Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District and one of the sixteen major lakes in the national park.
The Lake District is located in the north of England, in the region of Cumbria.
The lake is located in the northeast corner of the national park about 45 minutes south of Carlisle. It is one of the most beautiful and rural parts of England.
The name Lake District can tell that the area is full of lakes but it is only one of those who use the word lake after its name and it is not Ullswater. Calling it Ullswater Lake would be superfluous.
Ullswater is 12 kilometers long and on average 1.2 kilometers wide. The deepest places at Howtown are 62 meters.
The lake has three distinct curves.
The origin of the name Ullswater is uncertain.
Some suggestions are that it comes from the Old Norse name Ulf which means wolf.
Legend has it that there was a Nordic chief named Ulf who ruled over the area. There was also a Saxon Lord of Greystoke who was owning land close to the lake. His name was Ulphus. Another suggestion is that the lake is named after the Norse god Ullr.
The nearest town is Penrith, which is located about 9.6 km northeast of the northern tip of the lake.
Penrith is a market town and leads to the Eden Valley. Ullswater is one of the most accessible lakes in the Lake district as both the M6 and A66 go there.
Around the lake there are several villages. At the north end is Pooley Bridge and at the south end is Glenridding.
Halfway down the lake is the village of Howtown. Some other villages along the lake are Patterdale and Watermillock.
Ullswater is a lake with clear water. It is a very deep lake and in the deepest part lives a fish species called the schelly. It is a kind of char that is endemic to four lakes in the Lake District and Ullswater is one of them.
Ullswater is fed directly by small tarns and becks high up in the mountainous landscape. When it rains a lot, the water flows down the slopes.
Ullswater Cruises operates two passenger ships that operate the lake during the summer, “Raven” and “Lady of the Lake”. The latter was built in 1877 as a steamship, but was converted to diesel power in 1936. “Lady of the Lake” is 29.55 meters long, weighs 43 tons without cargo and can carry 200 passengers. She is known to be the oldest functioning passenger ferry in the world and is a member of the National Historic Fleet.
The best walk at the lake with the most beautiful views is between Howtown and Glenridding. It is on the southeast shore where the boats dock.
On the beaches around the lake, it is possible to rent boats and take courses in sailing and windsurfing by trained course leaders. At Glenridding there are kayaks, Canadian canoes, sailboats and traditional boats for rent.
Ullswater is one of the largest and most beloved lakes in the region and is popular with both locals and tourists.