The Ullswater Heritage Trail
Eleven installations to discover along the Ullswater Way.
Wainwright sitting stone © Anne Clarke
DISTANCE
Along the Ullswater Way
TIME / STAGES
Visit in sections
DIFFICULTY
Varies by location
ROUTE TYPE
Heritage trail
Discover Ullswater’s stories in the landscape
The Ullswater Heritage Trail brings the valley’s stories into the landscape through a series of artworks, sculptures and installations along the Ullswater Way. Created by local artists and craftspeople, the trail explores poetry, farming, conservation, Roman roads, local campaigns, artists, writers and the people who have shaped Ullswater.
The trail was originally created as 12 installations. There are currently 11 to discover, with ideas being explored for a new Wainwright-inspired installation at Patterdale.
Explore the installations
Each installation marks a different Ullswater story. Click through to find out more about the people, places, artists and traditions behind the trail.
Artists' Seat
Celebrates 3 artists who were inspired by the valley - Ann Macbeth, John Glover and JMW Turner
Birkett Memorial
Remembering Lord Norman Birkett who helped save Ullswater from becoming a reservoir.
Clarkson Memorial
Celebrating the role of Thomas Clarkson in the anti-slavery movement.
Dorothy Gate
Celebrates the writing of Dorothy Wordsworth and her influence on the poetry of her brother William.
Herdwick Stones
Sheep and shepherding are at the heart of life in the valley.
Patterdale Parish War Memorial
Remembering those from the Parish who gave their lives in the two world wars.
Poetry Stones
Three stones engraved with lines from the poetry of Kathleen Raine, who lived in Martindale in the 1940s.
Pooley Bridge Market Cross
Reminds us that Pooley Bridge was once a thriving fishing village.
Roman Seat
Marks the place where two Roman roads crossed near Pooley Bridge.
tree:fold north
Encircling a young oak tree in Glencoyne Park, tree:fold north invites visitors to pause and reflect in the landscape.
Wainwright Sitting Stone
Celebrating Ullswater, "that loveliest of lakes...".
Take the trail with you
Use the Heritage Trail map and leaflet to find the installations as you walk, or explore them online through the Aerial Tour. You can also buy the Ullswater Way Official Guide by Mark Richards, which features six cruise-and-stroll walks around Ullswater.
Heritage Trail map
Download the map to find the Heritage Trail installations along the Ullswater Way.
Heritage Trail leaflet
Download the leaflet for a short introduction to the trail and the stories behind the installations.
Ullswater Way Official Guide
Buy Mark Richards’ guide to six Ullswater cruise-and-stroll walks, available online and from local shops and information centres.
Explore the trail from above
The Heritage Trail installations are included on the Ullswater Aerial Tour. Use it to see how the artworks sit within the wider landscape, plan which ones to visit, or revisit the stories after your walk.
Plan your visit
A few practical notes to help you enjoy the trail safely and sensitively.
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The Heritage Trail is spread around the Ullswater Way, so you do not need to walk the full route to enjoy it. You can visit individual installations on shorter walks from places such as Pooley Bridge, Aira Force, Glenridding, Patterdale and Howtown.
Ullswater Steamers operate between Pooley Bridge, Howtown and Glenridding, allowing walkers to combine a lake cruise with a section of the route. Stagecoach 508 provides the main public transport link through the valley, connecting Penrith, Pooley Bridge, Aira Force, Glenridding and Patterdale. Penrith railway station offers onward connections to the national rail network.
The Ullswater Bus, supported by SITU and operated by Stagecoach, provides additional seasonal services linking accommodation, Ullswater Steamer piers, Howtown, Lowther Castle, Aira Force, Pooley Bridge, Glenridding and Keswick.
Useful links:
Check current timetables before setting out, particularly outside the main visitor season
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The installations sit along different sections of the Ullswater Way, so the terrain varies. Some are close to villages or popular paths, while others are reached by longer walks over rougher ground.
Please check the relevant route section before setting off, and choose a walk that suits your experience, footwear, fitness and the weather conditions on the day.
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The trail passes through or near several villages including Pooley Bridge, Glenridding and Patterdale.
Places to eat and drink can be found along parts of the trail, although facilities are more limited on some of the quieter stretches.
Parking is available at several points around the lake including Pooley Bridge, Aira Force and Glenridding.
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Accessibility varies across the Heritage Trail. Some installations are easier to reach from nearby villages, car parks or steamer piers, while others involve uneven paths, gradients, steps, fields or rougher ground.
If you have specific access needs, please check the route information carefully before visiting.
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Dogs are welcome on many parts of the route, but please keep them under close control, especially near livestock, nesting birds and farmland. Use a lead where signs ask you to, and always take dog waste away with you.
Help care for the landscape by leaving gates as you find them, staying on paths where possible, and taking all litter home.
Go deeper into Ullswater’s stories
Each Heritage Trail installation is a starting point for a wider Ullswater story — from artists and writers to farming traditions, conservation, community memory and the changing life of the valley. Explore more through the Heritage Knowledge Bank and Virtual Art Gallery.
Heritage Knowledge Bank
Discover articles, memories and research exploring Ullswater’s landscape, people and past.
Virtual Art Gallery
See how artists have responded to Ullswater’s views, light and landscape over more than two centuries.
Continue exploring
Follow the Heritage Trail as part of a longer journey around Ullswater, or discover nearby routes linking Pooley Bridge, Dalemain and the wider valley.
