Most famous for the poet William Wordsworth and the quaint, old Grasmere Gingerbread shop, the village of Grasmere sits in the heart of the Lake District and is one of the most picturesque places to visit.
This guide will help you plan your visit to Grasmere, decide what to do and where to eat, and provide walking ideas from short strolls to hill walks!
Let’s get stuck in…
Things to do in Grasmere
Visit Dove Cottage and learn about poet William Wordsworth
Set on the edge of Grasmere village, Dove Cottage was the former home of Cumbrian-born poet William Wordsworth, who lived in the village from December 1799 to May 1808. William wrote many of his greatest poems, living alongside his sister Dorothy, who kept an extensive journal of her time in Grasmere.
Dove Cottage has been lovingly restored to reflect what life would have been like for the Wordsworths, and each room features stories and anecdotes from their writing. You can find many of the original works in the recently refurbished museum, which also features reflections from contemporary poets and an activity table for younger visitors.
Finish your visit with a stroll in the orchard garden behind the house, which features exhibits and listening posts with QR codes linking to stories and poetry and has views over the surrounding hills. Explore the latest changing exhibitions in the main building.
I’ve loved my multiple visits to Dove Cottage; even as someone who isn’t particularly into poetry, I found the museum and cottage really insightful into life in the Lake District from days gone by.
You can find the latest visitor information about Dove Cottage here.
Pick up some famous gingerbread from Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
The primary reason many people visit Grasmere – and it’s well worth the trip!
Sweet and spicy, the gingerbread is a cross between a cake and a biscuit. Grasmere Gingerbread has been made in the cosy little shop near St Oswald’s church since 1854, where it was first invented by local cook Sarah Nelson, who sold the gingerbread from the tree stump outside the house and quickly gained a reputation amongst locals and visitors for the delicious treat.
You can read more about the history of Grasmere Gingerbread here.
The shop also sells rum butter, fudge, mint cake, and a range of gingerbread-flavoured items.
Top tips: on weekends and school holidays, the queue for gingerbread at the tiny shop can be HUGE, so if you can, get there early! Grasmere Gingerbread also has a shop in Hawkshead, which tends to be a little less busy.
Visit at: Grasmere Gingerbread, Church Cottage, Grasmere, Ambleside, LA22 9SW. The shop is open from around 9.15-4.30, depending on the season, and is closed Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Go for a stroll through the neighbouring Wordsworth Daffodil garden
Once you’ve picked up your gingerbread, head to the neighbouring local community park to enjoy your gingerbread. The bricks are engraved with the names of those who have donated towards the ongoing maintenance of the adjacent church, where Wordsworth is buried (you can also visit his grave). The park is at its peak in spring (late Feb to late March) when the wild daffodils are out in bloom.
Explore the house and gardens of Allan Bank (look out for red squirrels!)
Pay a visit to the historic villa of Allan Bank, a short walk from the centre of Grasmere, which has had a range of inhabitants over the years, including Wordsworth and his family for three years and Canon Rawnsley, the founder of the National Trust.
Whilst the villa itself is a *little* sparse on detail and furniture (it was only opened to the public in 2012 and is described as a ‘work in progress’), the gardens and grounds are one of the best places to spot red squirrels in the Lake District on the short woodlands trail around the grounds.
During the school holidays, the National Trust run themed family workshops such as pumpkin carving, Christmas crafts and Easter egg hunts.
You can find the latest opening times and admission fees to Allan Bank here.
Browse the latest art exhibition at Heaton Cooper Studio
The Heaton Copper Studio is a celebration of the artist William Heaton Copper, who produced a range of distinctive paintings of the Lake District and Cumbria from the 1880’s until his death in 1929. The studio exhibits this work, alongside an art and homeware bookshop, and a popular Scandinavian cafe, Mathelides.
The third gallery is used for changing exhibitions from local, UK and international artists throughout the year. A great spot to visit on a rainy day in Grasmere.
