Travel Guide to… Grasmere

Grasmere is a quaint Lake District village located in the heart of Cumbria. It's a great place to enjoy many activities the Lakes is famed for like wild swimming, fell walking and eating some traditional food. 

Where to eat and drink

Grasmere has some excellent cafes to choose from like Lucia's Coffee and Bakehouse and Baldry’s. There is also the michelin-starred Forest Side restaurant which is the ultimate treat. They use their own produce which is grown on site and other locally sourced ingredients to create fantastic, colourful dishes. Tweedies Bar is a great place to chill after a day of fell walking and enjoy a local ale.

Where to sleep

Along with a plethora of cafes, there's also plenty of great bed and breakfasts and even a YHA hostel. The hostel is located just outside the centre of Grasmere and is perfect for meeting new people and having a fun experience. At the other end of the spectrum is The Grasmere Hotel, which is a 4 star family run hotel serving great food and has a beautifully maintained garden.

Where to shop

There are loads of outdoor clothing shops in Grasmere ranging from low budget like Mountain Warehouse to the more expensive like Cotswold Outdoor. Grasmere Garden Village is a great garden centre to pick up trinkets and souvenirs. Lakes Crafts is a lovely store filled with unusual things and quirky household items. You must also buy Grasmere gingerbread whilst visiting Grasmere to sample the famed secret recipe, which has been a tradition since 1854!

What to do

There is so much to do in Grasmere with one of the main walks in the area with great views is Helm Crag, known locally as the Lion and the Lamb due to the rock formations. Follow Easedale Road out of the village until you pass Little Parrock house on your right then take the next right to access the public footpath that leads up to Helm Crag. Another great walk is up to Easedale Tarn where you can also take a wild dip in Easedale tarn. If you don’t want to hike up to the tarn for a swim, you can also enjoy a wild swim in Grasmere.

Be sure to check out our Great Stuff range of Grasmere souvenirs by clicking here.