Introducing our whistle-stop tour of things to do and places to visit within a 30 minute drive from Rose Cottage….
A ride on the Ullswater Steamer, to either Howtown, Aira Force or Glenridding - all of which have fantastic walking options.
Lowther Castle is an impressive building that showcases a really interesting museum section about the history of the castle and the stories of those who have owned and inhabited it. Lowther has a great café and the grounds also make for an excellent destination for walking and cycling (there’s a great board showing the Lowther Estate walking and biking paths by the bridge in Askham, with everything from flat riverside paths to mountain bike trails).
Rheged is the best glorified service station you’ll find in England. One roundabout West along the A66 from the M6, or across the fields using the public rights of way from Tirril, is Rheged, with a great exhibition space (check out the website for current exhibitions), a ceramic painting workshop, a little indoor soft play (charges apply), a cinema and a lovely selection of local shops, cafes and a delicatessen. It’s all housed in a fascinating eco-friendly building and well worth an explore.
Hallin Fell is our favourite local hill walk as the views to reward your relatively short burst of energy are spectacular over Ullswater and the neighbouring valleys. It’s a short drive from Tirril towards Pooley Bridge, then along the shores of Ullswater along to Howtown. You can park at the bottom for the full lake shore to hill top experience, or you can drive ‘up the zig zag’ and park at the top by Martindale church and walk from there (it’s the hill to your right when Ullswater is behind you). We could go on about the family significance (brother-in-law proposed at the top, first hill our kids climbed) but really it’s all about those views and the feeling of being on top of the world. Incredible.
The Fells around Ullswater are a fantastic area to explore. Using an OS map or Footpath app to research your options is probably far more informative than our tips, but there are a huge number of routes to try including the Ullswater Way (a circuit round Ullswater) and High Street, a stunning route that takes you high on the ridges above Ullswater.
Aira Force is a truly wonderful waterfall with a choice of short and longer walking routes starting from the car park or steamer pier on the northern shores of Ullswater.
Pooley Bridge has a great selection of local shops, a Post Office, cafes and pubs as well as a renowned gin shop that offers tastings (sometimes at a stall outside). You can also walk to the lake shores or round to the Ullswater Steamer pier.
Ullswater Sailing School & SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Hire run from Ullswater Yacht Club (UYC) in the summer months. More information is available online.
Askham Open Air Pool is open in the summer months and is just under 5k from Tirril. It’s a brilliant place for our kids to play, with a normal pool and a baby pool all set in a grassy area and surrounded by trees.
Penrith Leisure Centre is open all year round, just opposite Sainsbury’s, and has a large indoor swimming pool and baby pool, as well as a soft play area. Parking is free for those paying to swim or use the soft play, you just need to park, pay inside for your entertainment, and they give you a ticket to take back out to your vehicle.
Abbott Lodge Jersey Farm Ice Cream Parlour is a firm favourite with our kids, about 10 minutes’ drive from Tirril (not far beyond Clifton) and as well as delicious ice cream they have a large indoor climbing frame and outdoor play area including swings and little karts.** worth checking online as we haven’t been post- lockdown **
Haweswater is about 30 minutes’ drive from Tirril and is a beautiful place to walk. The history is fascinating as the valley and a village were flooded to form a reservoir in the 1960’s, something Lord Birkett managed to stop happening in Ullswater. There’s a car park at the end of the road and a lovely hotel, Haweswater Hotel, that is a great lunch spot, though it’s worth enquiring in advance as they do close for private events on some weekend dates.
The Kirkston Pass beyond the Glenridding end of Ullswater takes you over the fells to Ambleside on the shores of Lake Windermere. It’s an incredible drive (or cycle if you’re feeling fit enough for the winding zig zag hill climb – the descent is meant to be very exhilarating!!) and Ambleside, Bowness and Windermere are all beautiful places to explore.