A BRAND new walking route around a Lake District valley has been officially opened.

The 20-mile Ullswater Way connects the spectacular scenery around the lake with picturesque villages and attractions.

Since December's floods people in the valley have been working hard to get reconnected and have been keen to let people know how they are ‘open for business’.

This has been particularly important in areas like Glenridding and Pooley Bridge where the flood damage made headline news across the country.

The creation of a promoted circular route around Ullswater has long been an ambition of the community, so the opportunity was seized and a partnership project was put into action between local people and the Lake District National Park Authority, the National Trust, the Ullswater Association, Eden District Council, Ullswater Steamers, and See More Cumbria with additional funding from the Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust.

Suzy Hankin, area ranger for the LDNPA, said: “The Ullswater Way is a fantastic example of people working in partnership on a project that will hopefully give the local economy a much-needed boost.

"Ullswater remains a popular corner of the Lake District, yet people tend to explore it in pockets rather than connecting their journey. The community around Ullswater wanted to encourage visitors to enjoy the valley’s iconic scenery on foot, but to also utilise links to the public transport network, and hopefully give people a reason to stay for longer.

“Although there were already existing walking routes in the area, there wasn’t a fully connected route around the lake. So we have been working with local people, businesses and landowners to improve access, including a new 2.5 kilometre public right of way, and the installation of new waymarkers, fingerposts and gates to make it easier for people to navigate on the ground.”

The Ullswater Way crosses sections of open fell and farm land, offering visitors stunning views. The route also includes a new section of footpath near Maiden Castle, once the site of an Iron Age Hill fort, offering spectacular views of the Ullswater Valley, as well as views to the Pennines to the East and Blencathra to the west.

Jim Walker, from Ullswater Steamers, and chairman of the working group said: “Ullswater is famous for its stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains – from kayaking to climbing Helvellyn and from the spectacular waterfalls at Aira Force to simply enjoying the local hospitality. "The Ullswater Way now means long distance walkers can now walk round the full 20 mile route, and those who want to explore at a more leisurely pace can break up the journey by including a trip on the historic Ullswater Steamers or open top bus.”

A new Ullswater Way leaflet with a map has been created, showing the length and level of the walks, and a video will be available on the LDNPA website and www.Ullswater.com.