Ullswater Way Backpacking Adventure

Ullswater Way Backpacking Adventure Pooley Bridge to Glenridding and back!

With Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader

Ullswater Way Backpacking Adventure – 23 miles over 2 days

Join Mark Reid for this fantastic guided Ullswater Way Backpacking Adventure in early spring. Spend a sociable, enjoyable and adventurous two days hiking the shoreline and fells around Ullswater, the most beautiful lake in the Lake District. Discover quiet paths, beautiful bays, wooded shorelines, amazing views and loads of history.

Day One – Pooley Bridge to Glenridding (12 miles / 730m of ascent) via Askham Fell, Hallin Fell and the southern shoreline of Ullswater.

Day Two – Glenridding back to Pooley Bridge (11 miles / 625m of ascent) via the northern shoreline of Ullswater, Aira Force waterfall, Gowbarrow Fell and Maiden Castle.

Mark Reid knows the Lake District like the back of his hand and will guide you around this wonderful route (whilst sharing his knowledge of the area), so that you can forget about navigation and enjoy the fantastic views and wonderful landscapes instead.

Camp overnight at Glenridding in a beautiful valley campsite with great facilities on the edge of the village. If you don’t want to camp, then there are B&Bs, hotels and a hostel at Glenridding you can stay at.*

Highlights include: Villages of Pooley Bridge, Howtown, Sandwick, Patterdale and Glenridding, the Bronze Age Cockpit Stone Circle, Ullswater’s stunning shoreline, views of the Helvellyn and High Street mountain ranges, Aira Force waterfall, Gowbarrow Fell, Iron Age farmstead of Maiden Castle and the shoreline that inspired Wordsworth’s daffodils.

This guided walk is designed for solo hikers, couples or small groups of walkers who want to tackle the Ullswater Way walk over two days.

Fully guided walk with Mark Reid (Mountain Leader)
Experience the camaraderie of walking this beautiful route with other like-minded walkers
Discover the history, heritage, flora and fauna of Ullswater
Share your sense of achievement with your fellow walkers
Small group sizes – maximum 8 people per walk
You are GUARANTEED not to get lost on our guided walk!

BACKPACKING THE ULLSWATER WAY

We will backpack from around the Ullswater Way starting at Pooley Bridge, carrying our overnight clothing and essentials with us and then stay overnight at Glenridding. I can provide camping camping equipment (free of charge) including backpacking tent, lightweight sleepmat and stove. If you choose to stay overnight at a hotel, B&B or hostel, then you don’t need to carry any camping kit!*

GLENRIDDING CAMPING

We’ll be camping at Gillside Campsite just on the edge of the lovely village of Glenridding. It has hot showers, great facilities and is a 10-minute walk into Glenridding, where you’ll find a well-stocked village shop, cafes, pubs and hotels. I will book your camping pitch for you; this is included in the price as it is integral part of this backpacking trip.

Provided Camping Kit
I can provide each person with the following (unless you are bringing your own or staying at a hotel)

Lightweight backpacking tent
Lightweight insulated sleepmat
Stove and gas canister
Backpacking rucksack
Headtorch
Waterproof rucksack bag – this is large enough to put your spare dry clothes in as well as any valuables.

Please provide your own sleeping bag. Ensure it has a temperature Comfort Rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C. If it has a temperature rating of zero or above, then it may not keep you warm enough.

DON’T WANT TO CAMP?*

Glenridding boasts a good selection of accommodation and facilities including hotels, pubs, B&Bs and a Youth Hostel (although the Youth Hostel is a 30-minute walk from Glenridding). You will also find cafes and a village shop, where you can get a packed lunch for Day Two.

If you choose to stay at a hotel, hostel or B&B instead of camping, then please book this directly with the hotel, hostel or B&B. Accommodation at Glenridding (other than the campsite) is not included in the price of this trip, as camping is an integral part of this backpacking trip.

ullswater way backpacking trip 2 days Lake District

OUTLINE OF THE TRIP

DAY ONE
9:30am: Meet at Pooley Bridge for a briefing about the trip, weather forecast and gear check.
9:45am – 4:30pm: Guided lakeside, hill and fell walk between Pooley Bridge and Glenridding along the Ullswater Way. The route will be in the region of 12 miles (20 km) with 730m of ascent and descent. The route will take in Askham Fell (Bronze Age Stone Circle), the amazing viewpoint of Hallin Fell, ancient woodland around Sandwick and the beautiful southern shoreline of Ullswater.
5pm: Arrive at Glenridding and set up camp or head to your accommodation.
7pm: Meal at one of Glenridding’s pubs for a meal (optional), followed by a sociable evening.

