Walks by Ullswater
The walks you can reach around Ullswater — the routes that start within about 5 km, and the Wainwright and Outlying fells within the same radius, ranked 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.
Walking routes near Ullswater
- Swarth Fell and Loadpot Hill 1.4 km away9.7 km~568 m~2.9 hFour far-eastern tops above Ullswater — Swarth Fell, Loadpot Hill, Brownthwaite Crag and Steel Knotts — in 9.7 km with 568 m of climbing. Severe for steepness, hard for navigation and exposure; under three hours.
- Hallin Fell 1.4 km away2 km~156 m~0.7 h🏞️ Easy & familyA short, steep little climb from the Howtown steamer pier to a superb all-round viewpoint over Ullswater — maximum reward for minimum effort, and a fine car-free outing using the lake steamer.
- Fusedale Circuit 1.4 km away14.7 km~856 m~4.4 hA quiet ~15 km circuit of the Far Eastern fells from 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.
- Birketts to the South of Ullswater 1.4 km away11.5 km~663 m~3.4 hSleet Fell, Low Birk Fell and the Birk Fell tops on the quiet southern shore — five summits in 11.5 km with 663 m of climbing. Severe for steepness and hard for both navigation and exposure; about 3.4 hours.
- Birketts by Gowbarrow 3.5 km away12 km~550 m~3.3 hFive tops around Gowbarrow Park above Ullswater, including the Wainwright summit of Gowbarrow Fell — 12 km and 550 m, with one stage averaging 16%. Rated hard to navigate despite the modest scale. Around 3.3 hours.
- Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell 3.5 km away15.1 km~705 m~4.2 hA linear crossing above Ullswater from Gowbarrow Fell to Little Mell Fell — two quite different tops, the first a rocky shoulder over the lake, the second a bare grassy dome. Not a loop, and about a fifth of it is pathless.
- Aira Force & Gowbarrow Fell 3.5 km away6.9 km~341 m~1.9 h🏞️ Easy & familyAira Force's dramatic 65-foot waterfall, climbed on to the open top of Gowbarrow Fell for one of the finest aerial views over Ullswater. Easy-moderate — a steady pull on good National Trust paths above the falls.
- Swineside Knott & Gowbarrow 3.6 km away13.3 km~649 m~3.7 hModerateA satisfying loop over the heather tops of Gowbarrow above Ullswater, starting from the busy Aira Force car park — but climbing quickly away from the waterfall crowds onto quiet, rolling moorland that most of them never reach. 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.
- Birketts above Ullswater 3.9 km away16.5 km~694 m~4.4 hTen Birkett tops strung along the Dodds above Ullswater, from Low How and Randerside over Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd — 16.4 km and 694 m across eleven stages. Rated hard to navigate and easy for exposure; about 4.4 hours.
- Great Mell Fell 4.9 km away3.5 km~269 m~1.1 hThe gentler of the two Mell Fells and an easy hour from the road — a single steady pull of 268 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~1.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 37Summit likely clagged inHallin 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~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsBonscale Pike at 524m (1,719ft) stands above Ullswater's western 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~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsArthur's Pike at 533m (1,749ft) is a grassy summit above Ullswater's western shore, giving fine views of the lake from its open top.
- Steel Knotts (Pikeawassa) 2.5 km away432 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too 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 h🚌 BusMarginal · 36Summit likely clagged inGowbarrow Fell at 481m (1,578ft) 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~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsLoadpot Hill at 671m (2,201ft) is the northern summit of the High Street plateau above Ullswater, the site of a ruined Roman turret on the ancient road that runs along the ridge.
- Beda Fell (Beda Head) 3.5 km away509 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsBeda Fell at 509m (1,670ft) is a long, smooth ridge above Martindale, its summit giving outstanding views of Ullswater and the northern Eastern Fells.
- Little Mell Fell 3.6 km away505 m~1.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 37Summit likely clagged inLittle 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 away672 m~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsWether Hill at 671m (2,201ft) 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~3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too 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.
0 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 12 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
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.