Aira Force, Lake District, Cumbria

Aira Force, Lake District, Cumbria

Classification Hill scramble

Distance 9.3 miles (15km)

Typical duration 5 hours

Height gain 600m

Starting point Aira Force car park

OS grid reference NY 401 200 (Explorer map OL 5)

Walk in a nutshell

One of the classic Lake District routes: simply spectacular views make this tricky walk well worth the effort. The riverside paths of Aira Force take you up past some spectacular waterfalls including the big one itself, a National Trust-owned fall dropping 70 feet amid a beautifully sculpted Victorian park. When finally you emerge at the top of these falls you take in a village and a valley, before striking out across the fells. This part of the walk involves difficult navigation - hence the hill scramble grading - and you definitely need a compass. Emerging over the top of a ridge and turning back towards Aira Force, you are rewarded with stunning views of Lake Ullswater and the fells of High Street behind it.

Why it's so special

The route manages to strike a perfect balance between challenge and reward. Once you've successfully navigated the ridge at the far end of Dowthwaitehead Valley, the views of Ullswater - where Wordsworth, of course, was inspired to wander like a cloud - make all the effort worthwhile.

Keep your eyes peeled for

The tiny bridge which spans Aira Force just above its 70ft plunge. And possibly make a quiet but dignified move in the opposite direction if anyone suggests walking across it.

But bear in mind

The scramble grading is there for a reason. Certain parts of the walk are pretty tricky to navigate, so don't forget that compass. Impress your companions

In the deepest part of Ullswater (and not many other places) lives a silver fish known as a "schelly", known colloquially as a freshwater herring. It is a rare and protected relic of the ice age.

Recover afterwards

The Royal Hotel at Dockray (the village you emerge into at the top of Aira Force) is perfectly located for walkers and offers home-made cuisine and a bar with a fine selection of real ales, malt whiskies and wine.

And if it's tipping down

The first (very obvious) point is to make sure you are carrying waterproofs so you don't get caught out. However, if the day looks like a washout, try a day at the slightly scary-sounding World of Beatrix Potter attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere.

1. From Aira Force car park, go through arch at end of car park and follow path to river. Keep to right-hand path down to bridge.

2-3. Cross bridge. Take lower path, climbing up through the wood for ½ mile, always keeping river on left. At top of woods and boundary of National Trust area, pass through gate.

4. Follow path through gate on to open hillside and farmland.

5. Keep to left of house, joining track that leads up to road at Dockray.

6. Go past pub (feel free to stop in), then take road towards High Row and Dowthwaitehead. Follow road until sharpish left-hand bend (there's a barn on the right).

7-8. At bend, take path signposted across fields to left. Path skirts steep drop to river below, then crosses open fields. Keep following path through fields for 1 mile, heading towards buildings of Dowthwaitehead at end of valley.

9. When you reach Dowthwaitehead, turn left and follow the track down to stream.

10. Cross stream and go immediately right through small gate. Head uphill keeping wall on your left for a while. Path then diverges away from wall up the hill.

11-12. Next section of walk is across fell, and path is indistinct. As you go through gate on to fell proper, do not turn left immediately - instead go up hill and then bear left to avoid marshier areas. Then aim for right-hand side of ridge ahead (take compass bearing!). You are heading for clearly defined stile in a long straight wall 1/3 mile away.

13-14. Climb this stile and take path heading steeply down into valley (continuing in same direction as before). After dropping a short distance turn left on to path traversing hill. Cross wall again. Continue on path until it drops down on to another wall.

15. Cross stile and follow path towards Aira Force, initially through bracken then wooded area. Emerge at road, opposite a car park.

16-17. From this car park take path that leads back down to Aira Force, and then follow river back down to car park.

How to get there

By car Easiest way to reach car park starting point just below Aira Force. Nearest motorway is junction 40 of M6 (9 miles) - then take A66 west and A592 south-west. Or travel north on A592 from Windermere. Parking at Aira Force costs a few pounds for day unless National Trust members.
By train Nearest station is Penrith, 9 miles NE near M6 junction 40.