Ullswater shore

The Ullswater shore path was described by Wainwright as ‘the most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland’.  It runs along the eastern shore between Howtown (roughly halfway along the lake) and Patterdale.  It makes a lovely walk when combined with climbing Place Fell.  Or if you're feeling less energetic or have less time to spare, you can catch the Ullswater steamer from Glenridding to Howtown, then walk along the lakeshore path to Patterdale and from Patterdale back to Glenridding on a path alongside the road.

Map link: Ullswater shore path 

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The path rises and falls along the shore, sometimes diverting inland to skirt fields or crags, but it never strays far from the lake for long.  Stretches of the path run through woodland, full of the song of willow warblers in spring.  

View along the lake shore path, with the bright green of new leaves on the birches 

 

Path through woodland around the foot of Hallin Fell

Looking across Ullswater to Glenridding from the lakeshore path

Red-breasted merganser on Ullswater.  These handsome diving ducks live in the north and west of the UK.  This one is a male, with a long red bill, dark green head, chestnut-mottled breast, and black, white and grey back.  For more information, see the RSPB site.

One of the Ullswater Steamers.  These historic boats operate a year round passenger service linking Glenridding with Pooley Bridge via Howtown. 

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, after Windermere.  It lies in the north-east of the area, stretching 9 miles from Pooley Bridge in the north to Patterdale in the south.

Map link: Ullswater 

Patterdale at the head of the lake is surrounded by high fells, including Helvellyn, one of the four English hills over 3000 feet high, to the east.  By contrast, Pooley Bridge at the foot of the lake lies in rolling foothills that give way to the plain of the Eden Valley.

The name Ullswater was recorded in 1323 as ‘Ulvreswatre’.  The second element may be derived from Norse ‘vatn’, which means ‘water’ or ‘lake’, or English ‘water’; either way the meaning is obvious.  The first element ‘Ulfr’ could be the Norse personal name Ulfr, or possibly the Norse word ‘ulfr’ meaning ‘wolf.  So the name probably means either ‘Ulfr’s lake’ or ‘lake of the wolves’.