(i think it's the longest lake in England??) The main road runs all the way along the west side of the lake and has plenty of pull in parking places with easy access to the lake. The villages at either end of the lake - Pooley Bridge and Glenridding - don't have great lake side access but are both very nice. At Pooley Bridge you can board a steamer that tours the lake, it stops at several places, a bit like a water bus. Because of it's location the area around Ullswater is often quieter than the Central Lakes, although is only a 20 minute drive from Ambleside to Ullswater. To get to Ullswater from the central lakes you drive up along the Kirkstone Pass, this is a very steep narrow road leading out of Ambleside. Towards the top of Kirkstone Pass (where it becomes the A592) there are great panoramic views back towards Lake Windermere. |
There's a great waterfall on one of the stream flowing into the lake, called Aira Force (force means waterfall). Aira Force has it's own car park and visitor center, but as with many other places in the Lake District, it get very very busy in the summer months. Best to visit in Spring or Autumn when there's plenty of water flowing over Aira Force, and less people on the narrow paths leading to it. Around the east side of Ullswater is very quiet with only a few tourists. There is a road, but it more or less stops at the villages of Howtown and Sandwick, then you have to turn around and go back the way you came - to Pooley Bridge. It is worth the effort to get to Howtown because it provides a good high point to view the north end of Ullswater, in fact there are viewing benches on the side of the road as it climbs steeply out of Howtown. The easiest way to get to Howton is on the steamer - there's a jetty and a mini pebble beach. (Don't be fooled by the name, Howtown is a very small village.) |
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| Features. Beautiful Long lake. Lake side villages. |
Easy access along west side of lake. Toilets, Shops Cafes - in village |
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Hardknott PassHardknott Pass, one of the two steepest passes in the Lake District, is the name of an old Roman road build to link Ravenglass with Ambleside and Kendal.Click here for more info and pictures of Hardnott Pass |
Coniston WaterA loverly long narrow lake in the South West of the Lake District - many peoples favorite lake in Cumbria.Click here for more info and pictures of Lake Coniston |
Wast WaterProbably the most rugged lake in Cumbria and the deepest. It's also one of the hardest to get to, access is via long very bendy B road. Wastwater is located on the western edge of the lakes.Click here for Photographs and info on Wastwater |
Derwent WaterA wider lake in northern central lakes with the large town of Keswick near it's northern end. Easy access from A66. Best photo spots are probably along the eastern side along the B5289More wallpapers & info about Derwent Water |
UllswaterA loverly long narrow lake in the North East of the Lake District. (i think it's the longest lake in England??)The main road runs all the way along the west side of the lake and has plenty of pull in parking places with easy access to the lake. Click here for lots more photos and info about Ullswater |
There's also lots of waterfalls in Cumbria. Moss Force nr Buttermere is an interesting one, with nice open views and less visitors than some of the more famous falls and forces. As with all falls, it's at it's best in Spring and Winter or after a heavy period of Summer rain. (not unknown in the Lake District). |