Last weekend we returned to the Lakeland village of Pooley Bridge for the first time in … ooooh … many years and our first time in Jolly.
We stayed at Waterfoot Park which is located just 0.9 miles from the centre of the village. The staff were very welcoming and helpful, giving us the usual facilities info and local info. As usual we didn’t use the site toilet/showers, using Jolly’s onboard facilities instead.
If you stay here and want to use Ullswater Steamer during your stay you can buy your ticket from the site reception at a reduced price.
It was a busy weekend on site and we were directed to a pre-allocated pitch on arrival (Pitch 19) which was one of the pitches on the outer perimeter of the touring site. We were happy with this as we thought that the centre pitches looked a little tight with the units backed up close to one another with less privacy.
After a couple of hours sunbathing beside Jolly, we followed directions given to us by reception for a pathway from the site into Pooley. The path is very scenic and a lot safer than walking along the busy road.
We took a slight detour first though, to check out the on-site bar – The Mansion Bar and Cafe. As its name suggests, it’s set in an old mansion house with a large terrace at the back and views of Ullswater in the distance. After a quick drink here we headed off on our walk. There’s a chippy van that parks up outside the mansion on certain evenings.
Pooley Bridge is situated at the North East end of Ullswater Lake with the River Eamont running through it. The old stone bridge that crossed the river at Pooley was sadly destroyed in the floods caused by Storm Desmond in 2015 and during our visit we saw the temporary metal bridge that is still in situ awaiting a permant replacement structure to be built.
We had a wander around the village before sitting out with a drink at the 1863 bar/bistro
Followed by a meal at the Sun Inn
Next day we decided to go for a walk in the beautiful weather. We set off well prepared with full flasks of water and decided to walk a section of the Ullswater Way, which is a 21-mile walking route around Ullswater. It can be walked from any starting point and in any direction.
http://www.ullswater.co.uk/the-ullswater-way.html
We began by walking down to Pooley Bridge Pier and taking a ride on the Ullswater Steamer over to Howtown Pier.
https://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/
From Howtown Pier we walked on approx. 500 yards into Martindale valley which lies between Ullswater and Haweswater. There’s an old Church of St Martin there and a hotel – The Howtown Hotel. We visited the cosy, traditional bar to the rear of the hotel and sat out for a little while on the sloping grass there.
After our drink, we walked back towards Howtown Pier where we joined the Ullswater Way via a gate up into a field on the right opposite the Pier entrance. It was an approx. 6-mile walk from here along the low level route back into Pooley Bridge. There’s the option of a higher route which takes you up to the Cock Pit Stone Circle but we were happy enough with our wander along the tracks overlooking Ullswater and through the fields, eventually coming out alongside the lake and continuing into Pooley Bridge.
But ohhhh, the vampire bloodsucking horseflies were bitey little bu*$ers up in the fields that day! 🧛♂️.
On arrival into Pooley Bridge, we had a couple of cool down pints and some food before heading back up to site, catching a lovely sunset over the hills on our way back. A total of about 8-miles walked in the day. We sat out on site with a brew before turning in.
The beautiful Lake District seen in the most perfect weather. Top weekend 👌. Our next Jolly trip is a cheeky little overnighter in Yorkshire with some camping buddies.
ONWARD!>>>> 🚐
Suzie & Bri.
THE JOLLY MAJESTIC 