North Lakes Traverse

Dockray to Pooley Bridge

You will be transferred to the start of the route at Dockray. The route passes through rolling farmland north of Dockray before descending through woodland to Aira Force, one of the Lake District’s most renowned waterfalls. From here woodlands above Ullswater lead to Pooley Bridge, a small village at the head of Ullswater, for the first overnight stop.

Pooley Bridge to Patterdale

From Pooley Bridge the lower level route takes the eastern shore of Ullswater over its entire length, to the second night’s halt at Glenridding. The path follows the lakeshore closely through fields and woodlands skirting the lower fell sides of Hallin and Place fells. The alternative higher level route goes through the remote hamlet of Martindale to the summit of Place Fell, with spectacular views over the lake to Helvellyn.

Patterdale to Thirlmere

The third day takes the route to Sticks Pass (750m), high on the Helvellyn ridge, on an established path past the old mine workings, before dropping more steeply down to Thirlspot, the next overnight stop. Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite, Ullswater, Skiddaw and Blencathra can all be seen from the pass.

Thirlmere to Rosthwaite in Borrowdale

There are two alternatives for this day. They both climb out of the Thirlmere valley over the Ullscarf ridge to Watendlath, a secluded farming hamlet complete with tarn, ducks and tea shop! The route continues through wooded valley sides into Borrowdale, one of Lakeland’s prettiest valleys, for the night’s halt.

Rosthwaite in Borrowdale to Keswick

The final day passes along the shores of Derwentwater and for the higher level route, over Cat Bells enroute to Keswick, the end of the trip. From the top of Catbells there are spectacular views of the Northern fells, Skiddaw and the lakes of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite. The lower alternative takes the lakeshore path along Derwentwater, through ancient oak forests.

Moderate

Of the National Trails we cover, this is the easiest. The route journeys over rolling countryside and moorlands, but not mountains. Many people with limited walking experience have completed this route.

Terrain: Moorland up to 350m for the central section, but otherwise fields and parkland.

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather.

How Much Up & Down? Not too much! Generally rolling countryside with some gentle ups and downs. In the central section there are numerous short steep climbs.

Signposting: Good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Dales Way:

The Crown Inn, nestled in the heart of Pooley Bridge at the northern tip of Ullswater, combines warm hospitality with modern comfort. Guests can savour home-cooked dishes crafted from scratch, enjoy award-winning ales, and relax in boutique bedrooms. A perfect spot to soak up the Lake District’s breathtaking beauty and charm. Visit their website

Old Water View in Patterdale has been welcoming travellers since 1904, famously hosting Alfred Wainwright during his work on his iconic Coast to Coast walk. Nestled by the tranquil Goldrill Beck, this charming Hotel offers comfortable accommodation and an incredibly warm welcome. It’s an ideal base for exploring Lakeland. Visit their website

The Kings Head Inn, Thirlmere, is a 17th-century coaching inn nestled at the foot of the magnificent Helvellyn range, offering breathtaking views of St Johns in the Vale, Blencathra, and Skiddaw. There are 17 en suite bedrooms overlooking the fells. Guests can enjoy fine dining in the St Johns restaurant or hearty classics in the cosy bar. Visit their website

The Royal Oak in Rosthwaite, nestled in the picturesque Borrowdale Valley, combines modern comfort with timeless charm. Winners of the 2023 Cumbria Life award for ‘Best Casual Dining Experience’, this stylishly refurbished hotel offers access to some of the Lake District’s finest trails. Visit their website

General travel information for the North Lakes area will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for information.

Getting There:
By Air: The nearest international airports are Manchester (MAN) or Newcastle (NCL). You can then travel by train to Penrith (approx 2 hours from both) and then bus or taxi to Keswick (18 miles).
By Public Transport: Keswick’s nearest railway station is Penrith (PNR). You can then travel one of the regular buses to Keswick, or a taxi (18 miles). Keswick has a central bus station, and you are usually no longer than a 5/10minute stroll to your accommodation, or a couple of minutes in a taxi.
By Road: Keswick is in the Northern Lake District in the county of Cumbria. The A66 passes right along the edge of the town, and the nearest motorway is the M6.

Returning from Keswick:
By Public Transport: You can travel by bus from Keswick to either Penrith railway station (18 miles) or the larger station in Carlisle (37 miles).
By Road: A66, which passes by Keswick, to Penrith (18 miles) for the M6 motorway.

Keswick

Keswick is a bustling market town centred around the historic Moot Hall, with a vast array of outdoor shops – if you need any outdoor gear, you will get it here! There is a wide choice of places to eat or have a coffee, and a range of galleries to visit. Enjoy one of the easy, short walks down to the lakeshore from where there is a regular launch service around Derwentwater. Or pop into our offices to say hello or book your next holiday!

Patterdale

Patterdale offers spectacular scenery in a peaceful location. This tiny village in the heart of the English Lake District will give you a well earned rest before heading onwards on your walking route. Boat trips can be taken on the Ullswater Steamers to Pooley Bridge, with several opportunities to disembark and explore the lakeshore attractions along the way.