Plan your walk |
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DISTANCE: 2 miles (3.2km) TIME: 1¼ hours START/END: NY400200 A car park at the base of the Falls to east of the junction of the road from Dockray (A5091) with the Ullswater shore road (A592) TERRAIN: Moderate; some slippery sections MAPS: |
A National Trust car park serves the falls and is just to the east of the junction between the A592 (Ullswater shore road) and the A5091 Dockray Road. At the far end of the car park go through the archway and follow the signs to the falls.
Turn right and go through the gate into the wood.
Wordsworth was an enthusiast for 'the intermixture of native wood' and abhorred the introduction of alien species. Here, however, there is an effective mixture of mainly native deciduous trees together with some alien conifers to produce a very pretty woodland along the course of this route. All the area of this walk is in the care of The National Trust.
Cross two bridges and go up the steps ahead. Bear left and go along a terraced path.
Go onto the bridge for a view up the falls. Come back along the path for a short distance and then turn left up the steep steps and follow the path across to the upper bridge above the falls.
The view upwards from the lower bridge reveals an 80ft (24.4m) fall. The scene is enhanced by the tree and fern growth on the steep banks. The view from the second bridge reveals the fall dropping to the giddy depths below.
Retrace your steps for a short distance and then turn left onto a small path which follows the river upstream.
Cross a small footbridge and come to a viewpoint of the gorge above.
Here the beck flows down through a narrow channel.
Continue upstream on the path, bearing left at a junction with a higher path. Shortly afterwards bear left and down to cross the river by a footbridge. Nearby are several places to view the series of cascades.
After crossing the footbridge, if you turn right and follow the path upstream for ¼ mile (400m), the upper waterfall of High Force can be viewed. It is less spectacular than Aira Force but is still very pleasant and can be much less crowded.
Retrace your steps to the footbridge. Don’t cross back over it, but continue down the path until you arrive back at the stonebridge above Aira Force.
At this point there is a choice of routes. You could return by your outward route, but the recommended alternative is to turn right at the upper bridge and follow the path up the steps. This affords more excellent views of Aira Force.
Take the right fork by a seat (ignoring the steps descending to your left), and follow this path, keeping inside the wall. This eventually brings you down to join the outward path. Turn right and retrace your steps to the car park.
