Friends of the Ullswater Way 

Friends of the Ullswater Way celebrates the iconic landscape and the rich heritage of the Ullswater valley. We highlight its history and traditions, the people who live and work here and those who have been inspired by its beauty.  

Explore the Heritage Knowledge Bank. Be inspired by the Virtual Art Gallery  Take an Aerial Tour to locate points of interest. Come to our monthly Understanding Ullswater Evening Talks or listen in on ZOOM.


'Roots - 200 years of one family's history 

through mining, farming and conservation 

in the Ullswater Valley'

Maddy Teasdale

Ullswater Catchment Management CIC


7.30pm Thursday 3rd October 2024

Glenridding Village Hall and on ZOOM. 

In common with all our talks, this talk is free, but we suggest a minimum donation of £5. To register or receive a ZOOM link please write to Tim Clarke at info@ullswaterheritage.org.

Ullswater Bus - leave the car, take the bus!

The Ullswater Bus routes - UB1 and 509 - connect holiday accommodation around the Ullswater Valley with destinations such as Pooley Bridge, Lowther Castle, Ullswater Steamers, Aira Force, Howtown, Glenridding (for Helvellyn), Keswick and Penrith and onward transport services already in place. It is part of a drive initiated by the local community for more sustainable transport and reduced private vehicle traffic in the area.

Find out more on the website for SITU (Sustainable Transport for Ullswater)

Ullswater has long inspired many of our finest artists to set down their easels and take up their palettes and brushes.

The VIrtual Art Gallery brings together over 40 works of art from the 1700s to the present day. It provides a unique insight into Ullswater's evolving landscape of people and place.

Watch this Slideshow for an introduction to the Virtual Art Gallery


The 5 mile Dalemain Loop is a perfect low level walk, whatever the season. The circular route from Pooley Bridge passes Dalemain Mansion, with its welcoming café, and the village of Dacre, with its ancient church and four enigmatic stone bears.


Follow the route on the Dalemain Loop Aerial Tour. See the landscape from above and click on the icons to discover points of interest along the way. 

Explore the 360 degree images. Click on the icons to find points of interest along the way. Check out the bottom menu for more options.

from Howtown (Hallin Fell)

During lockdown we began gathering a treasure-trove of information about the Ullswater Valley. Memories, old photos, archives of the local history society, wildlife sightings, documents, paintings and so much more.  We extend a huge thank you to all our writers and photographers and to the community members who have shared their knowledge and their memories of life in the valley. 

Spotlights from the Heritage Knowledge Bank


The first project of Friends of the Ullswater Way was the Ullswater Way Heritage Trail, which follows the 22 mile Ullswater Way footpath around the lake. The Heritage Trail consists of 12 installations, each created by a local artist. The installations are  designed to be in harmony with the natural surroundings. Each one celebrates a different aspect of the valley’s heritage. 

A walk with the treefold huggers