A flat loop along the Ullswater shore into Pooley Bridge, and back down the Howtown road — about an hour's walking, with the village halfway round.
The walk
This is the easy loop at the foot of Ullswater. From the Waterside campsite the path follows the shore north to Pooley Bridge — a bay, a beach, a boardwalk through the reeds and a footbridge over a stream — past the jetty at Park Foot and into the village. The way back is down the Howtown road.
It is about 2.6 miles (4.2 km), around an hour of walking, and virtually flat the whole way — trainers are fine. I walked it on Saturday 26 September 2026 with Cass, our Staffordshire Bull Terrier, starting and finishing at Waterside, and we stopped in Pooley Bridge halfway round. For the full circuit of the lake, see the Ullswater Way.
Prefer the lake-and-boat classic instead? Walk the eastern shore from Pooley Bridge to Howtown and ride the Steamer back — see the village guide.
Pooley Bridge walksStep by step
A loop from the Waterside campsite: north along the shore to Pooley Bridge, then back down the Howtown road. Allow about an hour of walking, plus your stop in the village.
The car park entrance is at ///risk.laces.forgiven. It is a paid car park — check the current charge with the campsite — and there are public toilets there. Turn into Waterside and follow the pathway signs to the lake. Don't walk down through the campsite itself.
From the lake the path heads north along the shore towards Pooley Bridge, round a bay and along a stretch of beach. On the way, a board at Hodgson Hill says the mound there is a natural glacial feature that was the site of a mediaeval farmstead, and that it is a scheduled monument.
Further along, a boardwalk carries the path through the reeds, and a footbridge takes it over a stream.
The path passes the jetty at Park Foot. The board there says the jetty and lake access are for Park Foot customers only, with day tickets from Park Foot reception or online — so walk on by. From the jetty you can either head up the hill into the Park Foot car park or stay by the lake; both come out at the same point.
The path brings you into Pooley Bridge. We stopped at Granny Dowbekin's for a beer and chips before heading back. More places to eat and drink are on the Pooley Bridge guide.
The return leg is down the Howtown road, back past Park Foot to Waterside.
Stay on the road at Park Foot. Beside the road there is a dog-walk strip that looks like a way off the tarmac. It isn't: it is the caravan park's dog walk, it runs round the back of Park Foot and it dead-ends. We got stuck down there. Keep to the road from Park Foot all the way back to Waterside.
Route description is a guide, not turn-by-turn navigation.
What you'll see
A bay, a beach and the lake beside you most of the way to Pooley Bridge.
A boardwalk through the reeds and a footbridge over a stream — flat, easy going.
The village is halfway round, so there is time for something to eat before the walk back.
Getting there
Be prepared
Virtually flat all the way round — trainers are fine.
We walked it with Cass, our Staffordshire Bull Terrier, on the lead the whole way.
On the way back, ignore the dog-walk strip beside the road at Park Foot — it dead-ends. Stay on the road.
Check the Pooley Bridge forecast before you set off.
Halfway round
The village is the halfway point, so the pubs, tea rooms and shops come before the walk back. A few favourites:
Riverside tearoom by the bridge — scones, cakes and a garden over the Eamont. Dog-friendly. We stopped here for a beer and chips on the walk.
Family-run gastro-pub — open fires, hearty food and a big garden for a post-walk pint.
1863, The Secret Garden, The Crown Inn, the village stores and more — all on the Pooley Bridge guide.
Good to know
Keep exploring
The village guide — the bridge, eateries, the Steamer pier and where to stay.
The whole lake — Steamers, the Ullswater Way, Howtown and the webcam.
The 20-mile circuit of the lake. Route map, GPX and all four stages.
Hallin Fell, the Ullswater Way, Place Fell and Helvellyn — the canonical routes.
Browse walks across every valley in the national park.