Ullswater ‘Steamers’ Press Pack 2012
December 7, 2011
‘Like’ England’s Loveliest Lake In 2012 – With The Help Of Ullswater ‘Steamers’
‘Like’ England’s loveliest lake in 2012 and you won’t be disappointed, whether you are a fan of scenery, heritage, wildlife or outdoor activities, a bit of a speed merchant or a lover of myths and legends.
Ullswater, second only in size in England to Windermere, is a lake with its own vibe – serene and relaxed, but with an undercurrent of mystery and twists of suspense emanating from its unique past and the geology that shaped the landscape in which it regally sits.
Bringing all facets of the lake to life is Ullswater ‘Steamers’, the only cruise company to operate services on the lake and with a heritage stretching back over 150 years. In 2012, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ will be celebrating the 135th birthday of its vessel Lady of the Lake. This regal old lady was first launched on June 26, 1877 and is thought to be the oldest working passenger vessel in the world.
1877 was the year Queen Victoria was pronounced Empress of India and this historic link, in what will be our current day queen’s diamond jubilee year, will see Ullswater ‘Steamers’ operating Victorian/Raj themed cruises for the first time in 2012. The aim will be to enable visitors to soak up the atmosphere that the first Victorian tourists in the Lake District enjoyed, as they became the intrepid explorers discovering the exhilaration of life on and around Ullswater and the wonder of the natural world in the awe-inspiring and mountainous Lakes. The cruises will also recreate the sort of port-out-starboard-home POSH journey experienced by the Victorians who travelled to the Indian Empire.
The five ladies-in-waiting preparing to make 2012 a gem for visitors to Ullswater will be: Lady of the Lake, Raven, Lady Dorothy, Lady Wakefield and the newest addition to the fleet, Western Belle, who enjoyed her first season in 2011.
Also making ripples in 2012 are some new and not-to-be-missed experiences:
- Spring Watch & Lambing Weekend – April 21 and 22. A cruise will combine with a lambing experience, birdwatching and guided walks as Ullswater ‘Steamers’ works with partners Nurture Lakeland, the RSPB and the National Trust, to bring a true Spring Watch feel to the lake and its hinterland. Tickets for this experience cost £12 RSPB Member £14 non-member – children half price
- A Diamond Jubilee Brass and Bunting Cruise – June 5 – 7pm-9pm. Cruisers will be invited to dress to impress and bring a picnic to eat on board, while listening to music played by a brass band. A complimentary glass of cava and lots of Union Jack bunting around the boat will get everyone in patriotic mood! Tickets cost £12.50 per person
- Regatta Weekend on July 7, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lord Birkett’s success in foiling the attempt of the Manchester Corporation to turn Ullswater into a reservoir. A touch of Henley fever will travel north to Ullswater as passengers watch the famous Birkett Cup race from the comfort of an Ullswater ‘Steamer’. Pimms and strawberries can be pre-ordered or bought on board. Tickets cost £20 per adult and £10 per child.
The theme of the annual Ullswater ‘Steamers’ photo competition changes in 2012, as Ullswater ‘Steamers’ supports the World Owl Trust by running with a theme of ‘Flights of Fancy’. The entry fees for this competition will be donated to the World Owl Trust.
Pirate-themed children’s cruises will run on more dates in 2012, already being in the diary for June 6 and August 22 following the success of the June event in 2011.
The final ‘new-for-2012’ experience is a Fellsman-Ullswater ‘Steamers’ day out, which will see train passengers travelling on the classic heritage railway The Fellsman as far as Appleby-in-Westmorland, where they can thenopt to take an excursion from the ancient market town, which will involve first a classic coach and then a cruise on Ullswater. This heritage-filled package is sure to be popular and will create a unique and memorable day out. The first opportunity to climb aboard for this ambience-infused experience will be June 6 and it will then run every Wednesday from July 4 to August 29. Bookings are being taken by Fellsman and the excursion costs £20 plus your Statesman Rail Excursion price.Contact 0845 310 2458 to book or visit
Other themed cruises such as photography workshops, fish and chip cruises and cruises with a Lake District National Park ranger, will fill the calendar, while children will have their own family-focused cruises to enjoy in all school holidays and at Halloween and Christmas, when Ghostly Galleon and Santa cruises will respectively operate.
