The Coffin Trail and Rydal Cave in the Lake District

Rene Griffith
6 days ago
2 min read

It must have been very difficult to carry a coffin on this trail which was forged in medieval times to carry the deceased from small villages to burial grounds. And most recently from the village of Grassmere to St Mary’s church in Rydal in the early 1800’s. Stone benches were built along the route to rest the coffins. The 4.5 mile trail is very rocky and steep in parts and does pass by Dove Cottage, the former home of poet, William Wordsworth. The path itself is often bordered by dry stone walls partially reclaimed by ivy and moss, with ferns cascading from the crevices. The combination of ancient woodland, weathered stone, and the trail's haunting history creates a uniquely atmospheric hiking experience.

These stone benches were used to rest the coffins during the long journey on the trail.

We took a local Ambleside bus to the trailhead located at White Moss Commons for a beautiful hike to Rydal Cave and then on to the Coffin Trail. We passed fields of wild ferns and forests of ancient oak, ash, and birch trees along the steep woodland path to reach the cave. Rydal Cave is a man-made cavern carved out of the hillside as a former slate quarry rather than a natural cave formation.

Signs along the path, a creek, and the stone fence covered in moss along the trail.

The impressive arched opening and cathedral-like interior create a dramatic space that has become a popular destination for hikers. The slate was used locally for roofing tiles. Walking into the cave we encountered a pool of water with large stones we had to traverse to get to the back of the cavern where the slate had been cut. Hard to imagine cutting these chunks of stone and hauling them off the mountain a century ago! The cave sits partway up the fell and offers striking views across Rydal Water through its mouth, while inside, the smooth slate walls and vaulted ceiling create an almost church-like atmosphere.

The entrance to Rydal Cave where slate was cut from the mountain.

We continued along the trail meeting a few other hikers on their way to the Badger pub where people gathered for food and drink before continuing on their hike. The pub is known for their nightly feedings of live badgers when they come out to forage for food. We stopped to enjoy a pint (meaning beer, of course). Then meandered back to our trailhead location where we were able to catch the 555 bus back to the Waterhead Inn bus stop in Ambleside. Total hike for the day was 6 miles!