DAY TWO
9:30am: Break camp, pack our rucksacks and briefing about the day.
9:45am – 4pm: Guided lakeside, hill and fell walk between Glenridding and Pooley Bridge along the Ullswater Way. The route will be in the region of 11 miles (18 km) with 625m of ascent and descent. The route will take in the western shoreline of Ullswater, dramatic Aira Force waterfall, Gowbarrow Park ‘balcony path’ with amazing views, the summit of Gowbarrow Fell and prehistoric Maiden Castle.
4pm: Arrive back at Pooley Bridge.

Please note: The precise routes will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. All walks will include lakeside, hill and fell terrain, steep ground, stream crossings, road crossings/walking, rough, rocky and wet terrain as well as open exposed hills, moorland and fells; we may experience adverse weather conditions. NB: all timings, distances, heights and routes are approximate.

YOUR GUIDE - MARK REID

FITNESS, EXPERIENCE, INFORMATION ETC

This is a 2-day walking backpacking trip around the Ullswater Way in the Lake District, with lakeside, woodland, moorland and low fells, with the potential for adverse weather. The walks will include uneven ground, rough, rocky lakeside, woodland, pastureland, hill, fell and moorland terrain, stream crossings, wet/boggy ground, road walking and crossings, sustained ascents and descents, remote exposed high moorland, steep ground; we may also experience adverse weather conditions.
This trip includes camping overnight at Glenridding in spring; campsite fees are included as camping is an integral part of the activity. We can lend camping kit of lightweight tent, insulated sleepmat, stove and gas, expedition rucksack; please provide your own sleeping bag (with a comfort rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C), personal walking clothes and food.
Camping in early spring (March) means that we may experience cold, wet and windy weather, with the potential for discomfort. Gillside Campsite at Glenridding has toilets/showers. We’ll head to one of Glenridding’s pubs in the evening for a meal (optional).
The precise routes, including whether we ‘summit’ Hallin Fell and Gowbarrow Fell, will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. If strong winds or poor weather is forecast then we may stay to lower paths and lakeside routes.
A good level of fitness is required as you will be walking across hills, fells and moorland for two days
We will walk about 18 – 20 km (11 – 12 miles) per day with 730m of ascent on day one and 625m of ascent on day two, although this may vary according to weather conditions and group needs. There will be rest stops throughout the day, as well as 30-mins for lunch.
Spring weather – the walks will NOT require the use of specialist winter equipment, however, we may encounter early spring weather conditions whilst on the walks (cold, wind, rain etc); the precise routes will be determined on the day given the weather conditions. This trip will not take place if extreme winter weather is forecast or prevailing. If there is snow, then we will walk below the ‘snow line’ if possible, or choose a route that avoids any steep ground.
Mark Reid is an experienced Mountain Leader. Mark has walked over 30,000 miles of footpaths throughout the North of England over the last decade and knows the British mountains well. Since 2007, we have taken over 20,000 people out walking in the hills
Part of the attraction of valley, hill and mountain walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential hazards; however, the very nature of hill and mountain walking involves a certain level of unavoidable risk of accident and/or injury. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.
Our walks are suitable for all ages. Under 18s (minimum age 14) may attend if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The child must be accompanied at all times during the walk by their parent/legal guardian.
Terms and Conditions

BOOK NOW

CHOOSE YOUR Date

This includes:

Two full day's walk around the Ullswater Way, guided by Mark Reid
Campsite fees at Glenridding (one night)
Use of our camping kit, if required (lightweight tent, insulated sleepmat, stove, expedition rucksack & dry-bag).
Use of our Outdoor gear if required.
TeamWalking Loyalty Reward scheme

PLEASE PROVIDE:

Sleeping bag, with a comfort rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C
Food for 2 days (there are pubs at Glenridding where we can eat in the evening, as well as a village shop).
Mug and spoon
Personal walking clothing and equipment (base layers etc)
Travel to and from Pooley Bridge

NB: Please provide food, travel & accommodation (other than camping, as backpacking/camping is the key activity of this trip). A detailed list of what to wear and bring will be sent to you.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE