Walks by Ullswater
12 routes and 10 fells within about 5 km of Ullswater, nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Ullswater guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
I got to the church at the Hause above Howtown early one morning with everything in cloud, and it lifted as I reached the top of Hallin Fell. Four of the eleven routes here start from that church.
Walking routes near Ullswater, by how close they come to the water
Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.
On the shore 2 walks
Each route’s line comes within 50 m of the water’s edge somewhere along it, measured against OpenStreetMap’s outline of the lake.
- Howtown to Patterdale along Ullswater Start 1 km away9.88 km~214 m~2¼–3¼ hModerate effort Hard: navigationPlannedOne-way: finishes at Patterdale · Start: Hallin Fell (layby) (free) · Bus: UB1 at the startA one-way walk of about 10 km from the Howtown pier back to Patterdale along the south-east side of Ullswater: round the foot of Hallin Fell to Sandwick, then a public bridleway past Silver Point and public footpaths over Goldrill Bridge, with about 210 m of climbing in short rises.
- Fusedale Circuit Start 1.4 km away14.68 km~888 m~4¼–6 hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked September 2024Park: unnamed car park south-east of Hallin Fell (free) · Bus: UB1, 540 m walk from Martindale Cattle Grid (near)A ~15 km circuit of the Far Eastern fells from St Peter's Church above Howtown, on Ullswater — Hallin Fell, Steel Knotts, Wether Hill, Loadpot Hill, Arthur's Pike and Bonscale Pike — broad grassy tops with grandstand views over the lake. A fine Steamer-and-walk outing.
Within 500 m of the water 7 walks
Each route’s line comes within 500 m of the water’s edge, but not within 50 m.
- Swarth Fell and Loadpot Hill Start 1.4 km away9.69 km~599 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Hallin Fell car park (free) · Bus: UB1, 530 m walk from Martindale Cattle Grid (near)Four far-eastern tops above Ullswater — Swarth Fell, Loadpot Hill, Brownthwaite Crag and Steel Knotts — in 9.7 km with 599 m of climbing. Severe for steepness, hard to navigate; about 2¾–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 36%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Hallin Fell Start 1.4 km away1.98 km~165 m~½–1 hModerate: steepness🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partOut and back · Park: unnamed car park south-east of Hallin Fell (free) · Bus: UB1, 530 m walk from Martindale Cattle Grid (near)A short, steep little climb from St Peter’s Church at The Hause, above Howtown, to a superb all-round viewpoint over Ullswater — maximum reward for minimum effort. The Howtown steamer pier is about 1 km from the start as the crow flies, further on foot, so it can make a car-free outing.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 25%.
- Birketts to the South of Ullswater Start 1.4 km away11.53 km~790 m~3½–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: unnamed car park south-east of Hallin Fell (free) · Bus: UB1, 550 m walk from Martindale Cattle Grid (near)Sleet Fell, Low Birk Fell and the Birk Fell tops on the southern shore — five summits in 11.5 km with 790 m of climbing. Hard for steepness and hard to navigate; about 3½–5 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 31%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Birketts by Gowbarrow Start 3.5 km away12.03 km~591 m~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startFive tops around Gowbarrow Park above Ullswater, including the Wainwright summit of Gowbarrow Fell — 12 km and 591 m, with one stage averaging 16%. Rated hard to navigate despite the modest scale. Around 3¼–4¾ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell Start 3.5 km away15.11 km~713 m~4–5¾ hHard effort Hard: distanceWalked August 2023Park: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508, 470 m walk from Matterdale, opposite Aira ForceA round above Ullswater over Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell — two quite different tops, the first a rocky shoulder over the lake, the second a bare grassy dome. About a fifth of it is pathless.Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Aira Force & Gowbarrow Fell Start 3.5 km away6.88 km~341 m~1¾–2¾ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startAira Force's 65-foot waterfall, then up onto the open top of Gowbarrow Fell (481 m) for the view over Ullswater: 6.9 km and 341 m. The gorge at the falls has sheer sides, slippery rock and stone steps, and the pull above the falls onto Gowbarrow reaches about 31% over 250 m. Keep children and dogs close at the falls.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) (14 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
- Swineside Knott & Gowbarrow Start 3.6 km away13.27 km~657 m~3¾–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Aira Force (NT, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startA satisfying loop over the heather tops of Gowbarrow above Ullswater, starting from the Aira Force car park and climbing quickly away from the waterfall onto rolling moorland. The round takes in Brown Hills, Swineside Knott and Common Fell before the open summit of Gowbarrow Fell, a Wainwright with one of the finest views over Ullswater, which stays with you for much of the way. Moderate, with one steep early pull — save it for a clear day and let the lake do the rest.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 29%.
