Pooley Bridge on Ullswater

Pooley Bridge lies at the northeastern end of Ullswater and brings together water, paths and a remarkable local history. The River Eamont winds through the village’s houses and pubs. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage for a varied stay will find a starting point here for days by the water, walks through woods and fields, and cultural discoveries.

Ullswater, riverside landscape and paths

A distinctive landmark in the village is the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ pier. From Pooley Bridge, the surrounding area can therefore be viewed not only on foot but also from the water. For travelling without your own car, the signposted Eamont Way connects Penrith Railway Station with Pooley Bridge. The walking route is 5.5 miles long and follows the valley of the River Eamont. It crosses the river twice before reaching Pooley Bridge. This makes it possible to combine travel planning with a defined walking route without implying a walking time or level of difficulty.

There is also a quieter way to take in the landscape within the village itself: a level path through Dunmallard Wood follows the River Eamont to a seating area with benches. Dunmallard Wood is an ancient woodland; the remains of an Iron Age fortification lie on its summit. Those who prefer a longer route can follow the Ullswater Way from Pooley Bridge along paths through woods and fields to Maiden Castle.

Water activities on Ullswater

Pooley Bridge is suitable as a base for different forms of water sports. Ullswater Sailing School offers a two-hour taster session. An introduction to the basics of handling a boat on land is followed by a practical session on the water with an instructor. The activity takes place at Ullswater Yacht Club, Howtown Road, Pooley Bridge, Cumbria, CA10 2NA.

At Alfresco Adventures at Park Foot Holiday Park in Pooley Bridge, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks can be hired for Ullswater. This service is available between April and October. People who are not guests at Park Foot Holiday Park can also hire equipment there or take part in instructor-led activities. If water sports are among your main travel interests, you can take this seasonal information into account when choosing your accommodation and planning the timing of your trip.

History and distinctive buildings

Maiden Castle lies on the Ullswater Way, where an elevated viewpoint offers views across Ullswater Valley. Maiden Castle was once a fortified settlement and is now overgrown with grass. The site therefore combines a historical trace with a landscape perspective, without equating its former function with present-day use.

St Paul’s Church in Pooley Bridge was built in the 1860s as a daughter church of St Michael’s to serve the growing tourism in the village. The building is designed in the Gothic style, with a nave, chancel and a bell turret containing a bell. The church also has a north porch and lancet windows with stained glass at the eastern and western ends.

Another distinctive structure is the steel bridge at Pooley Bridge. It was built in 2020 to replace a stone bridge constructed in 1764, which collapsed after Storm Desmond in 2015. The new crossing is a wide, low single-arch structure made of stainless steel and is considered the first stainless-steel bridge in the United Kingdom.

Accommodation and travel planning

The right choice of accommodation in Pooley Bridge depends above all on the focus you want to set: water activities between April and October, paths along the River Eamont, walks towards Maiden Castle, or the combination of landscape and local history. The Pooley Bridge Visitor Information Point offers a selection of leaflets and guidebooks for the surrounding area, including information about local walking routes and footpaths.

Daily transport connections can also be included in your planning. Stagecoach buses run daily and connect Penrith bus or railway station with Ullswater Valley; they stop in Pooley Bridge, among other places. If you want to combine different interests within your travel group, accommodation in the village is therefore one way to focus your stay on paths, water and cultural discoveries. You can find more places for your travel planning at Brough, Ulverston, Near Sawrey, Wheyrigg, Bampton, Aspatria, Grange Over Sands and Dufton.

For the overarching travel overview: Cumbria.