THE opening of the temporary bridge at Pooley Bridge makes a good excuse to look at the new construction, visit the village and take this short but hilly walk for an overview of the whole area, writes John Edmondson. Pooley Bridge used to be known as Pool How, the hill by the pool or stream. The hill is Dunmallard Hill so that is where the walk begins. It then climbs a second hill, high above Ullswater, with splendid views of the lake and the surrounding fells. On the return route there’s an option to climb a third hill and visit the first millennium BC settlement of Maiden Castle.

Start from Dunmallard car park, near the bridge on the village side of the river (grid reference NY 470245).

Information

Distance: 3.8 miles, ascent: 800 feet

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: Grassy footpaths and woodland

Map: OS Explorer OL5

Route

1 Cross the bridge and follow the footpath signed ‘Permitted Path Circular Route Dunmallard Hill’ going to the right from the edge of the wood. Follow the steep, pleasantly wooded track as it spirals to the top of the hill. Before Roman times, this was a fort but there are no visible remains. Unfortunately, trees obscure all views from the hill. Descend on the other side of the hill and leave the woods via a fence stile at the bottom right corner near the head of the lake or by the gate just below the stile.

2 Walk to the right on the elevated off-road path beside the B5320 with good views over the lake. Carefully cross the A592 and after a few yards join the footpath signed Flashgate continuing along the roadside hedge. At the gate where the path meets the road turn right and follow the track uphill to a waymarker just before a wood. Turn left and go uphill, keeping to the left of the fence (avoid going through the green metal gate). The path ascends the wooded hill quite steeply to Salmond’s Plantation and at the top the climb is rewarded by a great view of Ullswater and of the fells opposite.

3 Continue in the same direction to a stile at the top corner of a conifer wood, Rumney’s Plantation. Follow the fence above the wood to another stile then descend to the right going past a stone memorial inscribed ‘Rest awhile and view.’ Continue walking alongside the double fence to a stone barn and turn right beside the barn. Walk alongside the hedge to a gate. From here there is the option to ascend the hill on the left to visit Maiden Castle and then return to the same path 180 yards ahead. Maiden Castle was a hill fort, 70 yards in diameter, with two rampart walls separated by a narrow ditch.

4 Go through a new gate, across a reedy field and through two more new gates in pastureland with a small tree-lined beck on the left. Continue down to a gateway near a steep hump in the left corner of the field to enter Waterfoot Caravan Park. Walk straight ahead past the fine mansion and turn right around the side of building along a gravel path to steps leading down to a gate into a field. Go across the fields to the roadside gate that was used before. Turn left and return to Pooley Bridge through the woods around the bottom of the Dunmallard Hill, passing the lake pier on the right.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.