Ullswater Challenge
Report by Claire Baker
Matthew Holt and Claire Baker travelled to Pooley Bridge on Sunday for the Ullswater Challenge organised by Nav4. The twenty mile Ullswater Way opened at Easter 2016. Nav 4 Offer two distances; Ullswater Way is 20 miles, whilst the Challenge route is 24 miles. Ullswater Challenge takes a high level fell path around the head of Glencoyne from Glenridding to Gowbarrow, so gives glorious views …in good weather! Both routes go clockwise around the Lake, so, The Cockpit, Howtown and Hallin Fell first. After Glenridding, you will have a choice of the two routes. Either stay low around the lakeshore towards Aira Force and around Gowbarrow Fell, or take on the more challenging and higher level Glencoyne traverse to Dockray, Gowbarrow Summit and then meet up with the original route.
This is a low key event open to walkers and runners with no official start time; walkers can start from 8am and runners are encouraged to start after 9:30am.
Sunday offered fantastic weather for October with clear skies and amazing views on the challenger route. Matthew and Claire completed the 24 miles with 4,500ft of climb in 5:48.