More walks within about 5 km 3 walks
Each starts within about 5 km of the lake, and its line stays more than 500 m from the water.
- The Mell Fells & Gowbarrow Fell Start 3.2 km away15.78 km~776 m~4¼–6 hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessPlannedPark: Roadside parking for Watermillock Fell (free) · Bus: UB1, 1.0 km walk from Horrockwood, opposite The Quiet Site
- Birketts above Ullswater Start 3.9 km away16.45 km~766 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distance and navigationPlannedPark: High Cascades (NT, paid) · Bus: 509, 750 m walk from Dockray, outside The Royal HotelTen Birkett tops strung along the Dodds above Ullswater, from Low How and Randerside over Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd — 16.5 km and 766 m across eleven stages. Rated hard to navigate; about 4½–6¼ hours.Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Great Mell Fell Start 4.9 km away3.47 km~274 m~1–1¾ hEasy effort Moderate: steepnessWalked August 2023Out and back · Park: Great Mell Fell layby · Bus: 509, 1.8 km walk from Matterdale End, outside Brook House FarmThe gentler of the two Mell Fells and an easy hour from the road — a single steady pull of 273 m to a domed summit with no mapped crags anywhere near the line.
Fells within about 5 km
- Hallin Fell 0.8 km away388 m~¾–1 h🚌 BusDecent · 65 · rated on 27 OctoberClear tops, dryHallin Fell at 388m (1,273ft) is one of Lakeland's most perfectly formed little summits — a grassy cone projecting into Ullswater above Howtown, its summit giving the finest aerial view of the lake's two bends in all of Lakeland.
- Bonscale Pike 1.9 km away524 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBonscale Pike at 524m (1,719ft) stands above Ullswater's eastern shore, its grassy summit giving fine views of the lake's southern reach and across to the Helvellyn range.
- Arthur's Pike 2.5 km away533 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsArthur's Pike at 533m (1,749ft) is a grassy summit above Ullswater's eastern shore, giving fine views of the lake from its open top.
- Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa) 2.5 km away432 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSteel Knotts at 432m (1,417ft) is a small, rocky summit above Martindale with excellent views of Ullswater from its craggy top.
- Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) 3 km away481 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusDecent · 66 · rated on 27 OctoberDryGowbarrow Fell at 481m (1,579ft) rises above the wooded western shores of Ullswater, its open summit giving excellent views of the lake — particularly the middle reach from Howtown to Pooley Bridge.
- Loadpot Hill 3.3 km away672 m~2¾–4 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsLoadpot Hill at 672m (2,205ft) is the broad northern end of the High Street range above Ullswater, with the line of the Roman road running close by its summit.
- Beda Fell (Beda Head) 3.5 km away509 m~5½–7¾ h🚌 BusDecent · 55 · rated on 27 OctoberDryBeda Fell at 509m (1,670ft) is a long ridge above Martindale, its summit giving outstanding views of Ullswater and the northern Eastern Fells.
- Little Mell Fell 3.6 km away505 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusDecent · 65 · rated on 27 OctoberDryLittle Mell Fell at 505m (1,657ft) is the smaller companion of Great Mell Fell, standing above the Matterdale valley with views across to Ullswater and the Eastern Fells.
- Wether Hill 4.3 km away673 m~4¼–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWether Hill at 673m (2,206ft) is an intermediate summit on the High Street plateau between Loadpot Hill and High Raise, its broad, grassy top passing almost unnoticed on the main ridge path.
- Place Fell 4.7 km away657 m~2¼–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsPlace Fell at 657m (2,156ft) is the great ridge fell on the eastern shore of Ullswater, its long summit ridge giving one of the finest views of the lake in all Lakeland.
4 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 27 October — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab).
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the walks and fells in this collection. Each marker links to its page; the same walks and fells are listed on this page.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Ullswater — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.