The Ullswater Way is a 20-mile walking route around the lake. Between Pooley Bridge and Howtown, the Way divides into two. This walk follows both parts and visits the prehistoric stone circle called the Cockpit. The complete walk of 9.5 miles can be shortened to 7 by heading back from Swarthbeck.

Ulswater Way

Ulswater Way

Click here to find the start of the walk...

1. From the bridge, walk through the village and keep right onto High Street at the junction beside St Pauls Church. Go straight over the crossroads along a No Through Road and continue up the track signed Askham Fell. Turn right at the crossroads signed Howtown. The Cockpit is a third of a mile ahead. This ancient stone circle is one of several in the area built around 4,000 years ago. It is at a crossroad of two ancient trading routes. From the north a track led from ‘Long Meg and her Daughters’, past the Cockpit then up to Loadpot Hill and onwards towards the south. An east-west route connected settlements near Shap with Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick. The Cockpit may have been a meeting place and may have had religious significance. Its name will have been acquired in more recent times when the site was used for cock-fighting.

Ulswater Way

Ulswater Way

2. Continue to the right of the stone circle and follow the main path for a further two miles. Pause at the Wainwright Sitting Stone to take in what the author described as the “loveliest of lakes”. A shallow ford crossing Swarthbeck Gill is followed by a field gate on the right and a 3-way fingerpost indicates that you can either turn right and return to Pooley Bridge via the lakeshore or continue ahead to Howtown.

Ulswater Way

Ulswater Way

3. The longer walk continues ahead for 1 mile to Mellguards, going through a gate to the right followed by another on the left. Cross Fusedale Beck via a stone footbridge then turn right onto the lane signed Howtown. Pass (or visit) the hotel tearoom and bar then cross the road to reach the lakeshore. Turn right and pass the pier.

Ulswater Way

Ulswater Way

4. Cross the road and join the path signed Swarthbeck. At the top of the slope take the signed path going up steps to meet the path that you used earlier. There is an alternative footpath going left at the foot of the steps but it is easier to use the main path, turn left and return to the 3-way fingerpost (point 3). Go through the gate, descend and turn right by cottages at Swarthbeck and over a footbridge crossing the beck. Continue following the Cumbria Way waymarkers. At the end of the second field after Swarthbeck the Way goes through a gate on the left then over a wall stile on the right. At Thwaitehill there is the option of following the main path through a gate or taking the Permissive Path to the right of the wall and re-joining the main path on the left after 250 yards. The Way goes around the left of Seat Farm, continues along a field path to Cross Dormont and turns left down the farm track to meet the road.

5. Turn right and walk along the road for 0.4 mile. Pass all of the buildings at Waterside House and turn left onto the signed path, passing The Gathering café on the left and through the campsite. Follow the lakeside path for 1.1 miles and return to Pooley Bridge where the walk began.

Walk factfile

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)

Ascent: 1500 feet, Time: 5 hours

Terrain: Good footpaths and 0.75 mile on minor roads

Map: OS Explorer OL5

Start: Pooley Bridge, east side of the bridge. Grid ref.: NY 470 244 Postcode: CA10 2NP