When is the best time to visit Grasmere?

Grasmere is a beautiful place to visit all year round, however there are pros and cons depending on which season you visit…

  • Spring  (March- June)

Spring is a beautiful season in the Lake District; lambs are jumping around the fields and fells, daffodils are blooming and tourists are returning following the quieter winter months. Grasmere is a great place to be in the spring, with plenty going on as the village begins to open up following winter…

  • Vibrantly coloured spring walks… 

Walks around Grasmere’s gardens and woodland provide endless opportunities to spot new wildlife and blooms including bluebells, snowdrops and of course, daffodils. The spring daffodil was a favourite sight of poet William Wordsworth who was inspired by the bloom to write his most famous poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ or now more commonly known as simply ‘Daffodils.’ Wordsworth wrote the poem in Dove Cottage at Town End. 

  • A walk around the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden is a perfect springtime activity. The gardens opened in 2003 as a community project by the Friends of Grasmere to celebrate the life of William Wordsworth and were inspired by his poem and love of Grasmere. During springtime, the garden is filled with bright, fresh daffodils, making it easy to see why the poet was so heavily inspired by the beauty of these flowers. 

  • Grasmere is home to a number of stunning gardens and woodland which are best viewed during springtime, such as Allan Bank, Highclose Gardens, Rydal Mount, Rydal Hall and Dove Cottage garden. 

  • Keep an eye out on the fields and fell-sides for new born lambs! Grasmere is home to Herdwick sheep; you can spot the lambs by their black fleeces, which lighten, as they get older.

  • Spring events…

  • In Town End at Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum, Easter events are often held including springtime trails and arts and crafts activities in the woodland for families. The National Trust also host fun Easter egg hunts at Allan Bank gardens, following a trail exploring 10 different locations around the grounds. Children get an Easter pack including an activity sheet, a chocolate egg and a packet of seeds to plant when they get home.

  • Summer (June- September)

Summer is the most popular time for visitors to the Lake District with warmer weather, longer days and public holidays encouraging tourists. Grasmere is often packed with people during the summertime making it a lively place to be! 

  • Outdoor activities

Anything outdoors is best enjoyed when the weather is warm and dry, with water sports and hiking being popular around Grasmere during summer. Water activities such as kayaking, rowing and wild swimming are popular on Grasmere lake and Rydal water; rowing boats can be hired from Faeryland on the lakeshore! However, there aren’t any major marinas on either lakes, but you are welcome to bring your own kayaks, canoes or paddleboards! 

  • Camping

Campsites in and nearby Grasmere such as Broadrayne Farm and BaysBrown re-open for the summer season between March-October. The warmer weather makes camping an ideal way to spend summer nights in Grasmere and often the cheapest way, due to hotels and accommodation often peaking in price during this busy time of year. 

  • Summer Events 

Grasmere is home to a range of summer events such as sporting challenges, car shows and the traditional ‘Grasmere Rush Bearing.’ 

  • Usually taking place on May bank holiday weekend, the Fred Whitton Saddleback Challenge begins and ends at Grasmere Sports field. The challenge has been taking place since 1999 in memory of Fred Whitton, a local man who was a popular member of the Lake Road Club. The event consists of a 114-mile Sportive ride around the Lake District and includes climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose pass. The challenge is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s for a good cause with proceeds going to MacMillian, the Air Ambulance and the Mountain Rescue. 

  • If you’re a lover of classic cars, you’ll not want to miss Grasmere’s annual Lakes Classic Car Show. The fun filled day in June involves seeing some magnificent classic cars, motorbikes, caravans, trucks and tractors. The event is hosted on the Grasmere Sportsfield and includes many attractions and games. Money raised from the event is donated to local charities. 

  • Grasmere celebrates its traditional rush bearing festival in mid-July; a religious ceremony where the floors of the local church were once renewed with fresh rushes. In Medieval times, the church floors were typically just bare earth and rushes were used as a way to cover the floor for cleanliness. In modern times, the floor of Grasmere church is paved, but the tradition of strewing rushes continues, with six local girls (‘the Rush Maidens’) carrying a white sheet of strewn rushes whilst there is a procession of people behind them holding rush-based ‘bearings’, in shapes of harps and crosses. At the end of the procession, there is a short church service then the children are given Grasmere Gingerbread to enjoy! 

  • Autumn (September-November) 

Autumn is a beautiful time in the Lake District, with summer crowds disappearing and autumn leaves falling, its time for wild, wrapped up walks, cosy pubs, hot chocolates and Halloween activities… 

  • Autumn coloured hikes…

Hiking around Grasmere during autumn is a beautiful time, with woodland walks being a great option to display the leaves changing colours alongside some of the grassier fells which showcase stunning purple heather and orange bracken.  Some vibrant woodland walks to explore near Grasmere include Lancrigg Woods and Helm Crag, Allan Bank and High Close Garden. Rydal Cave is also a great walk for a spooky explore around Halloween time!

  • Halloween activities

Grasmere is a fun town to be in during Halloween with plenty of things to keep the kids busy during October half term and maybe some scary activities for adults too! Allan Bank host a range of family Halloween activities including a popular Halloween Trail in the grounds which includes finding hidden pumpkins and exploring spooky tunnels! In the house at Allan Bank, there is a sinister billiards room with Halloween games, dress-up and arts and crafts activities. 

Dove Cottage also host Halloween events where kids can dress up in traditional Georgian costumes whilst listening to ‘Twlight Tales’ consisting of spooky, Cumbrian stories. The cottages learning space also includes Halloween crafts which can be enjoyed with a hot chocolate and gingerbread! 

  • Winter (November- February)

Winter is likely the quietest time of year in the Lake District with closed amenities and cold weather keeping many tourists away. This doesn’t mean Grasmere is off limits; it’s a great way to explore and enjoy the town without the crowds. Winter in Grasmere can mean stunning snowy hikes, cosy pubs with a roaring fire and festive Christmas days…  

  • Winter walks… 

Although short, dark days are common in winter, local walks can still be enjoyable with an early start, the right kit and skills. Nearby hills that are particularly beautiful in winter and snow include Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Cave, Helm Crag and Silver How. There’s no need to feel like you’re rushing home after a winter hike, accommodation in Grasmere is often at its lowest price during the winter months, so staying at a cosy hotel for a winters night is more affordable this time of year.

  • Cosy pubs 

Finding a cosy pub with a fire is a great way to end a winter’s day in Grasmere. Local pubs including the Traveller’s Rest and The Inn at Grasmere both have cosy, roaring fires to snuggle up next to with a pint of local ale and warming, homemade pub grub! 

  • Christmas activities 

Grasmere is a beautiful, festive village around Christmas time, with plenty of local businesses and shops ideal for Christmas shopping, alongside a variety of cosy, small cafes and pubs for an afternoon coffee or pint.  

  • Grasmere Village Hall often hosts an annual Christmas fair including crafts, gifts, food and antiques stalls with special visits from Father Christmas! 

  • Grasmere Gingerbread is often associated with the festive season and has often been described as ‘Christmas in a box’ due to its spicy taste! The famous shop is a special place to be at Christmas, with dressed up staff serving mulled wine and hot chocolate amongst stunning decorations. There are often queues out the door for the popular ‘Sarah Nelson’s Ginger and Rum Christmas Pudding!’ 

  • Rick Martin, the owner of Grasmere’s quirky attraction Faeryland, blends his own unique ‘Christmas Coffee’ during wintertime for the tea and coffee garden, consisting of Cinnamon and Cloves amongst other secret ingredients to create Christmas in a cup!