Ullswater
|
|
|
|
|
|
To many people, Ullswater is simply the perfect destination. Whether your quest is for sublime natural beauty or the best opportunities for outdoor activity, Ullswater’s nine-mile length will provide the perfect setting and location. The main reason for Ullswater’s appeal is immediately evident from whichever direction it is approached. The lake, as it comes into view, is seen against a breathtaking backdrop of mountain scenery. It is a truly dramatic picture, made all the more memorable by Ullswater’s mirrored surface and a gently curving shoreline of green fields, woodlands and sheer rock faces rising from the lake. It is little wonder that so many artists and writers, as well as holiday visitors, have named Ullswater as their favourite part of Lakeland.
There is certainly much to admire in this glorious landscape and plenty to discover too in the picture-postcard hamlets and villages around Ullswater. From historic sites and monuments to Visitor Centres and Cumbrian craft shops, there is an opportunity to experience many different aspects of Lakeland life both past and present. When it comes to eating, Ullswater offers just as varied a menu. Around the lake you will find a superb choice of restaurants (some acclaimed internationally) plus cafes and pubs – many featuring local specialities. If you choose Ullswater as your holiday destination, then you will be delighted by the range and quality of accommodation available. There are top rated hotels, charming guest houses and bed and breakfasts, farmhouses and excellent parks where you can rent a holiday home or bring your own touring caravan or tent.
You could spend a fortnight in Ullswater and still not exhaust all the possibilities for outdoor discovery. Many of the Lake District’s most famous fell walks have their starting point from around Ullswater, including the magnificent to Helvellyn’s summit via Striding Edge. There are plenty of other heady delights awaiting the experienced walker – but Ullswater is also a paradise for those who prefer to follow a less strenuous paths. Around the periphery of the lake many low-level trails will be found, leading the traveller on foot through stunningly beautiful countryside where many discoveries await … from cascading waterfalls to herds of wild red deer, and the occasional red squirrel.
If you have come to the Lake District for adventure activity, Ullswater is well upto the challenge. Rock climbing, pony trekking, mountain biking, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and fishing are just some of the sports which can be enjoyed here at virtually any skill level. Even complete novices are well catered for with a wide variety of accredited Outdoor Centres, which provide equipment hire and professional instructions. Another way to enjoy the spectacular panoramas of Ullswater is from the steamers that regularly ply the length of the lake, calling at different landing stages on route.
Topped and tailed by Pooley Bridge at the northern end and Glenridding in the south, Ullswater is easily accessed by road from any direction. Nearby Dacre, a pretty little village, tucked between gently rolling hills, boasts an ancient church and a castle from which raids against the Scottish Borders were once launched. From the nearby hamlet of Watermillock you will receive a splendid full view of Ullswater. The lake road south brings you shortly to the National Trust’s Gowbarrow Estate, which provides marvellous walking opportunities, both to the beautiful viewpoint from Gowbarrow Fell and to the famous Aira Force waterfall, which captivated both Wordsworth and Coleridge.
Travelling north and west from Pooley Bridge, the quiet countryside is dotted with many historic sites and settlements. Sockbridge and Tirril, for example, are two small pleasant villages separated by Lady Beck, while Penruddock and Motherby both lay claim to Celtic origins. Greystoke, just outside the National Park, still retains its central green and ancient market cross and has one of the largest Lakeland churches. Pooley Bridge is also the gateway to the southwestern side of Ullswater. The Landscape here has remained unchanged for centuries and its residents are mainly sheep farmers occupying scattered farmhouses set amongst dramatically beautiful vistas.
There are plenty of very fine walks to be enjoyed on the fells of Ullswater, many providing superb views of Helvellyn and the surrounding mountain scenery to the southwest. Areas such as Place Fell and Martindale will already be known to lovers of the Lake District, and at a lower level, a number of lakeside paths provide gentle routes through wooded and open landscapes. Perhaps the best known of these is the footpath from Howtown to Patterdale, described by Wainwright as “the most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland”. Close to Ullswater is the beautiful Eden Valley and dramatic North Pennines, which host the bustling market towns of Penrith, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and Alston. Throughout the area you will find a selection of places to visit and enjoy during your stay.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
User reviews of Ullswater |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
If you have visited Ullswater in Ullswater, why not write a review to help other UK Destination Guide users get the most from their trip? Click the link below for details... |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Hotel Options |
 |
 |
|
|
| |
| Budget Hotels |
Premier Budget Hotels |
Late Availability |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