Nature lovers can also take advantage of the hugely popular red deer cruises, run in conjunction with wildlife experts from the RSPB. These cruises and excursions into the fells to observe the red deer during rutting season will run on October 18, 19, 20 and 21 and very early booking is advised. Tickets will cost £14 for an adult non-RSPB-member and £7 for a child. Members prices are £12and £6 respectively.
Head to to see the full event schedule, book tickets, find out more about the mysterious lake and also discover how to ‘Like the Lake’ on Facebook and other social media sites. Ullswater ‘Steamers’ can also be contacted on 017684 82229. ENDS
Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 01253 891114 –
Note to Editors:
Ullswater ‘Steamers’ sails every day bar December 24 and 25, from Glenridding Pier at the south of the lake near the Kirkstone Pass (which links Glenridding to the Windermere area) from Howtown in the middle of the eastern shore and from Pooley Bridge at the top of the lake near Penrith. Passengers can choose to sail one-way on a 65-minute cruise between Pooley Bridge and Glenridding, or on a 35-minute journey to and from either Pooley Bridge and Howtown, or Glenridding and Howtown (70-minute return journey). Alternatively, there is a Round The Lake option, with the flexibility to hop on and off the boat. Walkers can also take advantage of a special fare and dogs and cycles can be carried at a small charge.
Fares are as follows:
Glenridding or Pooley Bridge to Howtown (35 minute sailing) – walkers ticket
Single fareAdult £5.90Child £2.95
Return fareAdult £9.50Child £4.75Family £26
With a shorter sailing you can sail on board more than one vessel, getting to know more than one of the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ Ladies!
Glenridding to Pooley Bridge or vice-versa (65 minute sailing)
Single fareAdult £8.50Child £4.25
Glenridding & Pooley Bridge Round the Lake Pass (140 minute sailing)
Return Adult £12.95Child £6.50Family £32
With this pass, the holder can hop on and off the boat all day and also receives a 50% discount voucher for sister attraction, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. If four adults travel together on this ticket, one travels at half-price.
Family tickets are for 2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children (children aged 5-15 pay; under 5s go free).
A small charge is made for dogs and cycles.
Ullswater ‘Steamers’ Encourages Visitors To ‘Like A Lady’ – But Which One To Choose?
Cumbrian cruise company, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ is encouraging visitors and supporters of its idyllic experiences to make 2012 the year in which they ‘adopt’ a lady-to-like – a fitting exercise in a diamond jubilee year when heritage and genteel qualities will be much in the news.
The ‘ladies’ in question are its atmospheric heritage steamers, which currently number five in the fleet, all female, in good sailing tradition, and all exhibiting the same graceful qualities and ability to glide effortlessly across England’s second largest lake.
The fleet operating on stunning Ullswater comprises: Lady of the Lake, Raven, Lady Wakefield, Lady Dorothy and Western Belle. Passengers intending to head to the lake are being encouraged to get to know a little about these ladies and use this knowledge as the basis of which one to ‘adopt’. This could be on the basis of age, past life experiences, distinct characteristics, or place of ‘birth’ or origin. It could equally be because you share your name with a vessel or even because you come from Wakefield!
To assist, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ has provided a little information for the adoption packs!
Lady of the Lake
Date of ‘birth’:1877 (June 26) – launched by Miss Williamson of Fernilee
Place of ‘birth’Glasgow – T B Seath & Company
Designed in Penrith by Douglas Hebson
What happened that year?The first Test cricket match took place between England & Australia and the first lawn tennis tournament took place at Wimbledon. An Easter egg was first rolled on the White House lawn and Queen Victoria became Empress of India
The Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford Universities was declared a dead heat for the only time in history. It wasn’t a photo finish as Edison only patented the photograph in this year.
