Opinions on Ullswater

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Avocet

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Well, it is starting to look like 2014 might be the season Avocet gets her keel wet again! The family seem to be keen on Ullswater as a way of breaking ourselves back into it and getting the kids used to be afloat again. (or at all, in the case of the youngest)!

Anybody got any advice on Ullswater? I know the Dalemain Estate is the place that regulates moorings. Any other advice though? In particular, I'm wondering what happens at the end of the season and where I might be able to lift out / store the boat / work on it. Is that sort of thing possible on Ullswater? Also, places I'm likely to be able to park the car (and dinghy trailer) for the day when sailing in the season?
 
As far as I know from my brother in law and his boating there are the two adjoining marinas on the west shore where you can launch and recover. The y have some moorings. The yacht club on the east near to Sharrow Bay has facilites to launch and recover. The guy who bought Slippy from me joined there and they were very accommodating.
I'm not sure how you'll manage with a long keel boat, depth etc. I think the marinas have a bit of a gravel bar.
Your best bet is to wander down to the yacht club. I seem to remember it's actually owned by one bloke rather than being a member's club. Might be wrong on that.

The moorings around the lake are quite exposed and parking isn't very good. Or tender storage. There is a little wet dock on the west of the lake towards the North which has berths available and parking.

I would have thought Windermere was better suited to a boat with a keel like yours. Too long for Coniston. Too deep for Derwent Water.
 
Ta for that. We did spend a few seasons on Windermere, some years ago, but it's actually quite a long drive from where we are! Also eye-wateringly expensive and very crowded on nice weekends. I was hoping to put it back in Whitehaven, but the rest of the family seem to have other ideas. SWMBO (who, alas, used to be a really keen sailor, but has rather gone off it in the last 10 years or so, since we had kids) has a friend who lives near Ullswater, so there could be method in this particular madness...

Yea, haul-out likely to be problematic - we draw 4'6".
 
dunedin said:
Have you spoken to the sailing club at Ullswater. Seem a friendly bunch and lots of facilities for parking car and boat, and lovely location for family
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What's with the fee + donation for membership at this club? I assume none of it's voluntary.
 
Launching and recovery can be a little shallow - although probably plenty of water for launch, its recovery if there is a long hot summer that might cause issues and you don't want to be stuck on a mooring for winter. The yacht club has a slip as to the two Marinas (which I think can also lift out, although cant be sure as never did it). For this bit I'd wander down to to the yacht club (drive through Pooley Bridge and follow the lake shore) and have a chat, there is a nice fella there who knows the lake like the back of his hand.

There are moorings at Pooley Bridge with a camp site at Waterfoot (?) Campsite within walking distance of the village/pubs. Works quite well - camp and dinghy with free launch, the only downside is Bank Holiday weekends when the site can be a bit, erm, rowdy with drunken Geordies. There is one traditional mining weekend which is not my favourite time although the lake is still lovely and quiet.

As for the sailing - magnificent.
 
Both Ullswater Marine and Fairfield Marine both regularly launch and recover boats up to 35 ft and 5ft draft with 4wd tractors.

You can do maintenance at Fairfield Marine but not at Ullswater Marine.
 
Lakesailor said:
What is the situation regarding the gravel bar? One of our forumites with (I think) a FoxTerrier got stuck on it.
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At Ullswater Marine I think there is a small shallow area off one of the jetties which was used for hire boats but in general boats at Ullswater Marine do no seem to have problems.

There is a dredged channel between two jetties where deep draft boats boats are launched.
 
I went to look at a boat at Fairfield Marine once. Rubbish boat (it wasn't theirs) but the place had a charming olde-worlde feel.
The more modern Ullswater marine next door seemed a bit manicured (in a comparative sense) and not as friendly.
 
Thanks all. I've spoken to both marinas and what I've been told, does seem to tally quite well. Swings and roundabouts! Ullswater Marine looks like (because of it's dredged channel) it will be easier to get Avocet in and out of the water without waiting for the lake to be quite high. Fairfield, on the other hand, is more likely to let me work on it in the winter. In either case though, I think I'm going to have to modify the cradle so it can act as a launching trolley. I think I can feel another project coming on! I'll speak to Dalemain's estate office on Monday and see what they have to say too. Obviously, the cheapest option is just to pay the mooring dues and get a mooring laid, but then I'll need to think about where to winter!
 
