English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文
Lake
Ullswater
Second-largest lake in the Lake District, about seven and a half miles long and under a mile across.
A mini guide to
Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
A long lake with steamers, a waterfall and Helvellyn behind Glenridding
Photos
1 / 9Welcome to the area
A long lake with steamers, a waterfall and Helvellyn behind Glenridding
Ullswater is the second-largest lake in the Lake District, about seven and a half miles long and less than a mile across, with mountain scenery to the south and gentler hills in the north. Glenridding and Patterdale lie at the southern end, a starting point for Helvellyn, England's third-highest mountain. Pooley Bridge is a village at the north-east end, where the River Eamont leaves the lake.
Ullswater 'Steamers' run between Glenridding, Aira Force, Howtown and Pooley Bridge, and the 20-mile Ullswater Way has boat and bus stops along it, so you can walk a section and return by water. Aira Force is a 21 metre waterfall in National Trust care, and Dalemain, a historic house near Pooley Bridge, lies on the Ullswater Way.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Boat trips
Ullswater 'Steamers'
Boat company founded in 1855, based at Glenridding, with landings at Aira Force, Howtown and Pooley Bridge.
Directions Website Report a problem with Ullswater 'Steamers'
Waterfall
Aira Force
Waterfall of 21 metres in several drops, with viewing bridges, owned by the National Trust.
Fell
Gowbarrow Fell
Low fell north of Ullswater beside Aira Beck, with the Aira Force waterfall on one side.
Mountain
Helvellyn
England's third-highest mountain at about 950 metres, with Striding Edge and Swirral Edge on its eastern side.
Fell
Place Fell
Fell above Glenridding and Patterdale at the corner between the upper and middle reaches of Ullswater.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Ullswater & Pooley Bridge and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk and sail
The 20-mile Ullswater Way has boat and bus stopping points, so you can walk a section and take a cruise back. The National Park Authority has maps on its Ullswater Way page.
2
Howtown to Glenridding
The Authority notes that Wainwright rated the walk from Howtown back to Glenridding as the most beautiful lake walk in the National Park. Take the boat out to Howtown first.
3
Stile-free routes
The Authority lists two easy-access routes: Pooley Bridge to Gale Bay (1.1 miles) and Brothers Water (2.3 miles).
4
Helvellyn needs kit
The Authority says every route up Helvellyn requires proper equipment, and publishes a walkers checklist and a winter Weatherline report.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
The Lake District
More areas to explore
15 sights · 9 places to eat
Coniston & Hawkshead
Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and a boat on Coniston Water, between two small villages
Open the mini guide →
15 sights · 8 places to eat
Wasdale & Eskdale
England's deepest lake and highest mountain, and a little railway through Eskdale
Open the mini guide →
14 sights · 18 places to eat
Windermere & Bowness
England's largest lake, with lake cruises, a railway station and a lakeside town
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Ullswater & Pooley Bridge (area photo): Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ullswater: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ullswater 'Steamers': Colin Gregory, CC BY 2.0, source
- Aira Force: Ballantyne108, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gowbarrow Fell: Roger Templeman, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Helvellyn: Michael Earnshaw, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Place Fell: The original uploader was StephenDawson at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Glenridding: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pooley Bridge: Martin Dawes, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Howtown: Gordon Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dalemain: Ikcur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hallin Fell: Clive Giddis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Brothers Water: David Robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Patrick's Church: David Purchase, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Andrew's Church, Dacre: User:Laplacemat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Old St Martin's Church, Martindale: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coniston & Hawkshead: Martin Jeffries, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wasdale & Eskdale: John260660, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Windermere & Bowness: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ambleside & Grasmere: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keswick & Derwentwater: Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Lake District