Ullswater Way & Helvellyn B/h weekend: August 24th-26th
Regular price
£0.00
£75.00
Join us for this long bank holiday weekend in the beautiful Lake District. Walk the Ullswater Way over 2 days and/or choose whether to also take on the exciting Grade 1 scramble up the epic Striding Edge route of Helvellyn!
Simply make your choice(s) from the drop down menu above, from which you can select each walk and also transport by adding each item to your cart separately.
Ullswater Way 2 Day Challenge
"The most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland" - Alfred Wainwright
The National Park’s most popular lowland walk. This beautiful lakeside trail features magnificent waterfalls and woodlands, stunning hills all around, along with some interesting artwork and heritage to discover along the way (read about the Heritage Trail below).
Starting at Pooley Bridge, this route proves that the only way to explore this amazing landscape is by foot, with stunning views all the way, as it skirts 22 miles and ascends 1000m over 2 days, around one of the finest lakes in the UK. Before he died, Alfred Wainwright described sections of the Ullswater Way as “the most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland”.
Helvellyn via Striding Edge
Britain’s Favourite Walk
After enjoying one of the best views across entire Lake District National Park, we descend via Swirral Edge, another steep rocky scramble, before taking in the bonus Wainwright of Catstye Cam before heading back down the valley back down the valley.
Agenda:
Saturday: Ullswater Way South Shore
- 6:00am: transport meet at OX5 1RR
- 6:00am-10:30am: pick ups on route
- 11:00am: arrive Pooley Bridge
- 11:15am: meet Crown Pub, CA10 2NP
- 11:30pm: Walk Starts
- Approximately 11miles per day.
- Duration 5+hrs walking plus stops.
- Return via Ullswater Steamer or bus.
Sunday: Ullswater Way North Shore
- 9:00am: meet at Ullswater Info Centre, Glenridding, CA11 0PA.
- Approximately 11miles per day.
- Duration 5+hrs walking plus stops.
- 3:00pm: Expected Finish
- Return via Ullswater Steamer or bus.
Monday: Helvellyn via Striding Edge
- 9:00am: meet outside the Patterdale Hotel, Patterdale, CA11 0NN
- Car park opposite or at Patterdale Cricket Club, Grisedale Bridge, CA11 0PJ
- Duration 5+hrs.
- 3:00pm: Expected Finish
- 4:00pm: Transport returns home.
Required Form:
As well as booking your place above (using the "Add to Cart" button), in order to confirm your place, please complete the applicant health & safety form, so we know how best to look after you during the event.
Transport:
Minivan transport can be booked from the drop down menu above. This is available from near Oxford (OX5 1RR) or pick ups locations on route. Transport will leave early on the Saturday morning and return on the Monday night.
Important Info:
- A WHATSAPP group will be created to share info and photos on the day. In signing up to the event you are agreeing to be added to this group, which will contain other participants. This is necessary so that details can be shared in the run up to the event, including last minute changes, reminders or cancellations.
- Charity involvement: many of our walks are being run in partnership with charities. As such, sign up information is shared with the charity involved for the purpose of running the event and communicating its purpose, which is to help raise awareness and funds for the charity. By signing up, you are agreeing to receive information from Get Outdoors and the charity.
- Remember waterproofs, walking boots/shoes and a packed lunch & water.
- Please note you may need to pay for parking.
- Dogs are welcome, but are entirely the owner's responsibility and must have a lead and be under close control at all times.
- If encountering livestock do not walk too close or get between a cow and calf. If threatened, let go of your dog so it can escape and reduce the risk to yourself.
- Please keep to public rights of way and respect landowner’s property.
- There are often stiles to negotiate on this type of walk.
- Countryside walking can often include hills and uneven terrain. Our group ethos is to support everyone in group to achieve their maximum potential in terms of completing the route. As such, we endeavour to walk at a pace all participants are comfortable with. We apologise if this causes any frustration to fitter walkers.
- Please consult your doctor if you are worried about your fitness to take part.
- Please inform the walk leaders, Get Outdoors, of any underlying health conditions that may affect your walking ability before signing up.
