{"id":15536,"date":"2022-04-06T07:10:28","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T05:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=110861"},"modified":"2022-04-06T07:29:19","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T05:29:19","slug":"walk-aira-force-to-raise-cumbria","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/walk-aira-force-to-raise-cumbria\/","title":{"rendered":"Walk: Aira Force to Raise, Cumbria"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Vivienne Crow\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 06 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

From 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wood pasture, high grassland, rugged fells and even a Victorian arboretum\nare all reawakening after their winter dormancy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
\u201cWild stream of Aira, hold thy course\u2026\u201d\u00a0William Wordsworth mentioned Aira\u00a0Force in three of his poems, the most famous being The Somnambulist\/Credit: Tim Graham, Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Aira Force to Raise walk<\/h2>\n

11.8 miles\/19km | 8 hours | challenging<\/em><\/p>\n

1. <\/span>Waterfall view<\/strong><\/p>\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.<\/p>\n

2. Into the Woods<\/strong><\/p>\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<\/a>, 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<\/a> calling as sparkling glimpses of Ullswater come and go through gaps between hazel, beech and wind-bent larch. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Glencoyne Park and Hellvellyn, seen from\u00a0Place Fell across Ullswater\/Credit: Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

3.\u00a0<\/span>Fell forward<\/strong><\/p>\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

4. <\/span>Birkett\u2019s legacy<\/strong><\/p>\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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You may also like:<\/p>\n