Staying in Ambleside Hotels in the Rydal Valley

The beautiful Rydal valley is in the heart of the Lake District.

Ambleside hotels in the Rydal Valley are ideally placed for walking or sightseeing with almost all areas of the Lake District being reachable within an hour’s drive. There are many walks in the immediate area, from the Fairfield Horseshoe at over 2600 ft to low level walks alongside lakes and tarns in the valley. Several detailed walks in the area can be found our bedroom folders, from books in our two lounges and in local booksellers.

Ambleside has grown over the years to a thriving village that has many wonderful shops, restaurants and cafes. One of the largest garden centres in the UK is 20 minutes walk away, with the Cinema and Park less that 15 minutes. Ambleside hotel and bed and breakfast owners will happily recommend places to eat. Waterhead, which is 30 minutes walk or a 5 minute drive away, is the jumping off place for catching the ferries that will take you to Bowness and Lakeside on Windermere Lake.

Beyond Grasmere lies Keswick, the gateway to the Borrowdale Valley. A more rougher scene is set out before you as this is the setting for many of the highest mountains in the Lakes. Continuing through Borrowdale will take you over Honister Pass and down towards Buttermere and Crummock Water.

To the east lies Ullswater, a beautiful scenic drive over Kirkstone Pass will take you down along its shores and to Aira Force, where the impressive waterfalls thunder down into the lake. To the West is Hawkshead and Coniston, where there are wonderful walks to be had amongst the forests and woods with Coniston Old Man being a popular favourite.

Windermere and Kendal are south of us, with Kentmere Valley providing some lovely walks with a real sense of being tucked away. Around Winster and Newby Bridge can be found some great low level walks which take you away from the crowds and into some beautiful valleys and villages that are hidden from the tourists.

This brief description shows just how ideally placed hotels in Ambleside are for walks, shopping and scenic drives within the Lake District.