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open double decker bus on a sunny cloudy day with green fells woodland and lake in distance

Getting to and around Ullswater

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Home Explore Places to go Explore Ullswater Getting to and around Ullswater

Travel by bus

Special fares

Bus fares are currently capped at £3 for buses in England including the 508 to Ullswater, so you will pay no more than  £3 for any single journey. For exploring more there are great deals including the Ullswater and Penrith DayRider ticket. Your ticket allows you to travel all day on the bus through the Ullswater valley, from Penrith to Pooley Bridge down to Glenridding and Patterdale and a stop at the stunning Aira Force waterfalls. You can buy your ticket on the bus with contactless payment available.

Ullswater Hopper Bus

This community and business led service has been a great success and will be running again from Easter including a direct link from Keswick to Aira Force, Glenridding and Patterdale, more details can be found here – Ullswater Bus.

Ullswater 508 bus

Running every day of the week and operated by Stagecoach, this is the main connection from Penrith bus or rail station to the Ullswater valley. Buses stop at Yanwath, Pooley Bridge, Aira Force,Glencoyne Bay, Glenridding and Patterdale. Find more details on the Stagecoach website.

Park and ride from Penrith

You can park in Penrith and get the 508 bus into the Ullswater Valley, some buses will be open top to really soak the views of the lake and fells. If you park at Lowther, you can hire a bike and take the off-road bridleways into Ullswater. There’s also bike hire at Glenridding at the southern end of the lake, so catch the bus down and then explore!

Ullswater Steamers

Scenic cruises the length of the Lake from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding calling at Howtown and a shuttle service from Glenridding to Aira force. Why not combine with walking a stretch of the beautiful Ullswater Way?

Timetables, routes and fares
ullswater steamer on a glassy ullswater lake, reflecting the green woodland fells in backdrop

Bus and boat combo ticket

Take a cruise on the Ullswater Steamer and combine it with bus travel anywhere in Cumbria for the day for just £17.50 per adult. You can buy your ticket on the bus, A great way to get to the Ullswater Valley, and combine a cruise on the lake with a walk and some sightseeing, with an easy way back to your starting point.

Visit Stagecoach for timetables

Biking and walking

Bike hire

Hiring bikes is a sustainable and active way to explore the Lake District. Find more bike hire information below, or bring your own!

Arial view of Ullswater, large light blue lake body surrounded by green woodland, fields and brown fells

Walking the Ullswater valley

Ullswater is a paradise for walking whether you are hiking up Helvellyn or  enjoying a relaxing lakeside stroll. Check our our Miles without Stiles routes for two great accessible walks from Pooley Bridge and one at Brothers Water.

Ullswater Way
Ullswater at sunset, blue sky with white clouds, orange glowing fells reflected in the water

Explore Ullswater

Find things to do, places to visit and where to stay in Ullswater.

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