Aira Force and Gowbarrow 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, as the weather is very changeable in this area..
Total steps: 8
Total steps: 8
Start point
Aira Force National Trust car park, grid ref: NY400200
Step 1
Take the waterfall path out of the top end of the car park, through the picnic field. Follow the path and head through a gateway in the wall into a grassy area known as the Glade.
Step 2
Take the left hand path through the arboretum and follow the path up to a little wooden gate on your left (which has superb views out over Ullswater to the left). Don't go through the gate but follow the path to the right, drop down a long steep flight of steps to the viewing platform at the base of the waterfall. Continue over the bridge and climb the steep steps on the left.
Step 3
At the top of the steps, bear left to the upper bridge for a view down Aira Force. Rejoin the main path and walk upstream keeping the river on your left as you go. Keep going till the path takes you through a gap in the wall and then through a gate onto open farmland.
Step 4
Before you get to the next gate in the wall ahead turn right up the field and take the permissive path to the fell gate. Keeping the wall on your left continue up the fellside on a good stone pitched path maintained by the Fix The Fells project, a good opportunity for a breather as you take in the views.
Step 5
Once the path flattens out and bears away from the wall follow the path up to the trig point on the summit of Gowbarrow. From here you have fine views all round. Look south to Place Fell and Red Screes over to Kirkstone, with the bulk of Helvellyn beyond. Blencathra, Bannerdale and Carrock Fell can be seen to the north-west, with the Pennines to the north-east. Martindale and High Street are to the south-east.
Step 6
On leaving the summit, continue along the path keeping parallel with the wall on your left. Follow the path down, bearing right until you reach the ruin of an old shooting lodge. Keeping right, continue up and around the eastern flank of Gowbarrow.
Step 7
A good path takes you to the brow and down to an obvious cairn. 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. Go back over the stile and head left, staying 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 through a gate to rejoin the footpath bearing left back to the Glade and car park.
End point
Aira Force National Trust car park, grid ref: NY400200
Trail map
More near here
Patterdale and Glenamara Park trail
Patterdale, near Ullswater, is home to Glenamara Park – a former deer park and site of several stately veteran trees. Explore them on this easy circular walk.
Aira Force Glencoyne Farm trail
A 3-mile walk through the upland hill farm of Glencoyne, passing through woodlands as well as historic farm buildings and charcoal pitsteads.
Hartsop to Hayeswater Gill trail
Climb up to Hayeswater Reservoir from Hartsop village on a circular walk, following the beck and the history of the mills and mines it once served.
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