Ultimate Ullswater - a truly epic day out.

The Lakes
Route by Will Watt, Rich Nelsson, Katia Vastiau

LOCATION: Ullswater
TOTAL DISTANCE: 14km
ABOVE DISTANCE (HIKE, RUN): 8km
BELOW DISTANCE (SWIM): 3 -6km
A (START): South Ullswater, south of Ferry terminal
B (FINISH): South Ullswater, on the Ferry
DURATION: 1 big day out
DIFFICULTY: it’s a good, tough day out. But you can adjust to your ability.
OS MAP: multiple. OS Explorer OL5

From 2021 to 2024 we ran a weekender up in Ullswater. It proved popular and we had some great days as the photos below show. But the highlight of the weekend was always the epic day out up Ullswater and the rest of the weekend wasn’t entirely necessary. So here is that one epic day stripped out - it really is a fabulous way to see the wild side of the most accessible lake in the Lake District - Ullswater.

Where to stay:

Camping at Gillside would be our recommendation. But there are plenty of hotels and Air BnBs at Glennridding. The YHA Hellvellyn is also up the hill and perfect for our second day option (see below). If you have a big group then we hired Almond Lodge which is marvellous and the host Katia helped us design this one or two day expedition.

Glenridding to Howtown.

Start your swim just south of Glenridding Ferry station. This will be a short crossing of 600m to get a feel for the water. You can then swim up the east side of Ullswater up to Norfolk Island and Silver Bay. This is around 2km of swimming but with a few bays to exit at and a visible path alongside the lake.

Silver Bay is a lovely place to stop, rest, snack and hopefully have a lie in the sun. From Silver Bay we walk past Sandwick (a lot of the lakeside land is private on this stretch so not swimmable). This is a solid hour walk on a lovely path. There is a cafe at Sandwick and if you are lucky it will be open for tea and cake.

Swim 2 - Sandwick Bay to Howtown. There are options here. For a big swim start at Sandwick Bay and swim all the way round to the Ferry Pier at Howtown (the end). For shorter you can start at the end of Hallinhag Wood or at Kailpot Bay where there is a jumping spot.

Howtown has a great cafe for tea, cake and there is also the hotel and pub. It’s a lovely spot to end, rest.

Then there is a big highlight - you get the Steamer Ferry back to Glenridding with a cold beer and you get to see the whole route you have swum and hiked. It is immensely satisfying and really does make you feel rather proud of yourself. A peak experience.

Possible day 2 - Across Ullswater

(via Norfolk Island and a lovely path)

There are a number of options here. For a big day out fron Glenridding head up the back of Sheffield Pike and down the beautiful Glencoyne valley to the lakeside. This is a delightful walk with views of the water most of the way down which serve to whet your appetite for the swim across. Equally you can head up the side of the lake on the West side and swim across at Norfolk Island.

Swimming across the lake passing Norfolk Island to Silver Bay is a lovely swim - about a mile but feels much more epic and a bit scary. There is then a walk south that goes down a beautiful path. The path rises up out of Sliver Bay and heads up over shoulder in the hills. You can’t miss it. This path south takes you back down a lovely valley to the end of your first swim on day 1.

And you swim back across the bottom of the Lake to the Ferry Point and head for a pint…