Ullswater 'Steamers' facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ullswater 'Steamers'

Type	Private company
Industry	Passenger transportation Leisure cruises
Founded	1855
Headquarters	Glenridding, Cumbria
Area served	Ullswater

Ullswater 'Steamers' is a famous boat company that takes people on fun trips across Ullswater, a beautiful lake in the Lake District of England. The company is based in a village called Glenridding in Cumbria. It started way back in 1855 and now has a fleet of five boats. These boats are powered by diesel engines, and the oldest one has been sailing for over 140 years!

The Story of the Steamers

A steamer boat at Howtown Pier around the year 1900.

The company began in 1855 as the Ullswater Steam Navigation Company. At first, the boats weren't just for tourists. They were used to carry mail, supplies, and workers for a local mine from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge at the other end of the lake.

The first special boat built for the company was a paddle steamer called the Enterprise, launched in 1859. In 1877, a new boat called the Lady of the Lake joined the fleet, followed by the Raven in 1889. Amazingly, both of these historic boats are still sailing on the lake today!

In the 1930s, the company updated the Lady of the Lake and the Raven by changing their steam engines to more modern diesel engines. By 1954, the company was in trouble and might have closed down. Luckily, a man named Sir Wavell Wakefield bought the company to save it. His family still owns and runs Ullswater 'Steamers' today.

For a long time, the boats only ran in the summer. But since 2001, you can enjoy a trip on the lake even in the winter. In 2015, a powerful storm called Storm Desmond caused some problems. It damaged a pier and one of the boats, the Lady Wakefield. But everything was repaired, and the boats were soon back to sailing.

Sailing on the Lake Today

Ullswater 'Steamers' runs a fleet of five boats that stop at four different piers on the lake: Glenridding, Pooley Bridge, Howtown, and Aira Force.

There are two main routes. One long route travels the full length of the lake, stopping at Glenridding, Howtown, and Pooley Bridge. A shorter trip goes between Glenridding and the pier at Aira Force, which is near a famous waterfall. In the busy summer months, there's a boat about every hour. You can also hire the boats for special events like parties.

The company that owns the steamers also owns the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a small heritage railway on the other side of the Lake District. Both are part of the Lake District Estates group, which is still run by the descendants of Lord Wakefield.

Meet the Fleet

Here are the five boats that make up the Ullswater 'Steamers' fleet.

Name	Built	Acquired	Passenger Capacity	Description	Image
Lady of the Lake	1877	1877	110	The Lady of the Lake is one of the oldest working passenger boats in the world! She was built in Scotland and then brought to Ullswater in pieces to be put together. She has had an exciting life, sinking at her dock twice (in 1881 and 1958) but was saved both times. In 1965, a fire badly damaged her, but she was fully restored and relaunched in 1979.
Raven	1889	1889	150	The Raven is the largest boat in the fleet. She was built because so many tourists were visiting Ullswater. In 1912, she became a temporary royal yacht for the German Emperor Wilhelm II when he visited the area. For this special occasion, her decks were painted yellow! Like the Lady of the Lake, her steam engine was replaced with diesel engines in 1934.
Western Belle	1934	2008	100	The Western Belle was built in 1934 and spent many years carrying passengers on rivers near Plymouth and on the River Thames near London. Ullswater 'Steamers' bought her in 2008, and she began her new life on the lake in 2010.
Lady Wakefield	1949	2006	90	The Lady Wakefield was built in 1949 and worked on several rivers in England before coming to Ullswater. She was bought in 2006 and renamed in memory of Lord Wakefield's wife. During Storm Desmond in 2015, she was damaged and had to be pushed ashore to stop her from sinking. She was rescued and repaired, and is now back on the water.
Lady Dorothy	1967	2001	40	The Lady Dorothy is the smallest boat in the fleet. She used to be a sea boat from Guernsey before joining the company in 2001. She usually runs the shorter route between Glenridding and Aira Force pier.

Gallery

• 

  Glenridding Pier, with Lady Wakefield and Raven

• 

  The entrance to Glenridding Pier, with Place Fell behind

• 

  Lady of the Lake at Glenridding.

• 

  Howtown Pier and steamer seen from Bonscale Pike

• 

  Raven leaving the jetty at Howtown.

• 

  Pooley Bridge Pier, with the River Eamont flowing out to the right

• 

  Lady of the Lake being repaired on the slipway at Waterside

• 

  Lady Wakefield after being beached during Storm Desmond