River Rothay

The River Rothay rises high in the Lake District fells near Rough Crag, flowing down through Greenburn Bottom to Helmside. Its name comes from Old Norse and means the red one, a reference to the colour of trout. The river gathers water from Easedale Tarn and the southern slopes of Fairfield and other fells. It passes close to Grasmere village where the poet Wordsworth is buried in the churchyard. After flowing through Grasmere lake the Rothay continues into Rydal Water a short distance away. The Rothay is a spate river, quick to rise after rain, and popular with anglers for its brown trout. Canoeists grade sections like the stretch between Grasmere and Rydal as 2+, suitable for moderate paddlers. Stepping stones near Ambleside provide a well-known crossing point for walkers. The river drains the two lakes and then flows south for about three miles before joining the River Brathay. Together they enter Windermere, the largest natural lake in England. Visitors find a landscape shaped by water and rock, with stepping stones and quiet paths beside the river. The stepping stones near Ambleside offer a place to pause and watch the water. Anglers fish for brown trout in recognised stretches of the river. The path along the Rothay links Grasmere and Rydal, passing through scenery shaped by Wordsworth’s time. The river’s flow tells the story of the fells it drains and the lakes it feeds.