Glenridding

Glenridding is a small village at the southern end of Ullswater, where Glenridding Beck tumbles down from the Helvellyn range into the lake. It grew up as the home of the miners at Greenside, once one of the largest lead mines in Britain, and today it is a walkers' village with an outdoor shop, a couple of hotels, cafes and a large car park.

It is the classic starting point for Helvellyn, the third highest mountain in England, and above all for the ascent via Striding Edge, the narrow rocky ridge that is one of the most famous scrambles in the country, with a return over Swirral Edge. Gentler routes lead to Lanty's Tarn, Red Tarn and along the old mine road to the Greenside workings.

The Ullswater Steamers sail from Glenridding pier to Howtown and Pooley Bridge, and the Ullswater Way path circles the lake. Aira Force, the waterfall in National Trust woods, is three miles north along the shore. The village was badly flooded by Storm Desmond in December 2015 and has been rebuilt. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for the fells, with fewer people on the ridges and better light; summer weekends bring crowds to Striding Edge.

Striding Edge is dangerous in wind, ice and snow and people are injured on it every year, so check the forecast and the fell top conditions. The car park fills on summer weekends. Patterdale, a mile south, has more accommodation and the youth hostel.