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A hiker wearing an insulated jacket and a backpack watches the sunset over snowy mountain peaks
Taking in a wintry sunset on the Gowbarrow Fell Trail in the Lake District | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor
Lake District

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park trail

Experience Aira Force at its best as you head towards the thunderous roar of the waterfalls. Pass through woodland with lush green ferns and evergreen specimen conifers that tower over open glades. Then, emerge from the confines of the gorge to enjoy expansive views over Ullswater from the summit of Gowbarrow.

Prepare for unpredictable weather

A map and compass, waterproofs, and a whistle and torch are all essential for this walk. The weather can be very changeable and the higher elevations are exposed.

Total steps: 8

Total steps: 8

Start point

Aira Force National Trust car park, grid ref: NY400200

Step 1

From the car park, walk past the wooden Welcome Building and follow the path through the picnic field until you reach a gap in a stone wall. After passing through the gap, you will come to a grassy area in the woodland called the Glade.

Step 2

Once in the Glade, bear left, keeping Aira Beck on your right. Follow the path through the pinetum, where the path steepens. Here, you get your first glimpse of Aira Force. As the ground levels out, look to your left for grand views across the Ullswater Valley. Continue on the path as it bends to the right, leading to the upper waterfall bridge. You can take an optional detour to the lower waterfall bridge and viewing platform by following the steps that lead down, crossing over the stone bridge at the bottom of the falls and heading up the steep stone steps to the upper waterfall bridge, crossing over to resume your walk with the river still on your right.

Step 3

After leaving the waterfall's upper bridge, follow the path and river upstream for a third of a mile (0.6km), passing the High Force bridge and falls until you come to the High Cascades. Cross over the wooden bridge, and when you reach the path junction, turn left, following the path for another third of a mile (0.6km) as it leads you out of the woodland and onto the open fell.

Step 4

Once the woodland thins and the views of the surrounding landscape expand, you'll come to a junction and path that will take you up to the summit of Gowbarrow Fell, which is two-thirds of a mile (1km) distance. An excellent feature to look for is the dry stone wall running up the hill with an adjoining pine tree plantation. Once you reach the junction, turn right up the hill, keeping the wall on your left.

Step 5

Once the path flattens out and moves away from the wall, follow the path until you see a path branching off that will take you up to the concrete pillar called a trig point on the summit of Gowbarrow. From here, you have a 360° vista to enjoy. Next, retrace your steps to where you turned up to the trig point and continue your circular walk.

Step 6

Follow the path down, bearing right until you reach the ruin of an old shooting lodge. Keeping right at the junction for Pooley Bridge, continue around the eastern flank of Gowbarrow.

Step 7

The footpath after the Pooley Bridge path junction takes you along the undulating landscape for almost a mile and down to a perfect spot for a breather. Go over a fence stile to the superb vantage point up the head of the lake from the point marked on the map as Memorial Seat. After admiring the views, go back over the stile and turn left, continuing on the path down towards the woodlands.

Step 8

At the bottom of the slope you will see across the field a building known as Lyulph's Tower (private). It was built as a hunting lodge by the Howard family in the 18th century. It was designed to look like a grand castle from the lake - from the land it appears a little more modest. Just before the woodland take the left hand fork then go through a gate, bearing left to rejoin the footpath to return to the Glade and car park.

End point

Aira Force National Trust car park, grid ref: NY400200

Trail map

Trail map for Aira Force and Gowbarrow walk, Lake District
Trail map for Aira Force and Gowbarrow walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS

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