Notable facts:Lady of the Lake is believed to be the world’s oldest passenger-carrying vessel.
Lady of the Lake sank at her moorings in 1881 and was re-floated by divers. She again sank in a severe storm in 1958 and was damaged by fire in 1965 & out of service for 14 years. She was restored & relaunched by politician William Whitelaw (May 19, 1979). She survived 2009’s severe storms.
Passenger capacity:220
Raven
Date of ‘birth’:1889 (July 16) – launched by 6-year-old Winifred Parkin, daughter of Mrs Dynne Deanne Parkin of Charing Heath, Kent.
‘Place of ‘birth’:Glasgow – T B Seath & Company
What happened that year?:The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) was founded in Manchester on February 17 and originally called ‘The Plumage League’ to campaign against the use of plumage in women’s clothing.
The Eiffel Tower was completed in this year and The Savoy Hotel opened in London. This was also the year that the length of a metre was defined, the Pizza Margherita was first created in Naples and the first computer was patented.
On a boat theme, Jerome K Jerome’s novel ‘Three Men in a Boat’ was published and in the world of entertainment, Charlie Chaplin was born.
Notable facts:Raven was the second choice as a second ‘Steamer’ for Ullswater, but the first choice, Wyvern, sank on Windermere in 1876. The famous Thomas Cook, who was a shareholder, pushed for a second vessel, as demand had been too high to cope with just Lady of the Lake operating.
Raven was built by the same shipbuilder as Lady of the Lake. When she arrived, she was tested in a time trial on the lake, racing against Lady of the Lake – a race she unfortunately lost! Despite this, when she was officially launched, the Westmorland Gazette said: “It is questionable if there be any boat to beat or even equal this little craft on any lake in the country”.
Raven had her moment of glory in 1895, when she temporarily became a Royal Yacht. Her decks were painted yellow to mark the visit of the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, to Lowther Castle, home of the ‘Yellow Earl’, Lord Lonsdale.
Passenger capacity:246
Lady Wakefield
Date of ‘birth’:1949 – launched on Ullswater in April 2007 by HRH Princess Alexandra, who renamed her, in honour of the wife of Lord Wakefield of Ullswater ‘Steamers’ who was a keen admirer of the boats.
Place of ‘birth’:Dartmouth, Devon.
What else happened in this year?:Britain signed the North Atlantic Treaty in this year, helping to create NATO. The Russians exploded their first atomic bomb and July saw the maiden flight of the British-built de Havilland Comet, the world’s first passenger jet.
Siam was renamed Thailand, Israel began to be recognised by a number of countries and Prince Rainier became state head of Monaco.
Notable facts:Lady Wakefield has been previously known as Berry Castle, Golden Cormorant and Totnes Castle. She worked the Plymouth Sound and River Dart, prior to her arrival on Ullswater. Her sister vessel, Seymour Castle/Devon Belle, went to Dunkirk, but never made it to the beaches.
Passenger capacity:150
Lady Dorothy
Date of ‘birth’:1967 – do not have these records
‘Place of birth’:Guernsey.
What else happened in this year?:Sir Alf Ramsey, manager of the 1966 World Cup winning
England football team, received a knighthood and captain
Bobby Moore received an OBE.
Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage for the first time and suffered burns to his hands. Sandie Shaw, singing ‘Puppet on a String’ won the Eurovision Song Contest.
The UK decided to apply for EEC membership, BBC Radio 1 launched and boxer Henry Cooper became the first boxer to win three Lonsdale Belts outright.
