Think of the Lake District and a scene featuring impressive mountains overlooking vast stretches of water is probably what springs to mind. Sitting in the shadows of several fells at the southern tip of Ullswater, the village of Glenridding provides you with just that.
Until the 1960s Glenridding was the centre of the lead mining industry. Today visitors flock to the village, situated in one of the most stunning locations in the Lake District.
The village is the perfect base to explore the area from, with several hotels, a hostel and a campsite. It also boasts various pubs and cafes, ideal for refuelling before embarking on your next adventure.
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To the west of Glenridding lies the Helvellyn mountain range, which forms a breath taking backdrop for the village. Helvellyn itself is the third highest peak in England and leading from the summit is the famous Striding Edge, one of the best-known scrambles in the Lake District.
If fell walking isn’t quite up your street, then there are plenty of other walks you can start from Glenridding. The Ullswater Way is a 20 mile circular route which follows the edge of the lake - the second largest in the Lake District.
You can choose to complete the whole walk or you can break it down into smaller sections and combine it with a boat trip or bus ride. The route takes in various sights, including the village of Pooley Bridge, at the far end of the lake.
A must-do while at Glenridding is to hop on board one of the Ullswater Steamers and enjoy a boat trip across the water. The iconic boats have been operating on the Ullswater for more than 160 years, with a route running from Glenridding Pier to Pooley Bridge, stopping off at Howtown along the way.
Alternatively you can catch a boat to nearby Aira Force, a beautiful area of land run by the National Trust. In this landscaped Victorian park trails wind through the trees and past rocky crags, leading you to the spectacular Aira Force waterfall, which drops 70ft from below a stone bridge. It’s one of the spots which greatly inspired poet William Wordsworth - his poem Somnambulist is said to be set here.
Another great way to experience the beauty of Ullswater is to book a kayaking tour and Tall Bloke Adventures operates tours twice daily. Rowing boats and canoes are also available to hire from St Patrick’s Boat Landing.
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