BLDSA Ullswater — Solo & Relay

On 6 December 2015, the catastrophic flooding struck Glenridding with such force that the local river banks collapsed, reshaping the village landscape and leaving a mark on the community that persists in the formation of the local Flood Action Group. Today, the water beneath that same shoreline tells a different story of endurance and glacial depth. Swimmers arriving for the BLDSA Ullswater 2026 event face a lake that reaches 63 metres in depth, a basin carved by ice and now serving as a testing ground for those who prefer their distance swimming in cool, open environments. The race brings participants into the same currents that the Ullswater Steamers have navigated since the company began moving lead and silver from the mines to Pooley Bridge, and the rhythm of the stroke is often accompanied by the sight of these historic vessels near the pier.

Views from the water

As you sight your line, the southern end of the lake is dominated by the imposing mass of Helvellyn, the third-highest mountain in England, which provides a constant, high-altitude reference point for the swim. Looking toward the eastern bank, you will pass the steep scree slopes of Birk Fell, a protected area where a rare population of juniper trees clings to the rocky hillside. The shoreline further reveals the architecture of the early 19th century through the Regency-era façade of Glenridding House, a structure that has watched over these waters since 1814. While the nearby Chillswim Ullswater End-to-End occurs in July, the August date of this BLDSA event offers a distinct experience of the lake's seasonal character. For those seeking a team effort, the Ullswater Relay takes place the following day, testing endurance across the same glacial expanse. The area retains remnants of its industrial past, including the slopes of the old Greenside Mine, and visitors might even spot red squirrels in the moss-rich woodlands of Glencoyne. William Wordsworth, who once fished these waters from a stolen boat during his youth, captured the essence of this landscape in his poetry, an activity that remains a quieter alternative to the competitive circuits of the lake.