Walk the Wordsworth Way

Views of Helvellyn, Striding & Swirral Edge and surrounding mountains above Glenridding in the Lake District

Overview

The Wordsworth Way is a 14-mile (22.5-kilometre) long-distance walk in the Lake District, taking in some of the famous poet’s favourite landscapes. The route runs between Glenridding and Ambleside and is also part of the Coast to Coast path and the Ullswater Way. It is a linear walk that you can complete in one day or split into four sections for shorter hikes.

You can choose to do one walk during your trip, or all of them over consecutive days if you fancy more of a challenge. Literary fans will love discovering the nature that inspired so many of his works.

The walk is a new route which launched on William Wordsworth’s 255th birthday on 7th April 2025.

How difficult is it to walk the Wordsworth Way?

The Wordsworth Way has varying levels of difficulty and is suitable for all types of walkers, from the most adventurous to those who prefer a gentle stroll. Most of the route is low-level, although there are some parts of the walk that take you higher up into the fells, which can be a little more challenging. The route is clearly waymarked.

If you’d prefer a shorter walk, you can choose to complete one of the sections instead of doing the entire 14 miles (22.5 kilometres). The walk is split into four sections, with one linear walk and then three circular routes, totalling 21 miles (33.8 kilometres). The walks are:

Walk 1: Early Life, Exploration and Natural Education
Walk 2: Home at Grasmere
Walk 3: Family Connections
Walk 4: Later Life, Friends and Acquaintances

Be sure to check the weather conditions before setting out on your walk – the staff at the Youth Hostel will be able to help. The weather in the Lake District can change quickly so come prepared with layers, waterproof clothing, and sturdy hiking boots. Always carry a paper map with you as a backup.

Who was William Wordsworth?

William Wordsworth was an English poet who was a key figure in the Romantic movement. He was born in Cockermouth before attending Cambridge University. He then moved back to the Lake District to Dove Cottage in Grasmere in 1799. One of Wordsworth’s favourite pastimes was walking near his home in the Lakes.

What is Wordsworth’s most famous poem?

One of William Wordsworth’s most famous poems is ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’, a Romantic poem which is said to have been inspired by a walk in the Lake District. During the walk in the early 1800s with his younger sister, William and Dorothy saw a large stretch of daffodils on the shore of Ullswater. The poem is also known as ‘Daffodils’.

Can I get a Wordsworth Way map?

You can download GPX files of the four walks from the Friends of the Ullswater Way website. A guidebook by Jade Cookson is also on sale in local shops and information centres.

Along the Wordsworth Way, you’ll see locations that were important in the poet’s life such as:

Glenridding
Dove Cottage, Grasmere
Rydal Mount
Helvellyn
Grisedale Tarn
Greenhead Gill
Grasmere
Ambleside
Brothers Parting Stone

Highlights of the Wordsworth Way

Brothers Parting Stone

The Brothers Parting Stone, or Wordsworth Stone as it’s also known, can be seen opposite Cofa Pike. Words from a Wordsworth poem written in memory of the last time he and Dorothy saw their brother John are etched into the stone. He died four years later in a shipwreck. The stone has a metal plaque to identify it.

Grasmere

In the beautiful village of Grasmere, you’ll find Grasmere Gingerbread, which used to be a schoolhouse where Wordsworth’s children went. You can also visit the graves of William Wordsworth and other members of his family at St Oswald’s Church.

Greenhead Gill

The valley of Greenhead Gill inspired Wordsworth’s poem ‘Michael’. There is a bench at the top of a steep path where you can sit and look out over the dramatic drop and the beautiful valley.

Dove Cottage

Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage in Grasmere from 1799 to 1808. He wrote many of his famous poems here, and his three oldest children were born at the house. There is a museum at Dove Cottage that you can visit to learn more.

Rydal Mount

Rydal Mount was Wordsworth’s home from 1814 until he died in 1850, when he was 80 years old. The house dates back to the 16th century and has five acres of landscaped gardens with terraces, flowers, and water features.

Please note there is an admission fee to explore the house and gardens.

How to get to the Wordsworth Way from YHA Ambleside

The full route of the Wordsworth Way starts in Glenridding and ends in Ambleside, so you can choose to do it the opposite way around if you’d prefer to start from the Youth Hostel.

Alternatively, Glenridding is around 14.8 miles (23.8 kilometres) from YHA Ambleside. This is just over a 30-minute drive or an hour’s journey by public transport. There isn’t a direct bus between the two, so you will need to change buses on route.

If you are completing the walk in sections, the starting points for each one are: