Rydal

Parking at Rydal is limited, and below are listed the places that you can park for free. Remember the whole area between Ambleside and Grasmere Village can be very busy with visitors, many of whom will also need to park a car. There are pay-to-stay car parks at Pelter Bridge and White Moss Common.

Rydal is just under a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide and is split into two basins by the central islands. The south basin is deeper than the north. The main species of interest to the angler are pike, perch and roach.

The pike especially are present in substantial numbers, averaging seven or eight pounds but with plenty of doubles and twenties to satisfy the specialist angler. A new fishery record was set in 2005 with a magnificent fish that bottomed out a set of 31lb Avon scales.

The western shore has a public footpath along the shoreline which varies from busy to incredibly busy. The eastern shore is a different prospect altogether giving permit holders access to the more private shoreline alongside the A591.

As with Grasmere, parking can be difficult. You might squeeze in by the church in Rydal Village, or into a pull-in close to the Glen Rothay Hotel.