Ullswater Steamers

Ullswater Steamers

The main purpose of the ‘Steamers’ was not only to carry passengers but also Royal Mail, provisions, slate from nearby mines and lead from the Greenside mine in Glenridding. During WW2 the ‘Steamers’ even ferried soldiers down to Glenridding for their training at the Ullswater Hotel.

 Lady of the Lake was launched on the 26th June 1877; she was designed by Mr Douglas Hebson of Penrith and built in Glasgow by Joseph Seath & Company. She was transported in three sections by rail to Penrith then horse drays to Waterside where she was constructed at Elder Beck. Lady is 29.8 metres long and weighs in at 42.7 tonnes.

Legendary huntsman Joe Bowman was hunting in Martindale with the Ullswater Hounds. He decided to return from Howtown to Patterdale by 'Steamer', on discovering that he would have to pay for each hound, he sent his hounds ashore and remained onboard. As the boat was underway, Joe blew his horn and the hounds trotted along the lakeshore path, to be reunited, at their kennels at the southern end of the lake.
St Peters Church set within the parish of Martindale has a memorial window to the officers and men lost when aircraft carrier HMS Glorious was destroyed in controversial circumstances off the coast of Norway in 1940.


VISITROS INFORMATION:
 

Getting Here

By Car
SatNav CA11 0US. From Keswick:A66, A5091 to Aira Force, turn right onto Lake Road, Glenridding is 2 miles away.
From the North: only 5 miles from Junction 40 on the M6 onto the A66, then onto the A592 to Pooley Bridge (SatNav CA10 2NN).
From the South: only 8 miles from Ambleside via Kirkstone Pass to Glenridding or from Bowness/Windermere.
By Bus
Links between Penrith, Pooley Bridge and Glenridding operate all year.


EVENTS:

Summer
July - 20th, August - 3rd & 17th - Evening Commentary Cruises
Departs    from Glenridding Pier at 6.45pm - returns at 8.15pm
Cost: Adults £10, Children £5
An evening commentary cruise with a LDNPA Ranger, find out where Donald Campbell broke the water speed record, how old the valley is and lots more.

Free Tea/Coffee onboard and free parking at Glenridding Pier

No need to book, just turn up!


July - 14th & 28th, August - 11th & 25th - Cumbrian Fish Supper Cruises
Departures from Pooley Bridge from 7pm returns at 9pm
Cost £15 per person
Enjoy a two hour evening cruise with a fish supper and a dash of entertainment.  Music from Pete Lashley or Table Top Magic from Stu-Di Doo dependent on your preferred date of sailing.  Cumbrian Fish Supper supplied by the Hired Lad (vegetarian option available).

Dates for Stu-Di Doo: 30th June & 28th July
Dates for Pete Lashley: 14th July, 11th August & 25th August
Please note 30th June is now fully booked
Save our Squirrel Family Fun Day - 3rd & 10th August
Come and meet the Team from Save our Squirrels located next to the Glenridding Pier House. There will be fun squirrel activities to do and lots of Squirrel retail therapy. Our very own Sammy Squirrel will also make guest appearances throughout the day. For more information about the work Save our Squirrel do in the fight to protect the Reds please visit their website. Helping us to help them.


Autumn
Red Deer Rut with the RSPB - October -
NEW DATE ADDED 14th. 15th,16th & 17th are SOLD OUT
Departures from Glenridding at 10.30am returning 3.30 pm
Cost £12 for non-members & £10 for members
(Children 1/2 price), proceeds to the RSPB
Join us for a short cruise to Howtown followed by an escorted journey with the RSPB rangers into Martindale to witness if we are lucky, one of nature’s finest spectacles – the Red Deer Rut. Please bring appropriate clothing and foot wear. The walk is approximately 20 minutes with a short uphill easy climb then a level good ground footpath, suitable for all ages and abilities. Locally produced Packed Lunches available to pre order, please request when booking. .


October - Friday 22nd - Photography Workshop with Val Corbett
Departs from Glenridding at 11am returns approx 6pm
Price £25 per person
This is your chance to get to grips with your camera with one of the best.  There will be instruction throughout the day on how to compose beautiful photos as well as short excursions into different habitats around the lake. Please bring suitable clothing. Locally produced Packed Lunches available to pre order, details to follow.


October - 30th - Halloween Magic with Stu-Di-Doo
Departures from Glenridding at 11am and 2pm
Cost £10 per person (under 3's free)
Fun for all the family at Halloween - a two hour cruise with one of the best entertainers in the county, with magic tricks and balloon modelling amongst other hocus pocus to entertain you through the nightmare of Halloween - pure magic!  Fancy dress is optional.  There is a sweety goody bag for the children to take home, a glass of magic squash for the kids and a tea/coffee for Mums and Dads onboard.


Winter
December - 7th - 9th - Spirit of Christmas Cruises
Christmas Lunch with Dalemain Historic House and a Winter Cruise on Ullswater.
Cost £22.50 per person
Feel the Spirit of Christmas with our winter wonderland package. Departs Pooley Bridge 11am for a one hour cruise followed by a relaxed lunch in the ancient Medieval Hall at Dalemain. Onboard you will be teated to a festive mince pie and a glass of mulled wine before you make your way to Dalemain for a delicious two course lunch (vegetarian option available.) Menus available shortly for pre booking.

December - 11th & 12th - Santa Cruises
Departs Glenridding at 11.30am returns at 1pm
£15 per person includes gift (RRP £12)
A truly magic experience to meet Santa and pull a cracker with our very own Sammy Squirrel. Join in the fun with our Happy Elf before meeting Santa and if you have been good, very very good he has a super present for children to take home. Play Pass the Parcel with a twist or colour your way to win extra prizes throughout the cruise. And just so Mums and Dads get a treat too, we have complimentary vouchers for a return visit*, mulled wine and mince pies.