Route: Gowbarrow Fell
Area: Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 16th February 2018
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and David
Distance: 5.0 miles
Ascent: 1,200 feet
Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells
We parked in the main National Trust car park below Aira Force and followed one of the paths up Aira Beck. There are good paths on both sides so it doesn’t matter which side of the beck you walk along, as there are several footbridges along the way
We passed by Aira Force without visiting it as we’ve all been here numerous times before and there were a lot of other folk around as it was half term. Once beyond the main fall we continued to follow Aira Beck and the upper falls, eventually emerging onto open fellside
After an easy climb beside a dry stone wall we reached the summit of Gowbarrow Fell. The views from here are not particularly good, but the great glory of this walk is the views of Ullswater from the terraced path above the lake – one of the best miles in lakeland – and which we’d saved for last by walking the circuit in a clockwise direction. Progress was slower than usual as there was a lot of ice and snow on the paths
We passed by Yew Crag, from where there is a fabulous panorama, and then made the gentle descent back to the Aira Force visitor centre. A great walk and another Wainwright ticked off for our nephew David
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The National Trust visitor centre at the start of today's walk
We follow the path along the left bank of Aira Beck
One of many ancient trees in the woodland
An early swimming opportunity for Bonnie
We didn't visit the main fall (a spectacular sight for anyone who hasn't seen it before) and carried on beside the upper falls
David leads the way as we emerge onto open fellside
After a short distance, this finger post points to the way uphill
A view back towards Dockray
Another view back as Ullswater comes into view
Ullswater
Looking the other way, towards Blencathra
We follow the path beside the dry stone wall
A view back down our route
Ullswater behind Gilly
Looking back along the icy path towards Blencathra
Summit cairn on Gowbarrow Fell - the views from here lack interest in comparison with those to come
We follow the slippery path towards Ullswater...
We overtake some fellow walkers who are taking care to avoid a slip and trip
We round a corner to be greeted by this view of Ullswater and from here the views get better and better
A golden path, one of the finest in lakeland...
Looking towards the Pennines
A cairn marks the viewpoint from Yew Crag...
The glorious view to the head of Ullswater
Aira Point
We follow the path in the direction of Watermillock Common...
Aira Point and Lyulph's Tower
The path descends gently down to the woods
We carry straight on at the junction below
We re-enter the woodland by Aira Beck and from here it's a short stroll back to the start of a wonderful walk