You can check out upcoming exhibitions at Heaton Copper Studios here.
Take a stroll to Grasmere Lake or hire a rowing boat from Faeryland
Grasmere lake is a short 1-mile stroll from the village itself, with the option to do a circular walk or continue on the Rydal Water. If you’re looking for a more leisurely activity, head to Faerylands cafe, where you can hire a rowing boat for an hour for up to four people.
Short walks that start from Grasmere
Grasmere is an excellent location for a number of short walks, both flat and heading up into the surrounding hills
Best for…a flat, short walk: the Riverside Loop Walk
An easy, flat walk along the banks of the River Rothay with views of the surrounding hills. Find more details on the Grasmere riverside loop walk here.
Best for a stroll by water….Grasmere (lake) walk (with options to extend to Rydal/Loughrigg Terrace)
The walk to Grasmere (lake) is around a mile long from the centre of the village, firstly along a fairly quiet road before dropping down to a footpath along the lake shore.
You can walk there and back to the lakeshore, or continue on for a circular walk around the lake, or even extend the route towards Rydal Caves and Loughrigg.
Best for woodland walk….High Close and Red Bank Woods
Redbank Wood is on the shores of the lake, and you can choose the lower lake path or head up the steeper path, which connects to the Loughrigg Terrace route. Best enjoyed in autumn, when the colours are stunning!)
You can find the full walk here (starting from White Moss Woods) or combine this for a longer walk from Grasmere.
Best for….a short hill walk: Sour Milk Ghyll and Easedale Tarn
One of the most popular walks starting from Grasmere – but for good reason! This walk can get quite busy at peak times, so I’d advise starting early or starting later in the afternoon. The path climbs steadily from the village up an uneven path alongside Sour Milk Ghyll, keep looking back to enjoy the views of Grasmere and look out for the waterfall en route! You can return via the same route or enjoy a circular walk back to the village. You can find the full walk here
Easedale Tarn is the perfect spot for a picnic and a paddle, a dip, or a swim if you’re feeling brave! There are also options to extend this walk over towards the Langdale Valley.
Best for a day walk: Circular walk of Grasmere and Rydal along Coffin Route
One of my favourite circular walks in the Lake District with spectacular views over Grasmere (lake) and Rydal Water, part of the route is so called because coffins used to be carried along the path from Ambleside to the consecrated church in Grasmere. The whole route is around 6 miles, with an undulating path for many parts, but you can also use the regular running 599 circuit just to do a small section or half the walk.
You can find the full walk here
Hill walks that start from Grasmere
- Helm Crag – One of the most popular hill walks from Grasmere, a steep but short hill walk up to the 405m summit and is a brilliant half-day walk that starts right from the village. If you’re looking for a longer day out in the hills, the walk can be extended to include Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell.
- Alcock Tarn – An enjoyable hill walk to a high mountain tarn with excellent views back over the village. The walk can be done as a circular or an out-and-back route, and can be extended to include Nab Scar or Heron Pike for a longer hill day.
- Silver How – Slightly less popular than Helm Crag, but with stunning views over Grasmere, Rydal and Langdale, this is another fairly straightforward hill walk suitable for a range of ages and starting from near the grounds of Allan Bank.
Places to visit that are close to Ambleside
Where to eat and drink in Grasmere
Cafes in Grasmere
- Lucia’s Coffee and Bakehouse: excellent cinnamon buns and homemade focaccia sandwiches. Almost everything here is made from scratch, including sourdough loaves on Fridays. Limited seating, but lots of options for takeaway to head into the nearby hills
- Mathelides in Heaton Copper Studio – a Scandinavian-inspired menu, with delicious seasonal cakes and even homemade marshmallows to add to the indulgent hot chocolate
- Baldry’s – a lovely old-fashioned style cafe with an extensive menu (the rarebit is to die for) and lots of tasty homemade cakes
- Freda and Ray’s – excellent local coffee, breakfast rolls and sandwiches
- Grasmere Tea Gardens – a simple menu with lovely riverside views
Restaurants in Grasmere
- The Jumble Room – a small and quirky family-run restaurant with an innovative menu – think miso caramel fillet steak, Lebanese lamb stew, not to be missed deep fried, Biscoff-centred bombalinos (mini doughnuts). Advanced booking essential.
