Patterdale

Where is Patterdale?

Patterdale near Penrith, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore.

Why is Patterdale famous? Is it worth visiting?

Yes — if you have come for the walking and the lake, Patterdale is well worth it; if you want shops and nightlife, it is tiny and you should set expectations accordingly. What it does, it does superbly.

It is famous, first, as a mountain base: this is — with Glenridding — the launch point for Helvellyn and the knife-edge of Striding Edge, and it sits directly beneath St Sunday Crag, one of the finest middle-height fells in the Lakes. Second, for Ullswater — many people's favourite lake — which begins right here at the valley head. And third, as a Coast to Coast village: Wainwright's celebrated coast-to-coast walk comes over the fells into Patterdale, making it a natural overnight that gives the place a steady through-flow of long-distance walkers.

Add the unspoilt setting at the head of the dale, little Brothers Water, the old hamlet of Hartsop, and the Ullswater steamers a mile away at Glenridding pier, and there is far more here than the size of the village suggests. Check the live "Best fells today" conditions before you commit to the high tops.

The YHA / Patterdale youth hostel — what's happening?

This is the single most-searched question about Patterdale, so here is the honest, current picture. YHA Patterdale — the large, distinctive hostel by the road south of the village — was placed on the market by the YHA in 2023, as part of a wider sell-off of properties after the pandemic and the cost-of-living squeeze. As of the latest information it has not been sold or permanently closed: the YHA's stated preference is for it to continue operating as a hostel, ideally within the YHA network, and it has remained available while a buyer or operator is sought.

Because this is a moving situation, treat any "open/closed" claim with caution and check the official source before you travel: → YHA — find a hostel for the current status and booking.

For budget and group stays in the meantime, the nearby YHA Helvellyn (above Glenridding) is the other youth-hostel option in the valley, alongside Patterdale's B&Bs, the campsite at Side Farm and rooms at the village inns (see Where to stay).

Walks & fells from Patterdale

This is Patterdale's real depth, and where our fell and route guides earn their keep. Always check the live conditions and the mountain forecast first — Helvellyn and the edges are serious ground in poor weather.

Helvellyn — Patterdale and Glenridding together are the base for England's third-highest mountain. The classic line is the Striding Edge & Swirral Edge route — an exposed grade-1 scramble and one of the great British ridge walks — which starts from Glenridding a mile up the road. To the common question "how long does Helvellyn take from Patterdale?": allow a full mountain day — roughly 6–7 hours for the Striding Edge round at a steady pace, more with stops and photos, and longer in winter conditions.

St Sunday Crag — the magnificent fell that rises straight above the village, and arguably Patterdale's own mountain. Our walked St Sunday Crag route climbs it as a round over Birks and Arnison Crag, with superb views down Ullswater and across to Helvellyn's eastern crags.

Place Fell — the shapely lower fell across the valley, with what many rate the best view of Ullswater of any summit. It pairs beautifully with the Ullswater shore path back towards Glenridding for a classic, lower-level day when the high tops are out.

The High Street & Hartsop side — across the valley to the east, a big horseshoe of fells rises above Hartsop and Brothers Water: Hartsop Dodd, Gray Crag, Rest Dodd, The Knott, High Street itself and Kidsty Pike. To the south, Deepdale bites back into the Fairfield group, and the Fairfield Horseshoe route is within reach from the valley.

Use the auto "Fells & walks nearby" block lower on this page for the nearest summits with a full guide, and the live "Best fells today" conditions to pick the right hill for the day.

Fells & walks near Patterdale

• Place Fell 657 m · 0.9 km
• Arnison Crag 433 m · 1.4 km
• Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top) 566 m · 2.0 km
• Glenridding Dodd 442 m · 2.3 km
• Birks 624 m · 2.7 km
• Beda Fell (Beda Head) 509 m · 3.1 km

Straight-line distances from the centre of Patterdale — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.

All walks from Patterdale → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.

The Coast to Coast

Patterdale is one of the best-loved overnight stops on Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk — the unofficial 190-mile route from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. Walkers drop into Patterdale off the high fells (the celebrated stage over Grisedale Tarn or via Boredale/Boardale Hause from Grasmere), spend the night, and climb out the next day towards Haweswater over the Kidsty Pike side. That steady flow of long-distance walkers gives this small village a friendly, boots-and-rucksacks character, and its inns and B&Bs are well used to one-night, early-breakfast, drying-room guests. If you are walking the C2C, Patterdale is a natural and welcome halt; if you are not, it is a good place to feel the romance of the route.

Ullswater, Brothers Water & Hartsop

Patterdale sits where Ullswater ends and the high valley begins, so water and mountains are tightly packed here.

• Ullswater — the lake widely held the most beautiful in the Lakes begins at the head of the valley by Patterdale and Glenridding. The historic Ullswater 'Steamers' run from Glenridding pier (a mile away) down to Howtown and Pooley Bridge — the classic outing being to sail one way and walk back along the shore.
• The Ullswater Way — the 20-mile waymarked circuit of the lake passes through; most visitors walk a scenic section (the Patterdale–Side Farm–Silver Bay shore towards Howtown is a lovely stretch) and use the steamer or the 508 bus to complete the loop.
• Brothers Water — the small, atmospheric tarn-like lake just up the valley towards Kirkstone, ringed by fells and reed beds; a gentle, beautiful low-level walk from the village.
• Hartsop — the old hamlet of spinning-gallery farmhouses tucked under the High Street fells, one of the most unspoilt corners of the eastern Lakes, with Hayeswater (the tarn above it) and the Hartsop horseshoe rising behind.