A friend of mine kept his Cornish Crabber 17 at Glenridding Sailing Centre for a year, and seemed very happy with the place. As I understand it, though, you have to store your boat ashore there, and they launch it for you when you need it, with limited pontoon places available when you're around.
 
I have been on Ullswater for 18 yrs and the best place to keep your boat on a swinging mooring is without doubt The Old Church. It's quiet with beautiful new facilities and about the same price as as Ullswater Marine and Fairfield Marine. The former is not to be recommended; issues with the operator -just ask anyone and Fairfield is a bit run down and launch recovery is subject to a good head of water but that is where my boat (a Beneteau First 285) was taken out and stored for the winter. Incidentally, the moorings at The Old Church are individually owned by the boat owners and there are often one or two for sale - just ask.
I have just sold my swinging mooring for £50.
 
sealegsjim said:
I have been on Ullswater for 18 yrs and the best place to keep your boat on a swinging mooring is without doubt The Old Church. It's quiet with beautiful new facilities and about the same price as as Ullswater Marine and Fairfield Marine. The former is not to be recommended; issues with the operator -just ask anyone and Fairfield is a bit run down and launch recovery is subject to a good head of water but that is where my boat (a Beneteau First 285) was taken out and stored for the winter. Incidentally, the moorings at The Old Church are individually owned by the boat owners and there are often one or two for sale - just ask.
I have just sold my swinging mooring for £50.
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I think opinions vary. I would recommend Ullswater Marine and have been happy there for 10 years on a swinging mooring then a jetty berth.

The owners look after the boats on the jetties and swinging moorings, regularly checking mooring strops and fenders when the weather is bad or the lake level rises. I have confidence that my boat is being looked after on a daily basis when I am away (150miles away).

Ullswater Marine has a set of rules. Follow them and all is OK (and peaceful).

I have towed my boat down the drive many times and not had a problem.
 
Last edited:
sealegsjim said:
I have been on Ullswater for 18 yrs and the best place to keep your boat on a swinging mooring is without doubt The Old Church. It's quiet with beautiful new facilities and about the same price as as Ullswater Marine and Fairfield Marine. The former is not to be recommended; issues with the operator -just ask anyone and Fairfield is a bit run down and launch recovery is subject to a good head of water but that is where my boat (a Beneteau First 285) was taken out and stored for the winter. Incidentally, the moorings at The Old Church are individually owned by the boat owners and there are often one or two for sale - just ask.
I have just sold my swinging mooring for £50.
Click to expand...

That's very interesting - thanks! I have to admit (despite being less than 40 miles away!) that I don't know Ullswater very well at all though! Is that the Old Church Hotel at Watermillock? What happens about access to the boat? Will they let you park your car and tender trailer there and can you launch your tender easily enough from their land? Also, what happens about launching and recovering the boat? (Avocet draws 4'6" and weighs 3 tons), and what do people there do for winter storage - do they normally go to one of the two marinas?
 
Avocet said:
That's very interesting - thanks! I have to admit (despite being less than 40 miles away!) that I don't know Ullswater very well at all though! Is that the Old Church Hotel at Watermillock? What happens about access to the boat? Will they let you park your car and tender trailer there and can you launch your tender easily enough from their land? Also, what happens about launching and recovering the boat? (Avocet draws 4'6" and weighs 3 tons), and what do people there do for winter storage - do they normally go to one of the two marinas?
Click to expand...
The Old Church is no longer a hotel but is privately owned and you pay your annual fee to the owner, Blackstock Estates, for access/car parking/facilities/dinghy storage/water etc. All the moorings are swinging and individually owned but there is a jetty for loading etc. Some people take their boats out and keep them in a barn at some nearby farm and others use Fairfield or Ullswater Marine for launch/recovery and winter storage. Incidentally, the Old Church has deeper water than Fairfield. The Old Church is next to the Leeming Hotel.
 
We stayed at the Old Church once, before we came to live in the Lakes. It is a beautiful setting. I wasn't sure how the moorings were organised there. Sounds good.
 
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