This was how my recent weekend in the Lake District went: climbed a fell (two, actually), took a lake cruise, explored a castle and gardens, walked parts of a long-distance path, slept in a cosy glamping cabin, enjoyed tea and cakes (several times), went to the pub (twice). And I did all this without once using a car.
My new best friend for the weekend was the Ullswater Bus, a dapper, shiny 16-seater and a new trial service that links hotels, campsites, landing stages and attractions around much of Ullswater (the valley and lake share the same name), with the aim of reducing car usage. As the Lake District’s second-largest lake (after Windermere), Ullswater annually draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy its water sports, lake cruises, Aira Force beauty spot, and walking and cycling routes. It’s the main starting point for Helvellyn, one of the Lake District’s most-climbed fells at 949 metres, and also offers the 21-mile round-lake Ullswater Way walking route.