In the boating world, HMS Andromeda was launched at the Portsmouth dockyard – the last ship to be built there. Sir Francis Chichester arrived in Plymouth after completing his single-handed sailing voyage around the world in Gipsy Moth 1V (nine months and 1 day), the QE2 was launched at Southampton by the Queen, using the gold scissors used by her mother and grandmother to launch the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, respectively. The Queen Mary made her last transatlantic voyage
Notable facts:The arrival of Lady Dorothy on Ullswater in 2001 made winter sailings possible for the first time. She had originally been a sea-going vessel and, to reach Ullswater, sailed from St Peter Port to Poole, where she was loaded on to a low loader, to travel to Cumbria. Advice had to be sought about this move, as this was the year of Foot and Mouth disease in Cumbria and the transporter had to have its wheels disinfected, because of this issue.
Passenger capacity:63
Western Belle
Date of ‘birth’:1935 – christened by Miss Molly Thorne, youngest daughter of the manager of Fellows & Co, her builders.
Place of ‘birth’:Great Yarmouth
What else happened in this year?:Malcolm Campbell set a new land speed record of 484.620km per hour (301.129mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in the Campbell-Railton Bluebird. The Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft made its maiden flight.
Hitler announced the creation of a new air force and planes were banned from flying over the White House. Months later, an aircraft crashed into the Empire State Building, New York.
In the world of sport, Jesse Owens broke the long jump record on May 5 and then equalled or broke 6 world records in one hour on May 25.
Rowntree’s of York produced what would, by 1937, become the Kit Kat bar. The Monopoly board game went on sale for the first time and in the Lake District, the last service was held in Mardale Church, prior to the village’s flooding to create Manchester Corporation’s Haweswater Reservoir.
Notable facts:The Western Belle was a favourite of those taking pleasure excursions on the Tamar & Yealm rivers for nearly 50 years. During World War II, she was employed on the Millbrook Ferry, running enhanced services to Devonport, landing workers in the Royal Dockyard. In March & April 1941, the blitz on Plymouth led to thousands of people seeking evacuation to Cornwall and the South Hams countryside. The Western Belle made evacuation runs, with hundreds packing aboard to try to escape, even if it was only to sleep in hedgerows. She operated runs in darkness on many occasions, due to the blackout.. Western Belle was launched on Ullswater by Jane Hasell-McCosh of historic home and gardens, Dalemain, on June 30, 2011.
Passenger capacity:150
All of the ‘Steamers’ are painted in the same colour as a splendid ocean liner named Coronia and all carry tourists seeking pleasure cruises, local residents using the service as a means of commuting between the top and bottom of the lake and those wishing to book a full or private charter for either a full or half day, or an evening pier-side event, whether that is a wedding, an anniversary celebration or just a general get-together.
Ullswater ‘Steamers’ marketing manager, Rachel Bell, says: “Which ‘Steamer’ people wish to adopt is entirely down to them, but there are lots of interesting facts to consider when making that choice. We wish to bring the personalities of our Ladies to life in 2012 and give them the moment in the spotlight that they truly deserve, given their remarkable histories.
“We have grown our fleet since our formation as the Ullswater Steam Navigation Company in 1855. We lost our first paddle steamer, Enterprise, in 1859, but have since kept all of our ladies up and running, battling against severe weather conditions and surviving through thick and thin. With five ‘Steamers’ now in our fleet, there is no excuse not to discover the joy of sailing on at least one of them in 2012”.
- ends -
Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 01253 891114 –
Notes to Editors:
Ullswater ‘Steamers’ sails every day bar December 24 and 25, from Glenridding Pier at the south of the lake near the Kirkstone Pass (which links Glenridding to the Windermere area) from Howtown in the middle of the eastern shore and from Pooley Bridge at the top of the lake near Penrith. Passengers can choose to sail one-way on a 65-minute cruise between Pooley Bridge and Glenridding, or on a 35-minute journey to and from either Pooley Bridge and Howtown, or Glenridding and Howtown (70-minute return journey). Alternatively, there is a Round The Lake option, with the flexibility to hop on and off the boat. Walkers can also take advantage of a special fare and dogs and cycles can be carried at a small charge.