Hidden Gems to find in Grasmere

Grasmere can be a popular place for tourists, so why not try some of these lesser-known hidden gems… 

  • The Wordsworth Daffodil Garden

Opening in 2003 as a community project by the Friends of Grasmere, the Wordsworth Memorial Garden is a stunning little greenery situated between St Oswald’s Church and the River Rothay. The purpose of the garden is to celebrate the life of Wordsworth and was inspired by his famous poem ‘The Daffodils.’ Beside the beck is a commemorative slate. Visitors are allowed to sponsor a bulb or wild shrub to be planted and have their names beside the flower engraved on a Lakeland slate stone. Funds rasied from the project are used to protect and maintain Grasmere village. 

  • Church Stile

Church Stile is a pretty, quaint row of 17th century cottages in Grasmere village, which is home to a Grade II listed cottage dating back to 1662. The National Trust now owns the row, with the cottages once providing accommodation to Wordsworth and his brother whilst they were visiting the lakes in 1719 when they operated at the Robert Newton’s Inn. It is now home of a little National Trust gift shop.

  • The Grot at Rydal Hall

Hidden away deep within the grounds of Rydal Hall, The Grot was a beloved place of William Wordsworth and was designed in 1668 as a viewing station to frame the stunning Rydal Falls. The Grot is a Grade II listed building and is still used as a viewing platform today; it is a simple stone building with a door, a large window framing the falls and plunge pool with a stone bridge above it. The Grot is thought to be one of Britain’s earliest known viewing stations and became a popular attraction in the late 18th century.

  • White Moss Waterfall

One of Grasmere’s lesser known waterfalls, White Moss is a small waterfall to the east of the car park at White Moss Common. It falls between moss covered trees over a series of rocks and is a tranquil little spot ideal for a day of escaping the crowds. 

  • Rydal Cave

A short distance away from Grasmere, Rydal Cave is a disused quarry carved within the slopes of Loughrigg Fell above Rydal Water. The cave is free to explore and accessible via a short, steep walk from White Moss car park. There are a number of handy stepping-stones leading into the caves to avoid getting your feet wet! If you wish to extend your exploration after visiting the cave, continue on to the summit of Loughrigg Fell above the quarry.