Rydal Cave is a big quarried opening in Loughrigg Fell above Rydal Water, cut by slate men and now standing empty. The mouth is large enough to walk into, with a shallow pool crossed on stepping stones just inside. It’s an easy, popular walk up from Rydal or on a loop around the lake, and free. The stones can be slippery and the ground uneven, so tread carefully. Windermere is the nearest station, about 9km south-east.

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