Accommodation:
This is not included. We ask participants to make their own bookings, just because everyone likes something different and chooses a different budget. Here are a few recommendations:
Most Convenient:
Pooley Bridge Inn (on the route)
The Sun Inn Pooley Bridge (on the route)
Crown Inn Pooley Bridge (on the route)
Slightly further away in Keswick:
Borrowdale Gates Hotel (4*Hotel)
Ravenstone Manor (3*Hotel)
Babbling Brook Guest House (great value)
Glendale Guest House (great value)
The Edwardene Guest House (great value)
YHA Keswick (Budget option)
YHA Borrowdale (Budget option)
Additional Help:
If you would like some expert accommodation advice we recommend contacting:
laura.wheeler@email.travelcounsellors.co.uk
Kit List:
Please review the Kit List below to help you decide what you need for your adventure. The walk will go ahead even in strong wind/rain and only cancelled if conditions become what we consider too dangerous. Therefore, it is essential to be properly equipped! Tried and tested clothing only - don't want to find out something rubs once you've started the challenge and it's too late to change!
- Rucksack - min 25 litres with cover.
- Walking boots; broken in; NO trainers
- Double layer walking socks.
- Waterproof jacket & trousers.
- Base layer top – breathable.
- Warm fleece and spare fleece.
- Walking trousers - NO jeans!
- Multiple thin tops allowing temperature changes.
- Post-challenge clothes.
- 3 litres of fluid per peak.
- Basic First Aid kit & Sun cream.
- Warm gloves, hat/balaclava.
- Head torch with spare batteries.
- Whistle for sounding the alarm.
- Toiletries, towel.
- Mobile phone & waterproof case
- FULL LIST HERE
Fitness:
We have lots of other walks coming up that are great for training. They also provide an opportunity to ask questions about your upcoming challenge and meet other members of the team. So please browse our website www.getoutdoorsuk.org and come join us soon! We're adding new dates all the time. Taking part in build up events is also a great excuse to push your fundraising page if you are supporting a charity and update supporters about your challenge journey via social media, etc.
If you aren't able to join us for a walk, then great places to train with decent inclines include: The Lake District with 214 Wainwrights; Snowdonia; The Dark Peak District with Mam Tor, the Great Ridge and Kinder Scout; the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains with Pen y Fan and Sugar Loaf Mountains. There's also the Malvern Hills, Chiltern Hills and Cotswolds, which have lots of hilly walks. There may be other hilly area near you.
The level of training needed depends totally on where you're starting from. Completion is dependent on a mixture of fitness, stamina and determination.
As a rough guide we recommend vigorous exercise at least 3 times per week for as long as possible prior to the event. Walk briskly on the hilliest routes you can find, such that you are regularly out of breath. Improve your stamina by including a long weekly walk, building up to 15 miles or more. Improve your cardio by walking your shorter walks as fast as you can.
Jogging uphill is a really good way to replicate the cardiovascular strain needed for ascents.
Strength and condition exercise, such as weight training or Pilates are beneficial for working on your leg power and core strength.
Finally and most importantly, make sure you take it easy during the last week running up to the event. It takes more than 7 days for muscles to recover, rebuild and benefit from any exercise you do. All top athletes do it - 'Tapering off' is your opportunity to exercise lightly and make sure you do not arrive with a build up of lactic acid in your legs that WILL slow you down during the challenge.
Booking form with terms and conditions
The Ullswater Way Heritage Trail
The Heritage Trail consists of 12 heritage-themed installations along the 4 main sections of the Ullswater Way. Each installation celebrates an aspect of the valley’s heritage. Each is created by a local artist and designed to be in harmony with the natural surroundings. While on the trail, it's a fun activity to try and find all 12 of these points of interest:
The Heritage Trail Installations:
1. Artists' Seat: Celebrates 3 artists who were inspired by the valley - Ann Macbeth, John Glover and JMW Turner.
2. Birkett Memorial: Remembering Lord Norman Birkett who helped save Ullswater from becoming a reservoir.
3. Clarkson Memorial: Celebrating the role of Thomas Clarkson in the anti-slavery movement.
4. Dorothy Gate: Celebrates the writing of Dorothy Wordsworth and her influence on the poetry of her brother.
5. Herdwick Stones: Sheep and shepherding are at the heart of life in the valley.
6. Patterdale Parish War Memorial: Remembering those from the Parish who gave their lives in the two world wars.
7. Poetry Stones: 3 stones engraved with lines from the poetry of Kathleen Raine, who lived in Martindale in the 1940s.
8. Pooley Bridge Fish Monument: Reminds us that Pooley Bridge was once a thriving fishing village.
9. Roman Seat: Marks the spot where two Roman roads crossed.
10. treefold:north in Glencoyne Park overlooks Ullswater and encircles a young oak tree, built using stones scattered over nearby fields during Storm Desmond in 2015.
11. Wainwright Plaque at Patterdale PO: Alfred Wainwright's Guides to the Fells were first sold here.
12. Wainwright Sitting Stone: Celebrating Ullswater, "that loveliest of lakes..."
We only regret opportunities we don't take!