere, Lake District
- Helm Crag Walk From Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
How to visit the Rydal Waterfall: Quick Facts
- To visit the Rydal waterfall, put into your Google Maps ‘Rydal Hall’.
- Park at the Pelter Bridge car park or on the side of the road by St Mary’s Church.
- Visiting Rydal waterfall is free, including Rydal Grot and the surrounding gardens
- From the car park to Rydal waterfall, it is under a 15-minute walk.
- Dogs are allowed to Rydal waterfall.
- The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar is a 10-minute walk from Rydal waterfall. This is a great place to get a post-walk pint or Sunday roast!
How to visit the Rydal Waterfall: Step-by-Step
- If you’re visiting the Rydal waterfall for the first time, the best place to park is the Pelter Bridge Car Park, or if it’s really busy, the White Moss Car Park, which is a 20-25 minute walk away.
- As you reach the Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar, turn left along the unnamed road, where you should see a sign that says both ‘Rydal Mount’ and ‘Rydal Hall’. Continue walking down this road until you reach St Mary’s Church.
3. Directly opposite the church is a black gate. You can either go through this entrance to the Rydal waterfall or continue and enter Rydal Hall at the main entrance.
4. If you go through the gate, you will walk past Rydal Hall and the Quiet Gardens. Continue straight (for just a few minutes) until you are at a large, stone bridge. This bridge will give you views of the Rydal waterfall and Rydal Grot.
The bridge also has a signpost telling you a little more information about the waterfall and Rydal Grot.
5. If you have entered through the main Rydal Hall entrance, walk past the landscaped gardens, and take a right when you reach the stone wall. Go down a few stairs, then turn left towards the large, stone bridge. This is again the viewpoint for Rydal waterfall.
6. If you want to get closer to Rydal waterfall, you will need to walk back on yourself and leave the stone bridge. Head through the ‘Quiet Gardens’ on your left, and down the steps. This will take you to Rydal Grot and along the beck of the waterfall.
Where to park for the Rydal Waterfall
There are a few places to park to visit the Rydal waterfall. The most popular option is the Pelter Bridge car park, as it is just a 5-minute walk away. However, it can get busy!
If it’s peak time, you can park a little further away at the White Moss car park, but just be aware that you will need to walk 20-25 minutes to then reach the waterfall.
Another option is to park on the side of the road by St Mary’s Church. There is limited parking here, and it’s often full, but it’s worth checking.
Just note the hill toward Rydal Mount is quite steep and narrow and is a dead-end. There is enough room to turn around if needs be.
Opening times and prices for the Rydal Waterfall
Both Rydal Hall and the waterfall are entirely free to visit. If you are parking IN Rydal Hall (the car park is usually closed so I don’t recommend relying on it) you will need to pay for parking.
You can visit the waterfall at any time of day. If any of the gates are closed, they will not be locked (at least until nightfall), so just give them a push or check the latch.
Can you swim in Rydal waterfall?
No. You cannot swim anywhere in Rydal Hall or near the Rydal waterfall. But don’t worry, there are plenty of wild swimming spots nearby, such as Rydal Water, Windermere and Coniston Water.
How to visit the Rydal Waterfall: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it. Everything you need to know about reaching the Rydal waterfall and visiting Rydal Hall.
As always, if you have any questions or worries about your trip to the Lake District, contact me on my Instagram or in the comments below.
Happy travelling!
Jennie 🙂 x
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
