Waterfoot Park, Cumbria

Holiday Park (find out more here)

Description

Waterfoot Park is an award-winning holiday park located in Cumbria. This Lake District caravan park is set within the grounds of a Georgian Mansion House and overlooks Ullswater lake. The imposing Mansion House gives visitors a striking and superb first impression of Waterfoot Park. The Mansion House bar and spacious lounge area (with free Wi-Fi) leads onto the terrace and gardens, with spectacular views of Ullswater. The bar is open regularly during the evening and stocks a range of locally produced beers and craft gins. It's the perfect place to kick off an evening on the site or for a quick drink before checking out the sights of the local village, Pooley Bridge.

On the park is a shop that sells local products and daily essentials, among other items.  

The well-maintained site also contains plenty of activities for entertaining residents of all ages, including an outdoor table tennis, pool table and a children's play area. This is a dog-friendly park with some amazing dog walks leading from the park, with the Ullswater Way passing right through the park. Dogs are welcome in the Mansion Bar and on the Ullswater ‘Steamers’.

Things to do around Waterfoot Park

Waterfoot Park is located in the Lake District, England's largest National Park and a World Heritage site. With so many places to visit and see within the Lakes, buying a static caravan at Waterfoot is ideal for exploring the Northern Lake District. Below are places of interest in and around Ullswater, which are within easy access to the park.

Ullswater Lake

Ullswater is the second largest lake in England and is often regarded as the most beautiful of the waters in the Lake District.  The same lake that inspired William Wordsworth's most famous poem, 'Daffodils', is even today largely unspoiled by tourism - unlike other Lakes - and this lack of commercialism, teamed with bends in the lake provides an awesome landscape, making Ullswater the perfect location for those who want to experience the most authentic version of the Lake District.

Ullswater is incredibly popular as a hub for sailing, with several sailing marinas positioned around the lake.  The local sailing school, Ullswater Yacht Club, is open to the general public for those who don't yet sail but would like to learn.   The club also holds the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy every July from Pooley Bridge which, having started as a two-day race open to entrants of all abilities, has developed over the last 50 years into a full-blown sailing festival.  Live music, a hospitality marquee, and a trophy cruise featuring Ullswater's own 'Steamers' are just some of the attractions that keep spectators flocking here year after year to watch the competitors attempt to win the coveted trophy and enjoy the winner's privilege of spending a night at the exceptional Sharrow Bay country house.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’

Waterfoot is just a short walk from the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ pier, where you can catch heritage boats to locations all around the lake; the boat's call at Pooley Bridge, Glenridding, Howtown, and Aira Force (from Glenridding).  A great way to spend a lazy afternoon is to ride the full length of the lake, with the ferry providing prime access to the stunning vistas of the Ullswater area and surrounding peaks and the licensed bar on the lower deck keeping you refreshed! Another popular idea is to catch the ferry partway around and walk back along the shore.  The ‘Steamers’ run 363 days a year (weather and operations permitting) and connect directly to the most popular walking routes, offering visitors endless chances to sample the best of Ullswater.

Walking 

Waterfoot Park is perfectly located to break out the walking boots and explore the area around Ullswater.  The 20-mile Ullswater Way walking route opened in 2016, circles the shores of the lake and can be walked in sections as individual day trips. The terrain of the sections varies between gentle pathways and open fells, so there is something for everyone! The route also passes through the towns of Glenridding, Patterdale, Pooley Bridge, and Howtown, so why not stop off for lunch or cake in one of the local eateries and sample Cumbria's famous locally sourced produce?

For the more adventurous resident, Ullswater is also home to Helvellyn, England's third-highest mountain. Technically challenging, especially along the renowned Striding Edge, Helvellyn rewards those who brave its faces with stunning panoramas and a real sense of achievement.  It is a favourite in the hiking world, so why not find out what treasures lie at the summit to cause hundreds of mountaineers to return time and time to this old favourite? 

A few miles away, Scafell Pike provides an even greater challenge for the adventurous hiker.  Offering a range of routes to suit different approaches, from climbers who would just like to reach the summit to those who want to push their technical skills to the limit, England's tallest peak is well worth checking out.  For the less experienced hikers, the Lake District National Park offers guided walks up Scafell (as well as dozens of other routes) and training sessions on handling winter walks, map reading or adverse weather.

Aira Force

Aira Force, one of the most famous and popular Lake District waterfalls, has drawn visitors to its dramatic hideaway for over 300 years. Demonstrating the power and beauty of nature, the 65-foot waterfall sits within the 750-acre Gowbarrow Park, which features an arboretum and a network of trails to explore and is perfect for a day trip from Waterfoot.  From the site, the Ullswater ‘Steamer’ ferry will ride the length of the lake to arrive at Glenridding, on the southwestern shore of the lake, beginning your day with beautiful views for the length of the lake.  On alighting at Glenridding, the walk down to Aira Force is particularly scenic, with fantastic views of the Ullswater Valley.  After visiting the falls and taking in some other sights along the way (such as bridges and rare red squirrels), most people will need refreshments - why not bring a picnic along for the day and eat it near the spectacular waterfall?  Alternatively, you could purchase tea and a scone at the tearoom in the park.

For a longer day out, this adventure can be extended to include the walk up to Gowbarrow Fell.  Quieter than the more tourist-heavy Aira Force, this fell provides a more off-road walking experience than the standard Aira Force, but there are rewards for those who manage it; both the river path leading up to Gowbarrow Fell and the vistas at the summit are truly something to behold.

Adventure Sports

In typical fashion for the Lake District, adventure sports and outdoor activities are highly popular in the Ullswater area, and as such, Waterfoot is a haven for anyone with an adventurous streak.  For water sports lovers, there are plenty of options to choose from, including canoeing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, and motorboat hire.  For those who prefer to stay on land, there is an abundance of both indoor and outdoor climbing, bushcraft (the art of surviving in the wild) and horseback riding.  Finally, for those who prefer neither land nor water, hot air balloon rides lasting 3-4 hours are available, and provide a unique perspective on the natural wonder that is Ullswater.

Amenities Near Waterfoot Park

From the site, the nearby village of Pooley Bridge is just a short walk - roughly ten minutes. Cumbria is proud of its local and independent businesses, and so while you won't find any trendy bars or chain stores here, you will be showered with local delights such as friendly, welcoming pubs that sit alongside tearooms and a few shops. It's a great place to spend an evening admiring Ullswater's natural beauty.

Exploring the wider area

Penrith, the former capital of the Lake District, is a ten-minute drive from the site, where supermarkets (including Booths, the northern staple) and a leisure centre can be found.  There is also a 14th-century castle and the Penrith Museum, which houses a variety of historical objects, including Roman pottery. Half an hour by car is Keswick, a smaller town but still well worth the visit thanks to its proximity to the mountains and Derwentwater, with plenty of activities on offer, including outdoor activity centres, brewery and distillery tours, wildlife tours, cookery schools, lakeside theatre, and the famous Derwent Pencil Museum. 

If you’re looking to buy a holiday home in the Lake District, Waterfoot Park is the ideal park.

Address

Waterfoot Park
Pooley Bridge
Ullswater
Cumbria
CA11 0JF