Hello,

This time next week you will enjoying the Ullswater Way or Challenge!  Or you may have finished and be enjoying our post event tea, coffee, soup, cake. Don't worry, this is a small friendly challenge event and everyone is welcome, whatever your speed or ambition !

There are no formal cut-off times, and we will support anyone to finish as long as it is safe to do so, regards your health and welfare.  The evenings are drawing in so it maybe dark by 6:30pm.  Pack a head torch if you wish!

Start and Finish

Our event HQ is the village hall in Pooley Bridge - properly known as the Parkin Memorial Hall.  This is just by the mini-roundabout as you come in to the village from Tirril and Eamont Bridge. The postcode is CN10 2NL.

Unfortunately, there is no parking available at the Hall, but alternatives very close by and free shuttle buses from local pick up points - see below.

Registration and Start Times

Registration will be open from 7:30am.  Start times are from 8am through to 10am.

It will be a very simple registration, where you will be given a credit card sized number, route map and written route description.  You may start when you like within the time frame, with the slower walkers going early and the faster runners later.  Please, do adhere to this system as it really helps us provide a great day out for all and makes our marshall planning so much easier and less time consuming.

Safety Checkpoints

There will be a number of Safety checkpoints around the route, staffed by our event team. These will be obvious on your route and detailed on the route description.  Please make sure you check in at these points and the staff record your passage.

Food Checkpoints

Some of the Safety Checkpoints will double up as feed stations as well.  Our main Food checkpint will be the Helvellyn Base Camp in Glenridding, around halfway. Base Camp will have hot and cold drinks and simple snack food - both sweet and savoury.  We will also have cold drinks and food at our Sandwick, Dockray and Watermillock Checkpoints.  You can fill your water bottles at all the checkpoints but will need to take a mug in order to get hot drink.  (We will have some available at the start)

Kit, Clothing, Footwear

I'd rather not insist on a mandatory kit list as gear is a very personal choice and no one list suits all entrants.

Footwear - naturally this will range from skinny off-road running shoes to weatherproof boots.  If you haven't noticed the weather has been rather wet of late so some mud and soggy bits are inevitable. Plus the terrain is very varied underfoot.

Please do take a weatherproof jacket, and spare warm layer. Over trousers, hat a gloves, may well be useful,  together with some cash for additional on the hoof purchases. or the 'Ullswater Steamers' if you choose this as a return option, from Glenridding.  A mobile phone can be useful, although signal is poor in the valley except on the Vodafone network

Retirement

Naturally, we will be able to transport you back to base by car, if you need to retire at any of our checkpoints, Our Safety Tech team will also be available at key points to deal with any minor emergencies and initiate more serious evacuations.  

Post Event

The finish is back at The Village Hall - far end of the village as you come into Pooley from the bridge, remember!

There will be copious amounts of tea, coffee, soup and cake at the finish and three pubs available for further food and drink should you need it.  There will be a souvenir mug for everyone - but no prizes or other 'bling' - that's simply not our style.

Parking

Parking is a headache for any event organiser, and I urge you not to bring cars into the village if at all possible.

We have no specific dedicated 'Event Parking' in Pooley Bridge, although very nearby there is some '£3 All Day' parking.  Space and availibilty depends upon this week's weather and reasonably dry ground conditions.

Other car parks in Pooley are LDNP controlled and will cost you different Pay-and-Display rates.

We have free parking at local village halls, and offer a free shuttle bus from these locations, as well as pick-ups form Penrith Railway station and town centre.  Free village hall parking is available at Dacre Village Hall - ideal if you are coming from Keswick and West on the A66 - and Askham village hall - ideal from the South, M6 via the A6.  Please do use this service - and  'Yes' we will take you back to your cars after the event!

Proposed Shuttle Bus Timetable -

• 7:15 Askham
• 7:30 Pooley Bridge
• 7:45 Dacre
• 8:00 Pooley Bridge
• 8:30 Penrith Railway Station
• 8:45 Askham
• 9:00 Pooley Bridge
• 9:15 Dacre
• 9:30 Pooley Bridge

• Postcodes Dacre Village hall c. CA11 0HL  Askham Village Hall c. CA10 2PG

In order to gauge demand please drop me an email with a 'Yes' and pick up point /time as soon as you can, and definitely before 8pm . Pickups available along either route are possible, say, Tirril or Yanwath, etc. Bus mobile number 07749364248

Please do make a concerted effort to car share and use our FREE shuttle bus and parking options.

Ok, I think that's about it for now - if you have any questions please check the facebook page or blogpost - before emailing me as it may well be an FAQ that some others need to see.

Many thanks,

Joe

and The NAV4 Adventure team / Friends of Ullswater Way