Gowbarrow Fell & Aira Force from the Royal Hotel door

Route Info: 5 miles (7.5km) | Moderate | 300m ascent / descent | allow 2hrs

Start: The Royal Hotel 

Beginning and ending at the hotel’s front door, this is a favourite loop taking in the summit of the low-lying but magnificent Gowbarrow Fell, as well as the beautiful waterfalls and cascades around Aira Force. Enjoy sumptuous views over Ullswater and an impressive variety of terrain on this hugely enjoyable half-day excursion.  

Highlights

• Panoramic views from Gowbarrow’s summit (481m)
• Delightful & well-maintained paths
• Panoramic view from Yew Crag & the ‘memorial seat’
• A fine waterfall & its nearby cascades
• Red squirrel area – keep your eyes peeled!

Open this map on Komoot
Route description

• Bear right from the hotel door then diagonally left to carefully cross the lane, following signs to Aira Force and Millses Farm.
• After accompanying Aira Beck for a short distance and passing between cottages, you arrive at a gate where you bear left, signed to Gowbarrow summit / Ullswater Way.
• Once through the next gate, a strenuous climb alongside the wall, with zig-zags further up, brings you out onto the felltop with its impressive summit trig point.
• Continue beyond the summit in a NE direction, bearing right in another 200m as you continue along the main path signed to Aira Force and Pooley Bridge.
• After another 400m, bear right at a junction (gate over to your left) by the barely visible remains of an old shooting lodge, continuing around the eastern flank of Gowbarrow.
• You eventually reach the spectacular viewpoint of Yew Crag (accessed via a gate), with views along virtually the entire length of Ullswater, and the old stone memorial seat – inscribed as a ‘thank offering’ from 1905 – alongside the path just beyond this.
• The path then descends gradually, overlooking the castellated former hunting lodge of Lyulph’s Tower and the magnificent fells surrounding the southern end of Ullswater.
• Before entering woodland, at a Y-junction, fork right uphill through a gate, then follow the lower of two paths at the next fork to reach the upper stone bridge that spans Aira Force as it tumbles into the chasm below – a spectacular sight! (From here, you have the option of diverting from our route to also take in the lower stone bridge – reached via steep steps – and the classic view of Aira Force from below.)
• Our route, however, turns immediately right after the upper bridge, then follows the stream (on your right) for around 600m passing the High Force bridge and falls until you come to High Cascades.
• Cross over this (second) wooden bridge, with the stream now on your left, and when you reach the path junction, turn left, following the path for another 600m as it leads you out of the woodland and onto the open fell.
• Continue for another 200m to reach a junction you will recognise from just before your earlier steep ascent of the fell. Bear left through the gate, retracing your steps along the track back to the hotel.

Safety & practical information

Terrain: well-surfaced and well-maintained paths throughout, but with some muddy and rocky sections. (There is also a steep drop along one section that may be unsuitable for vertigo sufferers.)

What to take: Map (OS OL5 – English Lakes NE), compass, waterproof clothing, warm layers, sturdy walking boots and sufficient food and water. A headtorch and basic first-aid kit are also recommended.
Other info:
The weather can be changeable and the summit area can feel exposed. There are stiles and gates along this route as well as free-roaming livestock so dogs should be on a lead.