{"id":15318,"date":"2022-04-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=15318"},"modified":"2022-04-25T10:54:46","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T08:54:46","slug":"force-forest-and-fell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/04\/06\/force-forest-and-fell\/","title":{"rendered":"Force, forest and fell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATURE ESCAPES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n

WALK: <\/strong>Aira Force to Raise, Cumbria<\/span><\/p>\n\n

FORCE, FOREST AND FELL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This glorious Lake District walk is as diverse as they come, taking you from Ullswater\u2019s waterbirds to the yews of Aira Force and the soaring peregrines of Helvellyn\u2019s northern mounts, says Vivienne Crow<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\n\n

F<\/span>rom the wooded shores of Ullswater where swans glide gracefully on Lakeland\u2019s second largest body of water, to rocky mountains where peregrines chase down their prey with brutal efficiency, this walk takes in a massive range of habitats. Wood pasture, high grassland, rugged fells and even a Victorian arboretum are all reawakening after their winter dormancy.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
\u201cWild stream of Aira, hold thy course…\u201d William Wordsworth mentioned Aira Force in three of his poems, the most famous being The Somnambulist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

THE ROUTE<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

11.8 MILES19KM 8 HOURS CHALLENGING<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

1 <\/strong>WATERFALL VIEW<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

From the top end of the National Trust\u2019s Aira Force car park, follow the path up Aira Beck\u2019s west bank, shaded by ancient yews and more exotic non-native conifers planted in the 19th century. After 550 yards, the route goes left at a signposted fork, although continuing straight on for two minutes will give you an exhilarating and exciting view of the waterfall.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

2 <\/strong>INTO THE WOODS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

From Park Brow car park, cross the stile on the far side of the A5091 and ascend the wood pasture of Glencoyne Park. Finches, pied flycatchers and redstarts are among the birds flitting from the youthful green of springtime oaks to the snow-white hawthorn blossom. Listen, too, for the cuckoo calling as sparkling glimpses of Ullswater come and go through gaps between hazel, beech and wind-bent larch.<\/p>\n\n

3 <\/strong>FELL FORWARD<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Beyond a gate marking the edge of the open fell, bear left. After a wall gap, turn right, climbing beside the wall.<\/p>\n\n

4 <\/strong>BIRKETT\u2019S LEGACY<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

At the top of the rise, head west, quickly passing Birkett Fell, with its cairn dedicated to Lord Birkett, whose 1960s campaigning prevented Ullswater from becoming a reservoir. Descend south-west from Hart Side and continue across moorland grasses \u2013 regaining verdancy after winter\u2019s bleaching \u2013 to the main ridge below Stybarrow Dodd.<\/p>\n\n

5 <\/strong> ACROSS THE RIDGE <\/span><\/h4>\n\n

As you stride south along the ridge path, and grassy slopes<\/span> give way to more muscular, rugged scenery, the ebullient song of the skylarks is replaced by the ravens\u2019 harsh \u201ckrorp\u201d. Peregrines and wheatears can also be spotted on these fells, just a stone\u2019s throw now from Helvellyn. Beyond the top of Raise \u2013 at 883m, the walk\u2019s highest point \u2013 descend south-west.<\/p>\n\n

6 <\/strong> IN THE SHADOWS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

From the saddle between Raise and White Side, turn sharp left. Go left again along a valley track in the shadow of the pyramid-like Catstye Cam.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

7 <\/strong>BESIDE THE LAKE<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

About a mile beyond Greenside\u2019s converted mine buildings, take the gravel lane on the left. Cross the A592 to locate Ullswater\u2019s wooded shore path.<\/p>\n\n

Walk north along this, briefly using the road as it passes beneath Stybarrow Crag.<\/p>\n\n

8 <\/strong>FORCE FINISH<\/span><\/h4>\n\n

After three-quarters of a mile of lakeside walking, cross the A592 and join an o -road path parallel with the shore. Beyond a car park, this passes through the lower part of Glencoyne Park and later crosses the A5091.<\/p>\n\n

The Aira Force Tea Room tempts weary walkers with co ee and cake before the path at the back of the building leads you to the car park.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Vivienne Crow is a photographer and writer who specialises in the outdoors. <\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Photos Getty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WALK: Aira Force to Raise, Cumbria<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":15314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"88","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"88","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_88-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_88-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_external_id":"May-2022-88-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"May-2022-88-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084055||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084055||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.189","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-04-08T09:42:21Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"c20fa8a3-c249-4479-b51c-78e31f2bc8b9","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-04-25T08:54:54Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Awg-oo8JJRHm1HHjjHyvIuQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[30],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64.jpg",1595,1213,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64-300x228.jpg",300,228,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64-768x584.jpg",768,584,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64-1024x779.jpg",800,609,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64-1536x1168.jpg",1536,1168,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/04\/c3a428cb-3ed4-4f32-bf5f-5157bf519d64.jpg",1595,1213,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"WALK: Aira Force to Raise, Cumbria","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15318"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15318"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15660,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15318\/revisions\/15660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}