- The Yan, located just outside Grasmere on the road towards Keswick, is a family-run bistro with rooms set within a 17th-century converted sheep farm. A seasonally changing menu with British classics using local Cumbrian produce such as Grasmere Herdwick shepherd’s pie and locally sourced venison meatballs. The Yan is a special place to refuel after a day on the hills.
Fine Dining in Grasmere
- Forest Side – One of a number of Michelien-starred restaurants in the Lake District, set on the fringes of Grasmere, the restaurant benefits from a sizeable on-site kitchen garden, foraging for local produce, and a range of tasting menu options for lunch and dinner.
Pubs and Bars in Grasmere
- Tweedies Bar – a family-run bar in the heart of Grasmere with frequently changing ales and craft beers, a log fire, and a sizeable beer garden and home-cooked (if a little pricey) food. Check out live music from local musicians on Friday evenings.
- The Swan – an old coaching house inn from 1650, The Swan has been recently refurbished and offers a wide range of drinks, a cosy fire in winter, and a beer garden with fell views in summer.
- The Distillers Arms – the tap room for the locally made Grasmere Gin (with whisky arriving in late 2027), a riverfront beer garden and home-cooked food.
- Travellers Rest – on the road north of Grasmere heading towards Dunmail Raise, perfect for a post walk pint after climbing Helm Crag or Stone Arthur.
If you are self-catering, there is a small Co-op supermarket open 7 days a week (usually between 8 am and 8 pm, with longer hours in summer).
Where to shop in Grasmere
- Sam Read Bookseller – a cosy, independent bookshop dating from 1887 with an eclectic range of fiction and non-fiction. A small children’s section and plenty of maps and guides to the local area.
- Grasmere Gather – a brilliant range of local artisan makers, designers and artists from Herdwick wool garments, locally made chutneys and jams, art, candles and stoneware – one of the best places to find locally made gifts to take home.
- The Chocolate Cottage – a family-run chocolate shop bursting with truffles and treats.
- Lakes Art Gallery – original artwork and prints from over 50 local artists
- Heaton Cooper Studio – originals and prints of artist William Heaton Cooper’s Lake District landscape art.
- Grasmere Gingerbread – a cross between a ginger biscuit and a cake, this delicious treat has been made in Grasmere since 1854.
How to get to Grasmere by public transport
Grasmere can be reached by the following bus services:
- The 555 bus runs between Keswick and Lancaster (calling at Windermere Train Station, where you can get a feeder train to Oxenholme Station on the edge of Kendal for frequent services to London, Manchester and Scotland). The service runs every half an hour in summer and every hour in winter (with more frequent services at peak time in winter).
- The 599 runs between Bowness and Grasmere, calling at Windermere Station, and operates every 30 minutes in winter and every 20 minutes in high season from March to November.
In summer, a limited-service X8 also runs from Chorley, Preston, and Lancaster.
You can find out more about the bus services in the Lake District here.
Parking in Grasmere
There is very limited roadside parking within the village, with a maximum of half an hour to an hour. Free parking can also be found in various lay-bys on the A591, but these tend to fill up quickly, especially on summer or good-weather days!
Grasmere has 4 main car parks operated by the national park authority, as follows:
- Thirten Valley’s Car Park near Grasmere Gather
- Stock Lane Car Park at the southern end of the village
- Broadgate Meadow Car Park
- Red Bank Road Car Park
I hope you’ve found this guide useful! Do let me know if you think anything needs adding or updating!
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