Lake District

Aira Force to Glencoyne Trail

View across Ullswater at dawn, Aira Force and Ullswater, Cumbria, with hills in the background, their reflections in the water, and two rounded rocks near the shore — View across Ullswater at dawn, Aira Force and Ullswater, Cumbria | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

A linear route from Aira Force to Glencoyne along the edge of the Ullswater with views of the lake and fells.

Near to

Start point

Aira Force National Trust Car Park, near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0JS. Grid reference: NY 40082001 what3words: ///shuttle.infants.hikes

Steep step ups and step downs, short climbs and narrow paths

The largest step up is 4.7in (12cm) from a loose gravel path onto a main road at stop 6. The largest step down is 5.5in (14cm) off a footbridge at stop 20. The longest climb is for 43yd (40m) with an average gradient of 10%. At stop 15, there is a 112ft (34m) uphill climb at 15%. The narrowest path is 2.2ft (70cm) wide at stop 19.

Address
Aira Force National Trust Car Park, near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0JS. Grid reference: NY 40082001 what3words: ///shuttle.infants.hikes
Directions via Google Maps
By bus
Take the 508 Stagecoach bus service from Penrith to Patterdale. This service terminates at the Patterdale Hotel bus stop during the winter months, and the service extends to Windermere from the start of the Easter holidays until the end of the autumn half-term. Take the 509 seasonal bus service from Keswick to Glenridding.
By bus
By train
Penrith station 10 miles (16km) where you can connect to the 508 bus service
By train
By ferry
Enjoy a 20-minute cruise from Glenridding to Aira Force on the Aira Force shuttle boat from the end of March until the end of October.
By ferry
By road
From the M6, J40, take the A66, then A592 to Ullswater. Just before the junction with the A5091 is the main car park. From Keswick, the A66 towards Penrith then the A5091 at Troutbeck and follow this to A592 junction. Turn left at the junction, and the main car park is approximately 218 yards (200m) on the left. You will pass two smaller car parks, High Cascades and Park Brow on the A5091. From Windermere, take the A592 over the Kirkstone Pass, going through the villages of Patterdale and Glenridding. Aira Force main car park is approximately 3 miles from Glenridding, just after the junction for the A5091.
Toilet
Small toilet block close to the main car park entrance. The toilets are open 24 hours a day. All the toilets have baby-changing facilities. Portaloos provided in summer when the site is busy, situated next to permanent toilets. Next closest public toilets situated in Glenridding village (3 miles south on the A592).
Tea-room
Tea room serving hot and cold drinks, light bites and sweet treats with indoor and outdoor seating. Takeaway available. Additional seasonal outlet open near the Welcome Building during busy times. Drinking water taps around the car park and tea room for people to refill drinking bottles (switched off during cold weather).
Parking There are three disabled parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at the start point. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. National Trust members please scan your membership card. Non-members please pay to park. Accessible toilet The accessible toilet is next to the men's, adjacent to the car park entrance. There is an uphill ramp of 8% and a small lip in the concrete at the entrance. The toilet is part of the National Key Scheme and is accessed with a radar key. If you need to borrow a key, please speak to one of the team. Gradients This trail has uphill and downhill paths ranging from 2% to 27%. The steepest gradient at 27% runs for 1m on a speed bump type feature towards a wooden gate. This is located at step 6. The longest uphill climb is at stop 8. It is 135yd (124m); the first half at 7% and the second half at 2%. The longest downhill slope is at stop 17 for 151yd (138m), the steepest section at 14%. Surfaces Paths are predominantly loose and coarse gravel. There are protruding rocks along the route. The paths are subject to flooding and at step 17, very muddy where the paths meets a farm track. Steps/uneven surfaces The largest step up is 4.7in (12cm) from a loose gravel path onto a main road at stop 6. The largest step down is 5.5in (14cm) off a footbridge at stop 20. Gates/ bridges There are 7 gates along the route. The widths of the gates range from 3.2ft (98cm) to 4.5ft (140cm). Most gates open away from the user. At stop 18 the gate opens towards the user. It does not open fully and has a width of 2.2ft (70cm). There are 8 wooden bridges along the route. The widths of the bridges range from 3.7ft (115cm) to 4.2ft (130cm).
Designated parking
There are three disabled parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at the start point. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. National Trust members please scan your membership card. Non-members please pay to park.
Accessible toilet
The accessible toilet is next to the men's, adjacent to the car park entrance. There is an uphill ramp of 8% and a small concrete lip at the entrance. The toilet is part of the National Key Scheme and is accessed with a radar key. If you need to borrow a key, please speak to one of the team.
Steps/uneven terrain
This trail has uphill and downhill paths ranging from 2% to 27%. The steepest gradient at 27% runs for 1m on a speed bump type feature towards a wooden gate. This is located at step 6. Paths are predominantly loose and coarse gravel. There are protruding rocks along the route. The paths are subject to flooding and at step 17, very muddy where the paths meets a farm track.
Gradient

This trail has uphill and downhill gradients ranging from 2% to 27%. The steepest gradient at 27% runs for 1m on a speed bump type feature towards a wooden gate. This is located at step 6. The longest uphill climb is at stop 8. It is 135yd (124m); the first half at 7% and the second half at 2%. The longest downhill slope is at stop 17 for 151yd (138m), the steepest section at 14%.

