Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Trail, Ullswater Valley

This 6.5 km circuit packs a lot of Lakeland variety into just over two hours of walking. From the wooded ravine of Aira Force, the route climbs past the High Cascades before breaking out onto the open flanks of Gowbarrow Park. A steady pull leads over Bernard Pike and Yew Crag, where the fellside opens up above the Ullswater valley.

Beyond a crossing of Collierhag Beck, the path reaches the Herdwick Stone marked 'Yan', one of the sculpted markers celebrating the native fell sheep, before rising to the summit of Gowbarrow Fell. On a clear day the panorama stretches across the lake and deep into the surrounding fells.

The descent loops back through rough pasture and bracken, with Green Hill, Great Meldrum and Stalkinghouse Plantation forming the wider backdrop, and Todgill Sike threading down toward the valley. A final drop returns you through the woods above Lyulph's Tower to the falls, closing a route that combines waterfall, fell and lakeside scenery in a compact loop.