Conservation
Our Efforts Past and Present towards Sustainable Tourism
In 1998 the Company introduced a visitor donation scheme with proceeds to the Tourism & Conservation Partnership in order to fund access and conservation projects in the Ullswater Valley. The purpose of this body is to bring together businesses involved in tourism with conservation organisations to promote sustainable tourism, raising much needed funds for conservation projects. To date we have raised over 20 thousand pounds as part of this scheme. We as a business continue to reduce our carbon footprint by putting into place work practices from the simplest tasks such as eco-friendly cleaning products to the more complex; a magnetic device currently being trialed on Raven reduces her hourly fuel consumption and current inverters on each vessel convert 24V to 240V power, replacing the need for excess energy to power a generator.
We also hold sponsored Cruises to raise money for local charities such as Patterdale Mountain Rescue, Save our Squirrels, Children in Need and the RSPB. All information is listed on our event pages so help us to help them and lend your support to these events.
Steps to a Greener Holiday
Visit places that are close to where you are staying. There are plenty of places throughout the country and many only a walk away.
Use local rail and bus services and check out local cycle hire facilities. There are frequent rail and bus services in many parts of Cumbria and cycle hire places are widespread, so leave the car at home.
Don’t waste water or energy – just use what you need, and you’ll help combat climate change.
Try to minimise waste by recycling bottles, cans and paper, and refusing unnecessary bags etc, and please do not drop litter.
Try to use local businesses rather than just multi-national chains, so that the money you spend re-circulates in the local economy.
Look out for local produce in terms of food and drink and also buy gifts made in the area if possible. Cumbria is particularly well off for local produce and local farmers markets are held in many towns. This all helps provide jobs for the local people, as well as minimising the distance food or drinks are transported.
Stay in accommodation or visit attractions that support the local environment by raising money for local conservations projects. For information on these businesses check out www.ourstolookafter.co.uk
Read the Ullswater 'Steamers' Environmental Policy.
Topography and Biodiversity
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District being approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide with a maximum depth of approximately 205ft (62m). The approximate time of the water cycle through the lake is approximately 300 days.- The valley was formed through glacial shifts and shaped as it today, by years of turbulent geological activity. During a volcanic upheaval approximately 450 million years ago, faults in the rocks allowed movement; Howtown is located on such a fault which gives Ullswater Lake its uncharacteristic kink.
- The Valley today is dominated by three main groups of rocks which along with faults determine the characteristic of the landscape. These rocks types are the Borrowdale Volcanics, Skiddaw Slates and the Carboniferous Limestone.
Where the Andesite, Basalt and Rhyolite of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group meet the Skiddaw Slates, a fault line occurs. Faults are followed by water courses as they can be eroded more easily creating spectacular features such
as Scale How, Swarth Beck and Aira Force. 
Ullswater is a typical narrow “ribbon lake” formed after the last ice age when the deepened section of the valley floor filled with meltwater from a retreated glacier.- The lake runs a serpentine course in three reaches. At the head of the lake stands the Helvellyn range; Helvellyn crowns a plateau approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) in length and 4 ¼ miles (7km) wide. At 3117 ft (950 m) Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in England.
- There is a rich biodiversity of wildlife in the area including a herd of Wild Red Deer. The valley is also home to the endangered Red Squirrel and Fell Ponies can be seen roaming the Helton Fells.
The ancient woodlands and fells provide breeding habitats for a variety of birds such as the great spotted woodpecker, tree-creeper, redstarts, spotted & pied flycatcher, willow warbler, meadow pipit, wheatear, lapwing, pied & yellow wagtails, yellowhammer, peregrine falcons, ravens and red grouse which can be seen on the high fells. Great rafts of gulls roost on the lake and the bays are frequented by mallards, red breasted mergansers, greylag geese, goosanders, kingfishers, cormorants, dippers, sandpipers and ospreys have been sighted on passage.- Trout and Perch inhabit the Lake and an endangered species known as the Schelly (Coregonus clupeoides stigmatiuos) believed to have been isolated by the last ice age. The Schelly is only found in two other localities, Haweswater and Red Tarn; that we know of.
- Abundant Flora thrive along the lakeshore trails such as Bracket Fungus, Wood Cranesbill, Ladys Bedstraw, Pink Purslane, Bracken, Ferns, Wood Sorrell, Round Leaved Sundew and Butterwort.
Of all the flora the Lenten lilie has pride of place immortalised by Wordsworth in his world famous poem “The Daffodils”.- In early summer Bird Cherries in Scalehow Wood on the lakeshore become infested with the communal webs of the ermine moth caterpillar.
- A 500 year old Yew Tree resides in the grounds of the thirteenth century church in St Martin just outside Howtown.
- On the lower slopes of Silver Crag, the flowers of the mature Holly Trees attract Holly Blue Butterlies in the month of May.