Surfaces

Paths are predominantly loose and coarse gravel. There are protruding rocks along the route. Paths are prone to flooding and erosion after heavy rainfall. At step 17, it can be very muddy where the paths meets a farm track. There are lots of trees along the trail which will reduce the traction in the Autumn and winter months.

Steps/uneven surfaces

The largest step up is 4.7in (12cm) from a loose gravel path onto a main road at stop 6. The largest step down is 5.5in (14cm) off a footbridge at stop 20.

For further information on the nature of the paths and route itself, please see the trail itself.
Elevation change on the Aira Force to Glencoyne trail, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Total stages: 20
Total stages: 20
Start point
Aira Force National Trust Car Park, near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0JS. Grid reference: NY 40082001 what3words: ///shuttle.infants.hikes
Stage 1
At the Blue Badge parking spaces, cross over the road and walk towards the information panel and car park machine.
Blue Badge parking spaces at Aira Force car park, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 2
With the stone wall on your right, walk straight along the path towards the toilet block. The footpath and car park are made of the same material and are hard to tell apart.
Square drain cover on the footpath to the toilet block, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 3
Where the path splits, take the right-hand fork and continue uphill past the toilet block. The path is loose coarse gravel.
Sloping uphill path of coarse gravel towards the tea room, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 4
At the tearoom the path bends to the left. The path slopes downhill for 33ft (10m) with a gradient of 8% towards a wooden gate.
Wooden gate leaving the Aira Force tea room towards the road, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 5
Go through the gate and take the right path at the fork with the wooden signpost on your right. The path material is loose and coarse and there are some protruding rocks. The path slopes downhill for 141ft (43m) with an average gradient of 4%. It narrows to 3.6ft (110cm) where it meets the road.
4.7in (12cm) step up from the gravel path down from the tea room onto the A5091, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 6
Go straight over the road towards the wooden gate. The road is on a camber and can be busy.
Sloping gravel path off the A5091 with a wooden gate, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 7
The route does not leave this path but does cross over farm access tracks. Stops 8 to 20 highlight different features along the path.
Wooden gate with a sharp right turn uphill onto a wooden footbridge, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 8
The gate is 4.4ft (135cm) wide with a lever latch halfway down on the left. It can be opened either away from you or towards you. Go through the gate and continue along the path to two wooden gateposts. There is an uphill slope for 135yd (124m). The first half climbs with a 7% gradient. The second half climbs with a 2% gradient.
Uphill sloping loose gravel path from wooden footbridge, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 9
The width between the two posts is 4.5ft (140cm). The path slopes downhill for 63yd (58m) at an average gradient of 8%. The gate is 4.3ft (132cm) wide and has a latch halfway down on the left. It can be opened away from or towards you.
Downhill sloping path with steep drop off into the banking, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 10
The path surface is mainly loose material with some larger and coarser material. For the next 135yd (123m), the path has an average uphill gradient of 4%. The steepest gradient is 9% near stop 11.
Loose gravel path with large protruding rock, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 11
The bridge is 4.2ft (130cm) wide and 23ft (7m long). There is an uphill climb of 7% for 16.4ft (5m) towards a bench.
Coarse, loose gravel path with some protruding rocks, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 12
The path surface is loose gravel with small protruding stones. There is an average uphill gradient of 8%.
Stone culvert across the loose gravel path, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 13
Continue straight ahead and go across the wooden bridge. Here the path slopes downhill for 122yd (112m) with an average gradient of 7%.
A 2.7in (7cm) step down off the wooden footbridge, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 14
The gate is 4.2ft (130cm) wide. It has a lever latch halfway down on the left. It can open away from you or towards you.
Uphill slope with a section of protruding rocks, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 15
The bridge is 4.1ft (126cm) wide and 23ft (7m) long. There is a 1in (2.5cm) lip onto it and 0.4in (1cm) step down.
A steep uphill climb around a corner with a steep drop off, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 16
The path slopes uphill around a corner for 33ft (10m) at 15% onto a wooden bridge. There are protruding rocks of 2in (5cm). There is a 2.3in (6cm) step up onto the bridge with a 2.3in (6cm) step down.
Steep uphill climb around a corner towards a wooden footbridge, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 17
The path slopes downhill for 151yd (138m). The steepest gradient is 14%. There are sections of cobble sized stones of 3in (7.6cm) protruding from the path.
Downhill slope of loose gravel with exposed path lining, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 18
Protruding rocks, tree roots and a fence post narrow the path to 2.7ft (83cm).
A narrow section of path with protruding rocks and a fence post, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 19
The bridge is 3.9ft (120cm) wide and 19.6ft (6m) long. It has a step down of 5in (13cm) onto loose material. There is a 16.4ft (5m) downhill slope of 9% into a corner where the fence and stone wall meet.
Narrow wooden gate opening with protruding tree roots on footpath, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
Stage 20
Turn left onto the second bridge and continue into the car park. There is a downhill slope of 9% onto loose material and protruding rocks. Continue for 33yd (30m) to the car park.
The 5.5in (14cm) step down from the footbridge onto the footpath, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird
End point
Glencoyne National Trust Car Park, Penrith, CA11 0QT. Grid reference: NY38681887 what3words: ///subsystem.dated.seasons
Trail map
Aira Force to Glencoyne route, Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird
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Two people viewing the waterfall from a stone bridge at Aira Force

Activity

Exploring Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

Get a glimpse of what Aira Force and Ullswater have to offer, including walks with far-reaching views, red squirrels, picnic spots, a natural play area and water sports.