Who we are
We help people connect with the history, culture and natural life of the Ullswater Valley, so that everyone — now and in the future — can understand, enjoy and support this special place.
We bring people together to explore the valley, uncover its stories, and help protect what makes Ullswater so special.
Our story
Friends of the Ullswater Way began in 2016 as a collaboration between the five parishes surrounding Ullswater, brought together by a shared belief that the valley’s heritage, natural beauty and communities are deeply connected.
From the beginning, our aim has been to help people understand and experience the Ullswater Valley — celebrating its history, culture, places and traditions, alongside the natural heritage that continues to shape the valley today.
In 2019, Friends of the Ullswater Way became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission (No. 1185056). Becoming a charity helped secure the long-term future of our work and enabled us to support a growing programme of heritage, learning and community projects across the valley.
One of our first major projects was the Ullswater Way Heritage Trail, created with local artists, craftspeople and communities. Twelve installations were placed along the Ullswater Way, each highlighting a different aspect of the valley’s story — from its industrial past to its literary and artistic heritage.
While our roots lie in the creation of the Ullswater Way Heritage Trail, our work has gradually expanded beyond a single trail to include a wider range of heritage, arts, walking and community initiatives across the valley.
We believe that deeper understanding of Ullswater’s natural heritage, history, culture and changing character can inspire stronger connections between people and place.
What we do
Sharing cultural history, natural heritage and learning
We support projects that deepen understanding of the Ullswater Valley’s cultural history, natural heritage, art and changing character, while helping communities share and celebrate local knowledge.
Supporting walking and exploration
We help people discover and explore Ullswater through walks, trails, interpretation and resources that connect places, viewpoints and stories across the valley.
Inspiring learning and creativity
We work with artists, schools, volunteers, communities and partner organisations to encourage learning, creativity and a deeper understanding of what makes Ullswater special.
Our trustees
Tim Clarke, Chair
Rachel Carson, Nelson Mandela and E. F. Schumacher have long inspired Tim’s thinking around environment, society and stewardship. A retired ecologist, zoologist and European civil servant, Tim worked for many years across fisheries, environment, governance, civil society and human rights, later serving as EU Ambassador to several African countries between 2004 and 2011.
A trustee of Friends of the Ullswater Way for the past decade and currently Chair, his main interests include habitats and biodiversity, the ecology of Ullswater, and the Understanding Ullswater Talks programme. Outside FOUW, Tim is also a trustee of SITU and GAIA Education Europe, and he enjoys fell walking, kayaking, and exploring connections between landscape, community and place.
Joe Ball, Treasurer
After many childhood holidays in the Lakes, Joe has now gone full circle and ended up living and working here in tourism. Joe hopes to be able to help others enjoy and appreciate the landscape as much as he has over the years.
Gordon Lightburn
Beatrix Potter, T. E. Lawrence and David Attenborough have all shaped Gordon’s interests in landscape, history and storytelling. His background spans farming in Ullswater, engineering projects around the world, and more recently cultural guiding for visitors across the North of England and Scotland.
A former Chair of Friends of the Ullswater Way, Gordon has been closely involved in projects including the Heritage Trail, Virtual Art Gallery, Eamont Way and Wordsworth Way. His interests include local history, volunteering, poetry, photography, hiking and cycling. Gordon has also served for 16 years with the TAVR, including 10 years as a commissioned officer.
Anne Clarke
Anne is a retired biology and environmental science teacher with a passion for life-long learning and learning in and through the natural environment. Alongside her teaching, Anne has been an online mentor for teachers and she has also worked as a writer and educator at the Natural History Museum in London. Tim and Anne’s home in Patterdale was their UK base for over 30 years, during their time overseas.
Now retired, Anne is thrilled to live here permanently and loves to walk on the fells and follow the seasons change at Aira Force, where she volunteers for the National Trust. Her role in FOUW is to help upgrade the website to ensure that it celebrates all that makes Ullswater special.
Jane Firth
Jane’s background is in teaching, although she left the profession in 2020 to concentrate on her art. She has been involved with the Friends of the Ullswater Way from the very beginning and became a trustee when the charity was formed in 2019. Through FOUW, Jane has been particularly involved in developing the Virtual Art Gallery, and interested in helping connect people with Ullswater’s landscape, wildlife and sense of place through art.
Jane’s interests include cycling, walking and art. She has been a guided walk leader with the LDNPA for over 10 years and also volunteers with the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. She is a member of the Wool Clip cooperative in Caldbeck.
Paddy Palmer
Paddy has always loved the Lake District, especially Ullswater. She enjoys walking the Ullswater Way, swimming, and spending time in the landscape. She is particularly interested in ecology and conservation, and feels privileged to be a trustee of the Friends of the Ullswater Way.
Through FOUW, Paddy has been involved in oral history work, the Matterdale habitat survey, and the LakeFly project, helping to record and better understand both the cultural and natural heritage of the valley.
Jade Cookson
Jade works full-time as a Travel Designer, assisting people with designing bespoke long-distance walking holidays in the UK. She’s the author of the Wordsworth Way guidebook and holds an MA in English Literature, Romanticism and the English Lake District. Her academic and personal interests centre on the literary connections to place in Ullswater, Cumbria, and the wider North West region.
Jade has been a Trustee at Friends of the Ullswater Way since 2025, and is committed to promoting access to, and understanding of, Ullswater’s vibrant cultural heritage, aiming to inspire others to engage with the stories, history, and ecology of the Ullswater valley.
Colin Hindle
Colin is the author and illustrator of The Best Lakeland Views — handwritten and illustrated guides celebrating some of the Lake District’s most striking landscapes. He is also a founder member and Treasurer of SITU, promoting sustainable travel around Ullswater, and has served as Treasurer of the Ullswater Association since 2008. From 2000–2023, he owned and ran Granny Dowbekins Tea Rooms and later served on Pooley Bridge Parish Council.
Colin was also involved in developing the Eamont Way walking trail between Penrith and Pooley Bridge. His long connection with Ullswater and passion for landscape, community and sustainable access led naturally to becoming involved with the Friends of the Ullswater Way.
Carla Pont
Carla loves trail running, climbing, off-road biking and being out on the lake — Ullswater’s landscape never stops inspiring her, and she wants to help others enjoy and connect with it. Her background spans law, geology and technology. She previously worked as a lawyer specialising in intellectual property and charities, and later undertook PhD research exploring how landscapes respond to tectonic uplift. She has also worked in software development and developed a digital avalanche mapping project.
As a recent trustee of the Friends of the Ullswater Way, Carla has been involved in redesigning the website and exploring how GIS and digital mapping tools can help record and share habitat survey data.
Latest annual report
Read our latest Annual Report to learn more about our projects, activities and finances over the past year.
Previous reports and governance information can be found on the Charity Commission register for The Friends of the Ullswater Way.
Policies and governance
Our policies explain how we work responsibly, openly and safely as a charity.