Where do you want to go?

This tranquil place situated in the Lake District, boosts the 2nd largest lake in the district and is often compared to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. This peaceful and majestic oasis is located 5 miles from the motorway (M6), which makes it an ideal location for exploring the surrounding areas.

This beautiful area stretches out over eight miles, where you can find medieval castles to historic houses. Ullswater is steeped in history too. It is said that traces of material have been found in and around the surrounding area that dates back further than the Viking days..!

If you are an active person, this is the place for you. Activities range from water sports, horse-riding, fishing, rock climbing, walking, sailing and mountain bike riding, and are available all around the lake.

One of the most breath taking walks in Ullswater Valley is through the glen towards the Aira Force waterfall. This location captivates a beautiful mood with the back drop of the waterfall; it also provides a glimpse of Victorian Landscape Park, arboretum and rocky scenery.

Ullswater Valley is home to the enchanting Dalemain House, which has a mixture of architecture dating from medieval, Tudor to early Georgian. According to Lake District historians, the name Dalemain means 'manor in the valley', and there has been a settlement here since Saxon times. If you like all things historic then this place is for you, though you will need to spend a day here to be able to get round it all.

Then we have Hutton-in-the-forest. A beautiful historic house, whose architecture spans over six periods of history from the 14th to the 19th Century. The house typically shows how the great northern country houses evolve, develop and grow over the years. However, one thing that hasn't changed over the years is the love each of the owners has had for this truly majestic home.

Ullswater is well known for the steamers,(of which you can enjoy trips around the lake), and the sailing, with many marinas based around the lake. In fact it is at Ullswater that Sir Donald Campbell set the world water speed record on July 23, 1955, when he piloted the jet-propelled hydroplane "Bluebird K7" to a speed of 202.32 mph...!

If walking and sailing doesn't appeal to you, then consider the settlements surrounding Ullswater for a visit. There's Glenridding on the southern shore, which is home to the third largest mountain in England, Helvelly and the Ullswater Steamers, it is a very popular village to visit whilst at Ullswater.

Then there is Pooley Bridge, situated at the north end of Ullswater, it takes its name from the narrow 16th century bridge that straddles the river Eamont.

Ullswater is truly a beautiful place to stay, with so much to see, activities to do and new experiences to be gained, there really is something for the whole family here.

To quote the now tweaked new version of the famous Venetian quote :
"To See Ullswater Is To Live...!"

I wandered lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
Wordsworth's most famous poem about daffodils was composed in 1804, two years after he saw the flowers while walking by Ullswater on a stormy day with Dorothy, his sister. His inspiration for the poem came from an account written by Dorothy.

In her journal entry for 15 April 1802 she describes how the daffodils 'tossed and reeled and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind, that blew upon them over the lake.' Wordsworth published his poem, I wandered lonely as a Cloud, in 1807. He later altered it, and his second version, published in 1815, is the one widely known today.

Dove Cottage was the home of William Wordsworth from December 1799 to May 1808, the years of his supreme work as a poet. Visit the cottage and the museum and find out more about this great romantic poet.

Dove Cottage, The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery
Click here to visit their website