Things to do, how to spend a day & rainy days

• A day: a fell day on St Sunday Crag or Helvellyn, finishing with a pub meal — or, easier, the shore walk to Side Farm and back with the steamer from Glenridding.
• A weekend: one big fell day (Helvellyn or St Sunday Crag), one lake/low day (the steamer + Ullswater shore, or Brothers Water and Hartsop), and an evening in the pub.
• A rainy day / with kids: the Ullswater Steamers from Glenridding run whatever the weather; Aira Force (the NT waterfall up the lake) is spectacular in spate; the gentle stroll around Brothers Water or along the shore suits little legs; and Penrith (shops, castle, museum) is half an hour away for a proper wet-weather bolthole.

Where to stay

Patterdale is tiny, so book ahead in season. The mainstays:

• The Patterdale Hotel — the large, traditional hotel in the centre of the village, a long-standing walkers' and Coast-to-Coast base with bars and a restaurant. On the much-asked "who owns the Patterdale Hotel?": it was bought in 2026 by Lake District Hotels, the family-run Cumbrian group that also runs the Inn on the Lake on Ullswater, the Lodore Falls and several other local hotels.
• The White Lion — the village inn, a proper walkers' pub with rooms (see Food & drink).
• Old Water View — a well-regarded small guest house, long popular with Coast to Coast walkers and fell-goers.
• Patterdale Hall — a large house and estate at the edge of the village, used as an outdoor-education and activity centre (group and school stays) rather than a conventional hotel.
• YHA Patterdale — the youth hostel (see the YHA section above for its current status), plus YHA Helvellyn nearby.
• Camping — Side Farm campsite, on the Ullswater shore just out of the village, is the classic walkers' and C2C site; book ahead in summer.

Food & drink

For its size Patterdale is well served, but it is a very small village — for a proper supermarket shop you'll want Glenridding's village shop, Pooley Bridge or Penrith.

• The White Lion — the village pub, doing walkers' food and a pint by the fire; the natural evening spot in Patterdale itself.
• The Patterdale Hotel bar and restaurant — meals and drinks in the centre of the village.
• The village store & café — for essentials, coffee, cake and stocking up before the fells.

Weather & when to visit

Patterdale has a classic, honest Lakeland climate — mild, green and frequently wet, with the valley funnelling weather straight off Helvellyn and St Sunday Crag. Late spring and early autumn (May–June, September) give the best balance of long days and settled spells; high summer is busiest and parking fills earliest; winter on the high fells means full winter conditions on Helvellyn and the edges — for experienced, equipped walkers only, while the valley walks (Brothers Water, the Ullswater shore) stay rewarding year-round. Whatever the season, check the live "Best fells today" conditions and the mountain forecast before heading up.

Getting there & parking

There is no railway station in Patterdale. The nearest is Penrith (~15 miles, on the West Coast Main Line), from where the 508 bus runs the length of Ullswater through Pooley Bridge, Aira Force and Glenridding to Patterdale — and on over Kirkstone Pass to Windermere when the pass is open (the seasonal open-top service is a fine ride in itself). By car, Patterdale is on the A592: about 35 minutes from the M6 at Penrith down the side of Ullswater, or over the dramatic Kirkstone Pass from Ambleside and Windermere.

Parking is limited — there is a small amount of parking in and around the village (and at Side Farm for the shore and campsite), but on fine days the spaces near the popular fell starts go early. Many walkers use the larger Beckside car park in neighbouring Glenridding (a mile away) and walk or bus in. Arrive early, especially for a Helvellyn or St Sunday Crag day.

Practical info

• Dogs: very welcome — the fells, the lake shore and most pubs.
• Toilets: public toilets are limited in the village; the main staffed facilities are at Glenridding's Beckside car park a mile away.
• Cash & cards: card is accepted widely, but cash machines are scarce in such a small village — draw cash in Glenridding, Pooley Bridge or Penrith.
• EV charging: very limited in the village — check your charging app before relying on it; Glenridding and Penrith have more.
• Mountain Rescue & safety: the valley is covered by Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team; mobile signal is patchy in the valley and largely absent on the high fells, so carry a map and compass and don't rely on your phone for navigation on Helvellyn. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Day trips & nearby

• Glenridding — Patterdale's neighbour a mile up the road, the Ullswater steamer pier and the main car park; the two villages are best thought of as a pair.
• Aira Force & Gowbarrow — the National Trust waterfall and the little fell above it, a short, rewarding outing up the lake.
• Pooley Bridge — the village at the far, northern end of Ullswater; reachable by steamer, the 508 bus or the Ullswater Way.
• Ullswater by steamer — from Glenridding pier, the best "day trip" of all.
• Penrith — the nearest market town (~15 miles): shops, the castle, services and the railway.
• Over Kirkstone to Ambleside — when the pass is open, the spectacular road south drops you into the central Lakes.

Events & festivals

Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Patterdale — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.