Lake District Wordsworth Tour: Grasmere, Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount

Wordsworth planted a field of daffodils for his daughter Dora, and you'll stand where he did it.

A half-day Wordsworth tour from Windermere takes you through Grasmere village and along Rydal Water to the homes and graves that shaped one of England's greatest poets. Small groups of no more than seven travel in a minivan with an expert guide who shares the stories behind each stop: St Oswald's Church where the Wordsworths worshipped, Dove Cottage where William and his sister Dorothy lived from 1799, and Rydal Mount, his family home for 37 years. Entry to Rydal Mount is included. The tour departs from Ambleside, Bowness or Windermere at your chosen time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Grasmerepass by
2. Rydal Waterpass by
3. Rydal Mount10m
4. Bowness-on-Windermerepass by

Explore Wordsworth's Lake District sites

• Drive to Grasmere Village
• Visit St Oswald's Church and family graves
• Pass by Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
• See Allan Bank from outside
• Visit Dove Cottage (entry not included)
• Drive along Grasmere lake shore
• Pass Rydal Water and Nab Cottage
• Visit Rydal Mount and gardens
• Visit Rydal Hall Gardens
• Visit Rydal Church and Dora's Field
• Drive into Ambleside passing Bridge House

The experience

How do you follow a poet's life through the places that inspired him? This tour moves through the Lake District villages and lakeside views Wordsworth loved, stopping at the actual houses, churches and gardens where he lived and worked. You'll see Grasmere village, where St Oswald's Church holds the Wordsworth family graves: one of the most visited spots in the Lake District. The guide walks you through the story of why the family left Dove Cottage in 1808 when three children arrived in four years, and how they later moved to Rydal Mount in 1813, the house Wordsworth himself enlarged and where he designed a five-acre garden of fell-side terraces and rock pools that still stands as he laid it out.

The tour includes entry to Rydal Mount, a 16th-century house owned by Wordsworth's descendants and kept as a lived-in family home with the family's portraits and possessions. You'll also visit Rydal Hall Gardens, designed in 1909 by Arts and Crafts architect Thomas Mawson, where a 500-year-old Sweet Chestnut tree grows and water crashes over high waterfalls through a wooded ravine. Near Rydal Church (which Wordsworth helped site and where he served as church warden) lies Dora's Field, the plot he bought and later planted with hundreds of daffodils in memory of his daughter after her death in 1847. The drive passes Rydal Water and Nab Cottage, where Thomas de Quincey and later Hartley Coleridge (son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge) lived, weaving the wider circle of Romantic poets through the landscape.

The minivan seats no more than seven, with air-conditioning, WiFi and charging points. You'll have regular photo and comfort stops, and the guide shares facts and stories in English throughout. Pickup is from Ambleside, Bowness or Windermere depending on which option you choose. The tour lasts roughly three and a half hours and returns you to your starting point. Wear waterproof outerwear and comfortable shoes suitable for uneven or wet terrain, as there is some walking involved and Lake District weather can shift quickly.

What’s included

• Small-group tour with no more than seven guests.
• minivan transport with air-conditioning, WiFi and device charging.
• entry to Rydal Mount.
• regular photo and comfort stops.
• professional guide sharing stories and facts in English.
• pickup and return from your chosen meeting point in Ambleside, Bowness or Windermere.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English09:20

Guide in English09:08

Guide in English09:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00, 09:08 and 09:20

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by English Lakes Tours

Is this one for you?Choose your departure time based on where you're staying: Windermere at 9:00am, Bowness at 9:08am, or Ambleside at 9:20am. The small group size means you'll move at a relaxed pace with time to linger at each stop, and the minivan handles the driving so you can focus on the stories and the landscape rather than navigation.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What was Dove Cottage and why did Wordsworth leave it?

Dove Cottage, on the outskirts of Grasmere village, was where William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy set up home in 1799. They left in 1808 after three children arrived in four years and needed larger lodgings at Allan Bank on a hill overlooking the village.

Is entry to Rydal Mount included in the tour price?

Yes, entry to Rydal Mount is included. The house, owned by Wordsworth's descendants, contains the family's portraits and possessions and sits within a five-acre garden Wordsworth designed himself.

Which departure points are available and what time does the tour start?

You can choose pickup from Windermere at 9:00am, Bowness at 9:08am, or Ambleside at 9:20am. Let the operator know which point you've selected so they collect you from the right location.

What is Dora's Field and why is it significant?

Dora's Field is a plot of land next to Rydal Church that Wordsworth bought in 1826. After his daughter Dora died in 1847, he planted hundreds of daffodils there as a memorial, and you'll see the field during the tour.

How much walking is involved and what should I wear?

There is some walking on the tour, including uphill sections and terrain that may be uneven or wet. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof coat with a hood, as Lake District weather can change quickly even in summer.