Walking and hiking routes
Miles without Stiles routes, easy access routes
The Ullswater area has 2 easy-access routes suitable for those with limited mobility, wheelchairs, trampers, pushchairs, visual impairments, young children and legs that need care. The routes have no stiles and are graded for some, many or all with descriptions on length, terrain, path type and facilities.
- 1. Miles Without Stiles – Pooley Bridge to Gale Bay (1.1 miles)
- 2. Miles Without Stiles – Brothers Water (2.3 miles)
The Ullswater Way
This 20 mile route around the lake has boat and bus stopping points, so you can walk it all or do a smaller section combined with a cruise on the water. Visit our Ullswater Way page and watch our video to see some of the spectacular views, then download the maps and plan your walk!
Hiking up Helvellyn
At 950 metres above sea level, Helvellyn is the third highest peak in England. On its eastern side, two sharp aretes lead off the summit of Striding and Swirral Edge. The knife-edged Striding Edge provides one of the best known scrambles in the Lake District.
- There are different ways to reach the summit, but all of them require you to be properly equipped. Please take a look at our checklist for walkers.
- Fell Top Assessors climb Helvellyn daily in winter to report Weatherline conditions. Join them on a Winter Skills Course to learn how to enjoy fells safely.
- Pop into Ullswater Information Centre for great advice on climbing Helvellyn.
Image credit: Steve Ashworth
Boat cruises, boat hire and sailing on Ullswater
Centres and clubs
Boat hire, kayaking and paddleboarding
For boat hire:
Kayak tours and paddle trails:
- Tall Bloke Adventures runs guided kayak tours on beautiful Ullswater. A great way to explore the islands, beaches and rocky shores of the lake. Leaves from Glenridding village. Explore dates for your next adventure.
- Paddle the Ullswater Canoe Trail.
Attractions and places to visit near Ullswater
Lowther Castle and gardens
Dramatic ruins, gardens within gardens, and one of the UK’s largest adventure playgrounds. Lowther won the Large Visitor Attraction of the year 2018 at the Cumbria Tourism Awards, and exploring the innovative renovation of this historic castle and grounds you’ll see why. Shop, cafés, free car parking and cycle hire make this a full day out.
Dalemain Historic House
Dalemain Estate includes a splendid house, gardens, a deer park and tenant farms. Dalemain became a manor house in Tudor times. Home to the Hasell family since 1680, it is open to visitors and on the Ullswater Way route.
More exciting attractions
- Rheged Centre – Rheged has indoor and outdoor play areas, a 3D cinema screen, family theatre, exhibition halls, a gallery, cafe, foodhall and shops.
- Rookin House Equestrian and Activity Centre
- Miller Farm Tours – Farm tours, sheepdog demonstrations and farm shop, near Penruddock.
Towns, villages and more places around Ullswater
Glenridding
This small village at the foot of Ullswater is a popular starting point for walkers and climbers going up Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain – includes Striding and Swirral Edges.
- You can catch steamers from here – see Ullswater ‘Steamers’ for timetables.
- You can hire rowing boats and bicycles in the summer from St Patricks Boat Landing and get tuition or hire canoes from the Sailing Centre in the village.
- There are a selection of shops. Pop into our Information Centre next to the car park for gifts, books, maps and lots of local knowledge!
- There are two hotels, B&B and self catering properties in the village, many are family and dog-friendly. There is also a campsite, bunkhouse and Youth Hostel.
Patterdale
This village is just shy of the shores of Ullswater. It includes a pub, hotel and a post office. It’s a welcome refuelling stop for hikers coming down off the fells. It is named after the legend that Saint Patrick converted many local people to Christianity here in the early 5th century. St Patrick’s church is well worth a visit. The present church replaced a church built about 1600.
Pooley Bridge
A picturesque village at the northeast end of Ullswater. The river Eamont meanders through its collection of houses and pubs. Close to Pooley Bridge is the historic Dalemain House and Rheged Visitor Centre.
Howtown
This ‘steamer’ stop is half way along the lake. Wainwright called the walk from Howtown back to Glenridding to be “the most beautiful of lake walks in the National Park”.
Brotherswater and Hartsop
This small lake south of Ullswater is at the foot of Kirkstone Pass (currently closed). There is a footpath around it, although it does not hug the shoreline completely. It used to be called Broad Water but was renamed after two brothers drowned there in the 19th century. Low Hartsop is a cluster of stone cottages once used for wool spinning. Several date from the 17th century and still have their external spinning galleries.
Kirkstone Pass
The Lake District’s highest pass runs between Windermere and Ullswater. It is is named after “Kirkstone”, a large boulder at top. The road from Ambleside to the top is called The Struggle for good reason! The Kirkstone Pass inn at the top is England’s third highest pub.
Please be aware Kirkstone Path is currently closed.
Martindale
The fells above Martindale are home to England’s oldest native herd of red deer. The ancient deer forest is centred on The Nab but the deer range all over the fells into Mardale and Kentmere. The church of St Martin’s was built in 1634. The enormous yew tree in the churchyard is said to be more than one thousand years old. The Church of St Peter’s was built in 1882 to replace the old church.
Dacre
This small scenic village has the remains of a castle with a well preserved 14th century keep. Please note the castle is private. In St Andrew’s churchyard there are four stone bears which may have come from the four corners of the keep.
Travelling to and around Ullswater
Bus services
- Bus service 508 runs from Penrith Station to Pooley Bridge, Aira Force, Glenridding and Patterdale all year round. In summer it continues over Kirkstone Pass to Windermere. Please be aware Kirkstone Path is currently closed.
- Bus service 208 provides a direct link from Keswick to Ullswater on summer Saturdays.
- Take a bus to or around Ullswater, with special group fares, explorer tickets and bus and boat cruise tickets and make the journey part of your adventure.
Pop in for help and advice
We can help you with booking tickets or attractions, finding walking routes including Helvellyn, and we have a great range of books and guide books. We are next to the car park in Glenridding - do pop in and take a look around Ullswater Information Centre.
