Walks Ullswater

Author: Richard Hallewell

Re-walked by Maggie & Richard Legate

The last time we re-walked the Ullswater book was in the wake of a major flooding event, and there were significant changes to some of the routes. This time there was no such drama, and the alterations to the routes are minimal – new stiles, gates and signposts.

The area itself is fabulous: mountains, ridges, rivers and valleys, with the splendid seven-mile long Ullswater at its heart. At its north end, the lake runs out of the hills and into the farming country south of Penrith. The guide contains a couple of low-level walks here, from the little village of Pooley Bridge, but the bulk of the routes are through – or over – the hills. Personal favourites include the steep circuit leading up from the village of Hartsop to little Angle Tarn and Boredale Hause; the short walks around Hallin Fell, on the quieter south side of the lake (the view from the top of the fell is terrific); and the more strenuous Mardale Loop – a climb to a horseshoe of peaks from the head of Haweswater. This last walk crosses the peak of High Street – named after the Roman road between Penrith and Ambleside which ran along this ridge.

The Lake District needs little recommendation for hill walkers – nowhere in Britain has this density of superb hill paths in such a small area. If you haven’t visited it then you should, but avoid high summer if you can – it does get busy!

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