A LAKE District hotel is going green and welcoming guests to leave their cars at home.

Rydal Lodge Country House B&B, near Ambleside, wants to show visitors that they can have a full Lakeland experience on foot, bike or on public transport.

They have an on-site car park, a dream location near lakes and mountains, and a bus stop outside the front door.

Rydal Lodge is run by Helena and Mark Tendall who share growing concerns about volumes of traffic in the Lakes, and the high price of fuel.

Helena said: “You really don’t see the best of the Lake District from behind a steering wheel.”

So to persuade their guests to relax and leave their car keys behind each day, she and Mark have prepared a series of walking maps with easy-to-follow routes, all of which can be done from their garden gate.

There are five in the series so far, ranging in distance from two to six miles, and including the summit of Loughrigg fell which rises behind their house.

There are walks which include the shore of lovely Rydal Water, which can be reached from their back garden whose gate leads directly to Dipper Bridge over the River Rothay.

Helena and Mark point out that more strenuous walks can also be achieved from Rydal Lodge.

“Just across the road is the path that leads to the start of the Fairfield Horseshoe, with eight Wainwright summits to be bagged along the way,” says Mark.
“It’s also easy to reach Wansfell, Red Screes, Stone Arthur, Silver Howe and Helm Crag from here.”

Then there’s the convenience of the bus route which passes Rydal Lodge.

“We have guests who want to climb Helvellyn,” says Helena.

“They take the bus to Swirls, walk up from there, and along the summit ridge, coming down either to Wythburn or to Grasmere to catch the bus back.

“They all say what a good day out it is.”

Rydal Lodge is a former historic coaching inn set in extensive, quiet gardens which reach down to the banks of the River Rothay.

It’s an ideal place to wind down after a day on the hills, or to curl up inside with a book in the library, or a bottle of wine from the honesty bar. Across the road, ideal for dinners, is the popular Badger Bar.

As well as having a private car park for guests, Rydal Lodge is also used by travellers who come to the Lakes by train, to Windermere, and then catch a bus to their destination.

There are others who bring bikes, and for them, Mark and Helena can advise on the best routes for road and trails.

“And there’s a lock-up shed where bikes can be stored.

“This is what we want to encourage,” says Helena.

“Everyone is aware that they need to act more sustainably, and with a greater concern for the environment, and we are in a position to help Lake District visitors do just that.”

The five mapped walks available for guests are:

  • Rydal Water and Grasmere circular
  • High Sweden Bridge via Ambleside
  • Ambleside via Rydal Park, returning along the Rothay
  • A walk around Rydal Water visiting Rydal Caves
  • The ascent of Loughrigg Fell

For more information and books email info@rydallodge.co.uk or call 015394 33208, or visit https://www.rydallodge.co.uk/.