Family walks from Patterdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Patterdale perfect for families.

Download Family walks from Patterdale leaflet

Patterdale is a small village close to lake Ullswater and is popular with walkers who go to climb famous peaks such as Helvellyn (England’s third highest mountain).

Local folklore suggests that Patterdale is named after St.Patrick (381-461 AD), who walked there after being shipwrecked on Duddon Sands.  It is said that he preached at a holy well and gave his name to the valley of “Patrichesdale”.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District and may have been named after the Viking lord Ulfr.

Donald Campbell achieved his first world water speed record on Ullswater on 23rd July 1955, when the jet-propelled Bluebird K7 reached a speed of 202.32 mph.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90, 

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

The lake District National Park  has listed the following routes as suitable for wheelchair users. Most are very limited in terms of distance and often follow minor roads, offering some great viewpoints.

As with many areas of the Lake District, parking can be limited.

Hammerbank, Windermere

Grid Ref 405991
East shore of lake Windermere, just north of Bowness. Provides great views across the lakeshore. A recently installed information panel gives details of the view.

Beech Hill, Windermere

Grid Ref 388920
Situated on the East shore of lake windermere, south of Bowness. The location gives unrivaled views across the lake to the rugged Lake District Fells beyond. Parking is available next to the Beech Hill hotel.

Borrans Park, Waterhead

Grid Ref 375034.
Leave your car in the National Park car park opposite Waterhead Pier, follow the road north of the Pier to a gate giving access to the park. In the field next to Borrans Park are the remains of a Roman settlement, Galava.

There are also great views across Lake Windermere.

Brown Howe, Coniston

Grid Ref 292910
This is a sloping grassy lakeshore area which once formed part of the Duke of Buccleuch’s summer Estate. Situated to the south of Coniston village the area provides excellent views up Coniston water.

Jenkins’ Field, Glenridding

Grid Ref 387168
Use the National Park car park and take the road down to the steamer pier.

Jenkins Field is adjacent to the pier and is the perfect place to picnic, many use this area for bird watching.  A memorial plaque adjacent to the Pier House denotes the original slipway used by Donald Campbell.  One of the last Wild Red Deer herds can be seen grazing on the slopes of Place Fell on the opposite shore in the autumn.

Go to the Lake District National Park Website for more information