Pooley Bridge

Pooley Bridge sits at the head of Ullswater, the Lake District's second-largest lake, exactly where the water narrows into the River Eamont. It is a small place - a huddle of stone cottages, a handful of shops and pubs, and a church - but its position gives it an outsized role as the northern gateway to one of the National Park's most photographed valleys. The village takes its name from a large pool in the Eamont and from Dunmallard, the conical wooded hill that rises across the river on the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

The bridge itself has a dramatic recent history. A three-arched stone crossing, built in 1764, stood here for two and a half centuries until Storm Desmond tore it away in December 2015, one of the most widely shared images of that flood. It was replaced in 2020 by a striking steel bridge, and the village has since settled back into its usual rhythm: walkers arriving for the Ullswater Way, boat passengers stepping off the steamers, and cyclists and paddleboarders using the shallow, gently shelving shore at the foot of the lake. Fells rise steeply to either side, with Hallin Fell and the Helvellyn range visible to the south and the open moorland of the Eden Valley stretching north towards Penrith.

Top things to do in Pooley Bridge

For a village this size, Pooley Bridge punches well above its weight when it comes to things to see and do, mostly thanks to its position on Ullswater and its access to the surrounding fells.

• Ullswater Steamers — Vintage-style passenger boats have run on Ullswater since 1859, and Pooley Bridge is one of four piers on the route, with sailings south to Howtown and on to Glenridding. It's a scenic way to reach the start of walks such as the Aira Force waterfall trail or the climb to Helvellyn.
• The Ullswater Way — A 20-mile circular walking route around the entire lake, linking all four steamer piers so you can walk one stretch and cruise back on the boat. The section between Pooley Bridge and Howtown along the eastern shore is one of the quieter and more scenic legs.
• Dunmallard Hill — A short, wooded climb directly opposite the bridge to the site of a small Iron Age hill fort, with views back down over the village and the top of the lake.
• Hallin Fell — A modest but rewarding fell above Martindale, a few miles south of the village, with one of the best viewpoints over Ullswater for relatively little climbing effort.
• Aira Force — A dramatic 65-foot waterfall cared for by the National Trust, reached by road or by steamer to Glenridding and Aira Force pier, then a short woodland walk; the falls were a favourite of William Wordsworth.
• The Cockpit stone circle — A Bronze Age stone circle on open moorland above the village, on the line of the old Roman road High Street, reached via a bracing walk up onto Askham Fell.
• Watersports on Ullswater — The shallow shingle shore at Pooley Bridge is one of the lake's main launch points for paddleboarding, canoeing and open-water swimming, and boats and kayaks can be hired locally.

Getting to Pooley Bridge

Pooley Bridge lies just off the A592, about six miles south of Penrith, which is the easiest approach if you're driving from the M6 (leave at Junction 40). Penrith is also the nearest railway station, with West Coast Main Line services connecting to London, Glasgow and Carlisle; from there it's a short taxi or bus ride to the village. There is no railway station in Pooley Bridge itself, and the village is small enough that once you arrive, most attractions along the lakeshore are easily reached on foot or by boat. Parking in the village is limited, particularly in summer, so arriving early or using the main pay-and-display car park near the pier is worthwhile.

Best time to visit Pooley Bridge

Summer (June to August) brings the busiest crowds, longest daylight and the best chance of calm water for paddling or a steamer cruise, but also the fullest car parks. Spring and autumn are quieter and often just as rewarding, with autumn colour along the lake shore and on the surrounding fells particularly striking in October. Winter is atmospheric and much quieter still, though some boat sailings are reduced and the fells demand proper equipment; this is also, as the 2015 floods showed, a village that takes the weather seriously, so it's worth checking conditions before a winter visit.

Where to stay in Pooley Bridge

Accommodation in the village itself is limited to a small number of pubs with rooms and guesthouses, reflecting its size, so many visitors base themselves in Pooley Bridge for the day and stay in nearby Penrith, Ullswater's other villages such as Glenridding and Watermillock, or in one of the farm and lakeside campsites just outside the village. Waterside House, a family-run campsite and working farm about a mile from Pooley Bridge on the northern shore of the lake, is a popular option for tents, campervans and caravans, with direct lake access and glamping tipis. Self-catering cottages are also plentiful in and around the village for those wanting a quieter, more independent base.

Food and drink in Pooley Bridge

Given its size, Pooley Bridge has a good spread of places to eat for a stopping-off point on the Ullswater Way. The Sun Inn, a former row of 18th-century cottages in the centre of the village, is a family-run, dog-friendly pub serving Jennings ales including Cumberland Ale, with a large beer garden overlooking the countryside. The village also has a handful of cafes and tea rooms geared towards walkers and cyclists refuelling before or after a stretch of the lakeshore path, along with a small general store. It's a village built around passing trade rather than destination dining, so options are honest and unpretentious rather than extensive - most visitors combine a meal here with a walk or a steamer trip rather than making the food the main event.