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Ullswater Steamers in the Lake District - Lake Cruises on England’s most beautiful lake
The famous Ullswater Steamers - running from Glenridding, Pooley Bridge and Howtown around Ullswater
View Ullswater Steamers in a larger map
The Ullswater Steamers at a glance
Summary: The world famous Ullswater Steamers have operated on England’s most beautiful lake, Ullswater, for over 150 years. The lake cruises run from Glenridding and Pooley Bridge with a stop off in Howtown on the Eastern shore of the lake. They run throughout the year.
Contact Details
Address: The Pier House, Glenridding, Ullswater, Cumbria, CA11 0US
Phone: 017684 82229
Website: Ullswater Steamers
Facebook: Ullswater Steamers on Facebook
Twitter: Ullswater Steamers on Twitter
Timetable and Pricing
Prices: Various fares for Single, return and Round the Lake Pass journeys. Adult tickets from £9.50 return. Family tickets also available. Tickets on sale at Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Discounts and special offers available. Please see Steamers Pricing for details.
Timetable: Operate throughout the year except the 24th and 25th December. First sailing 09:45. See the full Steamer Timetable.
Steamer Facilities
The Steamers: There are 5 steamers that operate on Ullswater. Each of them has open and covered seating areas and bars serving drinks and light refreshments. There is level access to the piers and steamers. All are pet friendly. There are toilet facilities on board.
The Piers: Tickets and information are available at Glenridding and Pooley Bridge piers. They also have small shops and cafes with drinks and light refreshments available. Please note there are no facilities at Howtown.
Things to Do
Activities: As well as simply enjoying the magnificent views and atmosphere of the lake itself there are numerous things to do both in Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. One of the most popular attractions is the walk back from Howtown to Patterdale along the Eastern Edge of the lake. This is about 7 miles long and offers breathtaking views of both the lake and the fells. Please click here for a full list of activities around Ullswater.
Special Events: The Steamers run a series of events and special cruises throughout the year. Please click here for full details of Ullswater Steamer Events
Transport Links
By Road: See the map to the right for directions to Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Glenridding is about 30 minutes drive down the A592 from Junction 40 of the M6 (Penrith). It is about 40 minutes from Junction 36 (via Kendal and Windermere and Keswick about 20 minutes by car. Pooley Bridge is just 10 minutes from the M6 Junction 40. There is a pay and display car park at Glenridding andlimited parking in Pooley Bridge.
By Train: Nearest Stations at Penrith and Windermere
By Bus: Regular bus service to Glenridding and Pooley Bridge from Penrith (all year) and Windermere (summer only).
Other: Local Taxi Service Available - M&A Taxis
More information on The Ullswater Steamers
Although famous and popular the Ullswater Steamers remain one of the Lake District’s best kept secrets. We offer visitors a quieter, calmer more relaxing experience. Open virtually every day of the year, our main operating season is from March to November. We have five classic vessels in regular service, ranging from the beautifully preserved 19th century ‘Lady of the Lake’ and ‘Raven’ to our latest vessel 'Western Belle'.
The Steamers offer an eight-mile, one-hour adventure sailing along the three reaches of the lake (see map below). Throughout the cruise you have expansive vistas of Lakeland’s greatest mountains, including Helvellyn, Place Fell and many more.
Your are guaranteed a tranquil journey aboard one of our heritage vessels, with seating on the deck (covered or in the open) and in comfy, relaxing saloons. We have fully licensed bars onboard and at pier houses serving snacks plus hot and cold drinks, and there are toilet facilities onboard the vessels and at the pier houses.
We offer a range of events aboard the Ullswater Steamers, with a huge range from Photo Workshops and Red Deer Cruises to Pirate trips and Christmas events for children.
We also have a sister attraction, the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, which offers superb steam train rides through some of the western Lake District’s most beautiful countryside.
So why not come and discover some of the magic for yourself. Come and enjoy the history, majesty and tranquility of Ullswater aboard the Ullswater Steamers.
