Pooley Bridge

About Pooley Bridge

Pooley Bridge is an excellent town to visit whilst on holiday in The Lake District. ­­There’s so much to do in this traditional Cumbrian town from fantastic boat tours to picturesque hiking trails, adventure parks and charming coffee shops.

Hiking Trails

The landscape around Pooley Bridge town is regarded as being some of the most challenging to climb in the whole of The Lake District – but don’t let that put you off! There are also plenty of gentler walks to follow too, all of which have excellent views of the surrounding landscapes.

Ullswater Way

One of the best hiking trails near Pooley Bridge is the Ullswater Way, which takes you around Ullswater Lake via a twenty-mile walk. To find out more about Ullswater Way, check out our page all about Ullswater.

Hallin Fell

Hallin Fell is one of the toughest walks near Pooley Bridge as the pathway is rather steep and slippery. Despite the tricky hike, the summit promises stunning views across Ullswater and the nearby fells. If you’re feeling adventurous, we highly recommend hiring canoes from Lakeland Boat Hire Ullswater Cumbria to paddle across Ullswater to reach the base of Hallin Fell. From the base, you can pull your kayaks on land and start your exciting climb to the summit!

Arthur’s Pike

This hiking trail near Pooley Bridge is perfect for families or for those looking to enjoy a gentler walk. This grass hiking trail promises beautiful views over the lake and surrounding landscape. We think that Arthur’s Pike is the perfect spot for a picnic in The Lake District as the terrain levels out at the summit.

Orca Adventures Canoe Building Workshop

One of the most unique and unusual activities for families, friends and couples to enjoy whilst visiting Pooley Bridge is Orca Adventure’s canoe-building workshop. Although building a canoe may seem awfully complex, Orca Adventure assures that this workshop is for everyone regardless of previous woodworking skills. Upon completing your canoe, it is yours to keep, meaning that you can either set sail across the shores of Ullswater or take it home to treasure forever.

Park Foot Pony Trekking Ullswater

If you’d like to experience the beauty of The Lake District, one of the best ways of doing so is on horseback. Park Foot Pony Trekking Ullswater offers an unmissable experience for animal lovers and is the perfect experience for the whole family to enjoy. This trekking adventure takes you straight into the heart of the fells and leads you around Ullswater Lake so that you can take in the remarkable views that surround Pooley Bridge.

Shops, Food & Drink

Pooley Bridge has a variety of excellent places for a bit of shopping or for grabbing a bite to eat. Although there are far too many for us to list, here are our top recommendations for shopping , food and drink in Pooley Bridge.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a hotspot amongst locals and holidaymakers alike. This charming restaurant offers a wide selection of meals and quick snacks – one of our favourite treats from The Secret Garden is the Gelato box! One of the best things about sitting down to a meal at The Secret Garden is the incredible views you have over Ullswater, which you can enjoy over a glass of wine.

Chestnut House

Chestnut House is the most popular shop in the whole of Cumbria and it’s easy to see why. Opened by the husband-and-wife team of Andrew and Emma in 2016, they set off on a mission to offer something a little unique and so, the Chestnut House was born. The shop has a wide offering of locally-produced spirits, wines, gins and beers along with other locally-produced food items. Many guests who have visited the Chestnut House have spent hours wandering around this little treasure trove. Whether you are looking to support a local Cumbrian business, buy a gift, or are something of a gin-lover yourself, we promise that the Chestnut House won’t disappoint!

Getting to Pooley Bridge

The drive to Pooley Bridge takes roughly an hour from our holiday park in Windermere via the A592.