Route: Howtown to Glenridding along the shore of Ullswater
Area: Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 14th February 2019
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.2 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Light cloud and weak sunshine
About 30 years ago we first walked this route along the shore of Ullswater with our daughter, then aged 3, and carrying our baby son in a backpack. Since then we’ve trod the same path on numerous occasions – it’s a classic low level walk, even though numerous ups and downs along the way build up to a total of 1,000 feet of ascent – equivalent to the height of a Wainwright fell. In Wainwright’s opinion the lakeside path is ‘the most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland’. The linear route is made possible by the Ullswater Steamers, an award winning Lake District attraction which has been operating for over 150 years
We drove over to Glenridding in time to board the 9.30am sailing of M.V Western Belle, built in 1935. The boat trip is an adventure in itself, passing through some of the finest scenery in Lakeland. After 30 minutes or so we disembarked at Howtown to start today’s walk
Navigation is a simple affair and the maps page is hardly needed – just keep the lake on your right and follow the undulating and sometimes rocky path. We followed the waymarked Ullswater Way, passing around the foot of Hallin Fell and walking around Sandwick and its bay. We continued along the shoreline until we reached Side Farm. We left the main path here to walk through the farm, following a track across the head of Ullswater to the outskirts of Patterdale. From here we followed the pavement back to the start of a wonderful walk which I’d happily repeat tomorrow
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
On board the Western Belle as we sail from Glenridding to Howtown
After disembarking at Howtown we set out on today's walk, which follows the Ullswater Way...
Looking back to Howtown
We walk around Geordie's Crag
Looking back to the foot of the lake
Kailpot Crag
Hallinhag Wood below Hallin Fell
Sandwick Bay, and Gowbarrow Fell on the far side of the lake
Gowbarrow Fell again
How to create a sheep circle...
Looking back to Hallin Fell
Lowther Barn Tea Room
Sandwick Beck
High Dodd below Place Fell
We cross the footbridge over Scalehow Beck
Roscombe Rigg...
Silver Bay below
We detour briefly to Silver Crag on the right
Norfolk Island and Glencoyne beyond it
Looking back along Ullswater from Silver Crag
Zooming in on Norfolk Island and Glencoyne
Boathouse near Mossdale Bay on the far side of the lake
Looking back along the path
Sheffield Pike from Devil's Chimney
Devil's Chimney
Looking back to the two small islands of Lingy Holme, with Norfolk Island beyond
Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike
Glenridding Dodd again
Looking across towards Glencoyne
Artists' Seat, which celebrates three artists who have been inspired by the Ullswater valley - JMW Turner, John Glover and Ann Macbeth
We pass by an old barn, with its vernacular stepped roof
We pass by the head of Ullswater with our destination, Glenridding, on the far side of the lake
Glenridding valley beyond another old stepped roof building
We pass through Side Farm here to walk across the head of Ullswater
Keldas above the woods
St Patrick's Church at the edge of Glenridding
We walk back along the head of Ullswater towards Glenridding Pier...
Back to the start of a wonderful walk
