Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

has anybody got any great trips on ullswater i'm thinking of a day out on sunday, and indeed if any body would like to join please feel free. thanks in advance i look forward to reading your replys.

I've had a couple of paddles on here, Retro or Aslan would be the ones to ask, they'll be along soon enough. Have a good trip and remember the camera

I worked at Howtown Outdoor Centre for 4 and a bit years. Paddle anywhere from there down towards Glenridding on the East side and from Norfolk Island down either side of the lake.

Explore up Goldrill Beck if not too boney. Around Kailpot is good, with small bays to explore and along the shore line at base of Place Fell.

Paddle over to Aira Force peninsula, go for a brew at the cafe if it's open (usual in the summer but not in the winter).

Should not camp or have fires anywhere if the summer, Lake Ranger will most likely come over to have words, BUT, hide up in Kailpot woods or couple of places to be discreet around Silver Bay; during the winter it's possible to be a bit more visible and not to be challenged. Do not camp on Norfolk Island - it has been close to completely being trashed in the past and is at the point of recovery after many years, land, wander round, have a brew, beware nesting birds but no camping!

Good place to launch:

By the road bridge in Pooley Bridge - pole up the 100 metres of river and your on Ullswater.
By the Steamer pier at Glenridding - They are usually accommodating if you ask.

Howtown has a launching point, but the parking is very limited.

You can also launch from three or four places along the west shore.

Outward Bound Ullswater has a Community launch site on it's property.

I consider it the best stretch of water in the Lakes to paddle, but I'm biased from my experiences there

Have paddled on Ullswater a couple of times, one being a two dayer early last spring. We put-in from a lay-by just north of the steamer place at Glennriding, I'm sure Gav will be a long and give the name, all I remember was we had to carry the canoes down some steps, but staying for longer than a day meant free parking

Yup I will add to this tonight when I get in from work just one thing Adam, weather wise sat is looking a lot better than sun.

thanks for the heads up on the weather but sunday is my only day off. so it'll have to do.

Adam with the wind forecast from the South, I would put in on the West side in one of the free laybys just south of Aira Force, cross the lake and head for Silver Bay then head out a bit still going South for a look/brew on Norfolk island. Head back into the East side and look for the Devils Fireplace a vertical chimeny set into the cliffs only accessable via a boat. Then continue down the lake to the South end and nose up Grisedale Beck you should be able to get up about half a mile to the wooden campsite bridge if the flow is weak patterdale could be achived
Then an easy (flow wind assited paddle) past the steamers back to your car up the West Side.

Heres a couple of relavent Ullswater TT's

http://www.canoewithaview.co.uk/forum/sh...php?tid=87

http://www.canoewithaview.co.uk/forum/sh...hp?tid=242

Told you he'd know Adam, Silver bay would be one of my favourite camping areas, if I'd ever camped there, which I haven't, because you can't, but if you could, it would be my favourite

(08-01-09 07:04 PM)Retro Wrote: [ -> ]... nose up Grisedale Beck you should be able to get up about half a mile to the wooden campsite bridge if the flow is weak patterdale could be achived

That'll be the one coming out of Glenridding . The one coming down from Patterdale is Goldrill Beck.

Quite correct Matt, Grisedale beck flows into Goldrill beck which flows out of Brothers Water.

Now, inadvertantly you have corrected me also! It will be Glenridding Beck which flows out of Glenridding.

As an aside, if you put on to Goldrill Beck at NY 402 133 (Cow Bridge - good parking) it is a nice Gr1 paddle down to Ullswater - nothing to worry about except a few overhanging trees; does need water though.

I think just about all the options have been summed up by the others. Plenty of free parking on the west shore as indicated.

As a first visit I'd certainly stay toward the southern end. If it's particularly windy you might choose to park at the ferry car park at Glenridding [small charge] That gives you plenty of options depending on what the conditions look like when you get there and means you limit the chance of needing to do, I take it, a solo open water crossing from the east shore if it turns a bit choppy.

Like most mountain areas wind direction should only be taken as a guide. With the side valleys coming in from all directions the wind can hit you from just about any direction no matter what it's doing up on the fells. A fair swell can build up on the lake and can spring up at very short notice. I've had some of my best days on Ullswater as well as one of my hairiest.

I very much doubt if I'm going to be able to get over to the Lakes this weekend as I've been over the last two but keep us posted as to what you plan and if I get a pass out you never know.

Just to add that if it is to bad on Ullswater you can always hop over Kirkstone to Windermere as you can usually find a sheltered option somewhere such as the back of the islands opposite Bowness. Shame to waste a day I always say.

its been a while since i paddled on ullswater i was once fortunate enough to live on the shore in a boat house, retro could you please pm the grid refrence's for you trip including devils chimney, sounds interesting and i've never heard of it before, the idea of the day is to do some open water prep for my 4 star assesment.


retro i'll pm you asking for the grid refrence also incase you don't read this.

cheers. guy's.

(08-01-09 07:59 PM)adam Wrote: [ -> ]its been a while since i paddled on ullswater i was once fortunate enough to live on the shore in a boat house, ...

Wasn't at OB was it? If so, I lived there myself in 1990!
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Devils Chimney - NY 393 177

it was indeed what room.