Ullswater Buses - Explore the area during your visit

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District. In addition to our very popular service 508 and its open top buses, we have introduced even more services to make travelling to, from and along this fantastic valley a sustainable and stress-free adventure. This majestic 7.3-mile ribbon of water flanked by the most impressive fells is in our opinion the hidden gem of the Lake District. Its pureness and tranquillity a breath of fresh air for those seeking to avoid the hustle and bustle of some of its more well known counterparts.

Use this page for inspiration as to how to plan your trip by bus.

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How to travel to Lowther Castle this summer

Why not pay a visit to one of the most intriguing visitor attractions in the country dramatic ruins, gardens within gardens, an adventure playground, cafe and even more. Lowther Castle offers a great day out for all of the family, easily reached from Penrith or Ullswater.

To travel to Lowther Castle, catch service 106 from Penrith, operating Monday - Saturday which stops at the bus stop outside the gates - or at weekends you can catch service 509 direct from the heart of the Lake District which will take you into the grounds right up to the entrance.

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What do we suggest...			Timetable
Aira Force Waterfall	Travel direct by bus from Penrith, Keswick, Howtown & Ullswater Accommodation	A 150m waterfall 1km from the shores of the Lake.	508
Helvellyn	Travel direct by bus from Penrith & Windermere	If you have a head for heights, the infamous route up Helvellyn from Glenridding is easily accessible by bus. Not for the faint hearted, the round of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge is a superb route, a must do for experienced walkers with the right gear. Also consider a descent into Thirlmere to join service 555.	508
Ullswater Steamers	Travel direct by bus from Keswick, Penrith & Windermere	Enjoy a unique experience on board one of the largest heritage vessel fleets in the world.	508
Pooley Bridge	Travel direct by bus from Keswick, Penrith & Windermere	The central hub of Ullswater, home to an array of pubs, tea rooms, restaurants & hotels. An ideal starting point to explore the valley	508
Dalemain Historic Mansion & Gardens	Walk from Pooley Bridge, travel direct by bus from Keswick, Penrith & Windermere	Home of the World Marmalade Awards & Festival, this historic mansion and gardens is worth a visit, in particular to see it's collection of fine art and furniture.	508

Bus & Boat

Ullswater Steamers operate from four piers along the lake, Pooley Bridge, Howtown, Aira Force and Glenridding.

An alternative perspective of the lake can be seen from the water. Why not combine with a bus trip with our range of combined tickets.

The Bus & Boat tickets includes any one way single cruise journey from any of the four piers at Pooley Bridge, Howtown, Glenridding or Aira Force plus unlimited all day bus travel within the Explorer Zone.

Ullswater Steamers Sailing Time

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	Adult	Child	Family
Explorer Zone	£20.00	£15.00	£50.00

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Please see our Guide to tickets for more information on passenger types.

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Bus & Boot

It’s possible to travel around Ullswater sustainably via a myriad of well-marked footpaths allowing you to combine walk and bus for some fantastic circular itineraries. Our favourites are;

Ullswater Way – A 20 mile walking route around the lake. An easy to walk route ideal for all ages is easily split up into smaller sections when combined with bus or boat.
Askham Fell, A fantastic walk over Askham fell allows an alternative option of getting between Pooley Bridge and Askham(close to Lowther Castle) with stunning vistas over Ullswater. Easy going paths suitable for all levels of experience.
Eamont Way – Opened in 2023 the Eamont Way is the active travel alternative when travelling between Penrith and Pooley Bridge. 5.5miles through open fields, woodlands and meadows following the course of the River Eamont.

Bus & Boot

Bus & Bike

It’s possible to travel around Ullswater sustainably via bike hire;

Ullswater eBikes are offering a 5% discount per eBike for anyone who arrives via the 508 service. Show your bus ticket with the same date as the hire date to redeem the discount!