Ullswater, Gowbarrow Fell walk

Gowbarrow Fell

Eastern Lake District

Route: Gowbarrow Fell

Area: Eastern Lake District

Date of walk: 15th October 2015

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 5.0 miles

Ascent: 1,200 feet

Weather: Sun and blue skies, rather hazy

We parked in the National Trust car park at Aira Force and having visited the spectacular waterfall, which falls 70 feet, we followed the course of Aira Beck upstream before emerging onto open fellside

After a short distance we followed a path beside a dry stone wall which leads to the top of Gowbarrow Fell. The views from the fell are good but pale into insignificance in comparison with those that follow on the descent from it.

An easy path heads south at first towards Ullswater and then as the lake is approached the path contours round the flanks of Gowbarrow Fell at high level, with superlative views which get better and better as further progress is made. This has to be one of the best paths in the whole district – a short walk in heaven

All too soon we started the easy descent back to Aira Force – it was tempting to carry on and do the round again. For anyone following this route, I recommend that you walk clockwise, as we did, in order to keep the best views ahead of you on the wondrous elevated path back to the start

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