Ullswater Low

No particular rush - an easy day today.

Petterdale from Side Farm Campsite

Relaxed breakfast, pack up the gear and Rafe gets a plodge in Ullswater from the lovely beach by the campsite.

Rafe in Ullswater - Side Farm Campsite

A straightforward route too - the bridleway along the eastern shore of Ullswater, back to the campsite near Pooley Bridge. Off we go...

Cherry Holm and Wall Holm, Ullswater from above Side Farm Campsite

The good path undulates above the lake - the views of the fells opening up as we ascended out of the trees.

Rafe - below Silver Crag, Ullswater

We wandered on...

Views south over Ullswater

Rafe - Silver Point, Ullswater

Rafe - on the bridleway east of Ullswater below Birk Fell

Rafe - Roscombe Rigg, Ullswater

Ullswater, views north to Hallin Fell

Roe Deer - by Ullswater

Roe Deer - by Ullswater

There was a tearoom, adjacent to the path, just west of Sandwick - we were ready for a cuppa - but we were there too early, it didn't open until 11am and it was only 10:45! Everything was shut up and nobody was about - aww well.

Hallin Fell from Scalehow Wood

We spied a grey squirrel at Scalehow Wood - not good in a red squirrel area - we reported this later. But Rafie was more interested in the deer that were browsing in the woods - his nose was quivering for ages!

Rafe - Hallinhag Wood near Howtown

Rafe - Geordie's Crag, near Howtown

We watched the steamboats pulling into and out of Howtown and had a mooch around the village, before continuing on, north east, above Ullswater.

Ullswater Steamer

Howtown

Ullswater from east of Howtown

Old barn above Ullswater - near Bonscale

We found a comfy, mossy rock for lunch, under the crags of Bonscale Fell - Rafe had some biscuits and I tucked into my favourite flapjack in the whole world - apricot flapjack from Glenridding Stores - yum.

Favourite flapjack - from Glenridding Stores

Rafe - Swarthbeck Gill

Rafe and I were soon dumping our gear, back at the Cross Dormont campsite, glad to take off the big pack.

Tent up and kettle on.

Rafe - duckboards near Pooley Bridge

It was still early in the day - so we had a saunter on, along Ullswater lakeside to Pooley Bridge. It felt good to be rucksackless.

Rafe - Ullswater - Pooley Bridge

Rafie spent most of the walk in the water...

Pooley Bridge

Had to try a scone at the scrumptious Granny Dowbekin's Tea Garden, right beside the river.

Granny Dowbekins scone in Pooley Bridge

After a bit of an explore around the village, we returned to the camsite and watched the world go by...

Evening at Cross Dormont Campsite, Ullswater

Route:  Side Farm Campsite (NY398163), N along lakeside bridleway, Sandwick, Howtown village, fp SE then NE to Mellguards, N along bridleway along fell edge, at NY447203 take R fork and continue on bridleway to Auterstone Wood (NY406214), fp N over Sharrow Mire to fp near Crook-a-dyke, fp NE to Seat Farm and Cross Dormond Campsite (NY461226).

Statistics:  Distance: 18.5km  Ascent: 570m  Time: 5 hours

Map:  OS Outdoor Leisure 5 - The English Lakes, North-eastern area

See also:  Around Ullswater and Ullswater High