A Wintry visit to Rydal Mount, Cumbria.
By Janey
28 comments
Travelling from Ambleside in Cumbria to Grasmere, Rydal Mount, the beloved family home of William Wordsworth nestles into the hillside which forms the backdrop of the pretty village of Rydal. Though we had travelled this route many times over the years, we hadn’t ever visited the house or explored the gardens, so what better time than the middle of March to view those famous ‘Daffodils’. Ha ha, the weather gremlins were out to play and Spring turned her back, the bitter arctic winds keeping those green buds tightly closed except for one sheltered clump braving the cold blast.
The eastern approach to the house. The original yeoman style farm cottage dates from the mid 16th century but was added on to by the Knott family in 1750.
The south facing entrance shows views through a terraced garden to Lake Windermere. The garden and views were the inspiration to many of his famous romantic poems, the most notable being ‘Daffodils’.
No internal photographs were allowed as the house is still a family home to his descendants, the rooms are beautiful, adorned with paintings of his wife Mary, daughter Dora and sister Dorothy and many references are made to his friends Byron, Burns and Coleridge in letters and paintings.
Seven members of the family lived here at the time, William, Mary, their three children, his sister Dorothy and sister in law Sarah. All were keen gardeners and between them they created wonderful gardens from the four acre site.
This is Isabella’s terrace, named for a friend of the family showing winter colour still in the icy air.
A clump of small Daffodils braving the chill….it will look fabulous in a few weeks when they are all in flower.
Further along the terrace there are views of Rydal Water with a backdrop of wintry hills.
Edging the path snowdrops are still fresh, I wonder if these are a very old type?
Somewhere to sit and admire the distant view of Lake Windermere.
The path now leads on to Dora’s terrace.
To the south of the house is a Norse mound dating from the 9th century used as a look out and warning point.
Could this be a local Norseman come to warn us of invaders????….:o))
Wordsworth and his family are buried here in St Oswald’s churchyard in Grasmere.
A memorial stone dedicated to the famous poet
Hopefully next time we visit there’ll be more colour in the gardens, this could be the first of four visits…..Gardens in winter…..roll on Gardens in Spring…..:o)))
26 Mar, 2013
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Comments
Most interesting Janey, a really beautiful setting for a house and garden....hope it is a lot warmer for your next visit.....
26 Mar, 2013
Thanks Cinders....it is an amazing place isn't it? I bet it looks stunning then....:))
26 Mar, 2013
Pleased you enjoyed it Dd and Hb, yes we are looking forward to seeing the gardens later in the year...:)
26 Mar, 2013
Very interesting blog and lovely photos, it does look a wonderful place to visit.
26 Mar, 2013
Thanks for sharing This wonderful scenery Janey:-O))))))))
27 Mar, 2013
So beautiful in the Lake District - thanks for reminding me. :-))
Those snowdrops are Leocojum vernum by the way.
27 Mar, 2013
love those snowdrops, very pretty!
27 Mar, 2013
Very interesting. It's a beautiful place :o)
27 Mar, 2013
Thanks Louisa, yes a beautiful place with stunning views...will be great to see it in better weather...:))
You're welcome Junna, pleased you like it.....just a bit colder than where you are...Lol!
Oh thanks Barbara....Snowflakes!
Aren't they just Jenny....as Spritz has let me know...Snowflakes....
Thanks Hywel.....this was just a small outline of what there is there, the sort of place you want to linger when it's warmer....:))
27 Mar, 2013
A lovely atmospheric blog Janey, we also visited last year, I think its a place you could keep returning to throughout the year and always se something new, thanks for sharing;0)
27 Mar, 2013
Very interesting Janey I wish we had been with you :o) The only thing I can remember about Grasmere going back many many years is it's ginger biscuits they were delicious :o)) x
27 Mar, 2013
Thanks Carole.....yes, a smashing place, hey you're in Lancashire, we could all meet up in Cumbria...tea on the lawn at Rydal Mount.....:)))))
Wish you had too Amy.....lovely walks for Lottie...:))
The gingerbread house is next to the church on the right there...I'd taken gingerbread with us.....wasn't very gingery though, the remains of my tub....lol!
27 Mar, 2013
What a great idea will have to think of something for later in the year;0)
27 Mar, 2013
Yes, let's do that!......:))))
27 Mar, 2013
Tony said your ginger bread was very nice Janey ,he likes ginger bread .. thats a brilliant idea , do you think we could put in an order for sunshine when we have tea on the lawn that would make it perfect ..
27 Mar, 2013
What a lovely blog, thank you, I so enjoyed 'walking' around with you!
28 Mar, 2013
A very entertaining blog, Janey! I'd never seen his cottage before. Looks like an idyllic surround! I've wanted to visitthe Lake District but have never been able to. Perhaps, one of these days ...
28 Mar, 2013
Ha ha Thanks Tony.......I'm sure we could Amy......it could be a long while coming though...lol!
Thanks Lulu and Balc.....really worth a trip, you'd love it!
28 Mar, 2013
We were in the Lakes from the 18th until the 21st March, but sadly we just drove past Rydal this time. I so enjoyed seing all your lovely photos and wish that we too had called in!
Thank you.
It is a beautiful part of the country isn't it. Around every corner there is yet another exquisite view.
Have you discovered 'The Apple Pie' in Ambleside?!
31 Mar, 2013
Hello Wildrose...we were there the same time as you, and yes even in the dreariest days it's still stunning....:))
No, we haven't stayed there, it does look lovely though. What I did discover was a branch of Cotton Traders where I bought a pair of sheepskin boots half price....lol!
1 Apr, 2013
Our first stop was at an outdoors shop in Ambleside! My husband bought fleece lined trousers and I bought a windproof jacket also with a fleece lining! I lived in it the whole time!
The Apple Pie is a tea room which sells the most wonderful apple pie along with other lovely things!
We stayed near Ullswater at Glenridding.
1 Apr, 2013
Ooh, wasn't it cold! We'll look out for it next time we visit, we spent a lot of time in cafes and tea rooms....lol!
1 Apr, 2013
great poet awesome poem like that part of the poem greatly.
just feel like taken deep breaths looking at your wonderful photos. from jane.
21 Jun, 2013
Thanks Jane, pleased you like them, wow was it cold, we had to come home early to beat the snow.......having another few days there again soon....:))
21 Jun, 2013
hope you have a blog on the few days you spend there and may be a few photos. from jane. :)
22 Jun, 2013
Thanks I hope we get a couple of sunny days....hoping to go to Levens Hall, to see the topiary....:))
22 Jun, 2013
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Lovely blog Janey, I was there back in the summer last year. So beautiful.
26 Mar, 2013