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 on a Georgian Mansion House grounds and overlooks Ullswater Lake. The imposing Mansion House gives visitors a striking and superb first impression of Waterfoot Park. Within Mansion House is also an information desk for tourist attractions and the Mansion House Bar. A spacious lounge area with free WiFi leads onto the terrace and gardens, with spectacular panoramic 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 locally sourced eggs and bacon, daily essentials, games, and newspapers, among other items.  

The well-maintained site also contains plenty of activities for entertaining residents of all ages, including outdoor table tennis and badminton facilities, barbecue areas, and a children's play area.  This is a dog-friendly park with some amazing dog walks leading from the park, with designated on-lead exercise areas and unlimited off-lead options with the Ullswater Way passing right by 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 is within easy access of the park;

Ullswater Lake

Ullswater lake, the second largest lake in England, 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 that provide awesome landscape, makes 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 steamboats to locations all around the lake; the boat's round-trip itinerary calls at Pooley Bridge, Glenridding, Howtown, and Aira Force.  A great way to spend a lazy afternoon is to ride the full round trip, 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 part way around and walk back along the shore for a flat and low-intensity activity.  The Steamers run all year round 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 offer guided walks up Scafell (as well as dozens of other routes) and offers 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, diving and motor boat 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 mountain 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 - with various off-road routes, each as beautiful as the next; across fields, through woods or alongside the lake - one thing is guaranteed, the views will be spectacular!  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; friendly, welcoming pubs sit alongside tearooms, a boutique gin shop, and even takeaway pizza can be found here!  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, 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 yu wanting to buy a caravan in the Lake District - Waterfoot Park is the ideal park.

Address

Waterfoot Park
Pooley Bridge
Ullswater
Cumbria
CA11 0JF