Gowbarrow Fell

Walked on 30/10/2025

Start Point: NT Car Park (NY 400 216)

NT Car Park (High Cascades) – High Cascades – Gowbarrow Fell – Shooting Lodge – Green Hill – (Aira Force) – High Force – NT Car Park (High Cascades)

Distance: 6.4 km
Total Ascent: 395 metres
Time Taken: 2 hours
Start Time: 10:00
Weather: Sunny spells. 6ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 5/214 (1 new this walk)

Route Map
(this was the intended route although I went off piste to get up to Green Hill and descended the path from there towards Aira Force. With hindsight it may have been better to stick to the top and head for Green Hill directly, however there were some great – and dramatic – views from the circular path.)

We are on the Wainwright bagging trail once more for Finlay and doing some of the easier walks to build him up. Gowbarriow Fell was an excellent choice today as it turned out with the weather being a lot better to the east than it had been further west. As I came over Kirkstone Pass, there was thick layer of mist over Ullswater so I hoped that we could get above it for our walk today.

When I parked up and prep'd for the walk, I was still under the mist but as I left the car park it miraculously cleared and I was just above it and could see sunny blue skies. Brilliant!

This is right at the start of the walk with the sun starting to shine though as I went through the gate.

Crossing the bridge over the upper cascades.

Mono mist lifting.

Lovely colours and fluidic mist looking over Dockray to Great Dodd. This path as changed a bit since I was last here (2011! has it really been that long?) with some new zig-zags installed to try and stop erosion and some wooden fences to try and force you to stick to the path.

Ullswater covered in mist.

A fabulous view now climbing alongside the wall into clear air. I spotted a pink and cream stripy child's hat...should I take it to see if I could find the owner or leave it there as they may return to where they had walked? Decisions, decisions...

Blencathra looking magnificent but the top of it didn't stay clear for long today.

The mist over the water is breaking and lifting with the heat of the day. I left the wooly hat towards the bottom but caught up with the owners. Sorry dad (or papa - they were a French family) you will have to go back down and retrieve it - at least it was found!

Gowbarrow Fell, Great Mell Fell beyond. There was a lady with a young lad and also an even younger member of the family in a baby carrier. I congratulated the lad (I think he was 5 years old) on his second Wainwright - that's no mean feat. Well done!

...and a big well done to (muddy!) Finlay, that's #5 in the bag!

Ullswater from the summit with breaking mist.

Rounding the corner by the old Shooting Lodge there were some dramatic clouds over the High Street fell.

This path is fabulous, especially at this time of year.

All the good weather is to the east today and the colours over here are truly stunning.

A solitary boat on Ullswater and a great view of the Beda Fell ridge.

Finlay - looking good Finster! Lake District fell walking training is going well - we are sticking to the easier fells for now to build him up.

Hallin Fell.

I went off piste from the main path to climb up to Green Hill, a great vantage point for Ullsawter with Lyulph's Tower below.

Tongue's out for Finlay on Green Hill.

The cairn on Green Hill.

More autumn colours on the descent towards Aira Force. I gave Aira Force a miss today as there were so many people around with it being half term and the path back to the car past High Force was really busy. This was a really enjoyable walk, I may not leave it so long next time!

Gowbarrow Fell

Birkett lists two tops on Gowbarrow Park; Gowbarrow Fell and Green Hill.

Height: 481 metres / 1578 feet Grid reference: NY 40764 21817 Category: The Eastern Fells

Great Mell Fell from Gowbarrow Fell

The cairn on Green Hill.

Gowbarrow Fell

Walked on 22/09/2011

Start point: Aira Force car park (NY 397 205)

Aira Force car park – Aira Force – Hind Crag – Bernard Pike – Green Hill – Gowbarrow Fell – High Force – Aira Force car park

Distance: 2.8 miles Total Ascent: 332 metres Time Taken: 1 hours 10 minutes Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Dull with the odd shower. 13ºC

Today’s walk was up to Gowbarrow Fell via Aira Force. This popular area was deserted when I left the car park but by the time I got back it was absolutely mobbed at the falls with plenty of coach parties taking the tour. Up on the tops of course there was no one – far from the madding crowd with relatively little effort.

Gowbarrow Fell route map.

Autumn fungi at Aira Force car park.

Fly Agaric.

Aira Force, (f22, 13s for those that are interested in photography).

At the bottom of the climb to Green Hill.

The welcoming committee.

Climbing higher.

Place Fell with Lyulph's Tower below. I hope the girl I spoke to who lives there found the dogs she had lost.

Beam me up.

Fingers of sunlight over Ullswater.

Low Birk Fell catches some sun.

Green Hill.

Casper and Dougal - Dougal looks like he is ready to spring away the second I give him the all clear!

There were showers for the boggy walk across Gowbarrow Fell to the summit.

Looking back to Place Fell from the summit.

Bit breezy up here boys (and muddy!)?

Descending Gowbarrow Park.

Following the wall.

Looking down on Aira Force from the bridge.

It's all about the money, money, money...the money tree at Aira Force.

Gowbarrow Fell

Walked on 04/04/2011

Start point: Aira Force car park (NY 397 205)

Aira Force car park – Aira Force – Hind Crag – Bernard Pike – Green Hill – Gowbarrow Fell – High Force – Aira Force car park

Distance: 2.8 miles Total Ascent: 332 metres Time Taken: 1 hours 10 minutes Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Wind and rain. 8°C

The weatherman said the wind and rain would get worse throughout the morning, so I had to be quick to try and beat it today. I put in a lung busting effort to get to the top of Gowbarrow Fell just before the heavens really opened and managed to catch the best part of the day.

Gowbarrow Fell route map.

Aira Force.

Mono Ullswater.

...and a more colourful version from the climb. Ullswater is looking pretty windblown already.

The Pushmi-pullyu overlooking Lyulph's Tower.

Big clouds rolling in over the High Street ridge, Hallin Fell to the left.

Place Fell across Ullswater.

The cairn that marks the summit of Green Hill.

Skiddaw and Blencathra in cloud beyond the Green Hill cairn and the rain and wind is getting heavier now.

Little Mell Fell from Gowbarrow Fell summit.

What do you think of the weather Casper?

Looking the other way, to the south east.

Fix the Fells...or ruin them?

'Cause I've been standing at the station In need of education in the rain...'

Dougal decided to do a 'route one' - straight down by the wall.

Casper at High Force. Whilst I was preparing this page at home, a couple of old friends flew in to see us...

...on our garden pond.

Oops, I think I frightened them off but he has got his eye on me!

Gowbarrow Fell

Walked on 06/03/2008

Start point: Park Brow (NY 397 205)

Park Brow – Green Hill – Gowbarrow Fell – Great Meldrum (529) – Little Meldrum (530) – Watermillock Fell (531) – Little Mell Fell – Swinburn’s Park – Park Brow

Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Overcast and windy. 10ºC.

The brief winter wonderland interlude is over and it seems to have returned to dull and damp weather. It was raining as I set off this morning for a boggy walk over Gowbarrow Park and beyond, but thankfully that soon let up. There was just a little celebration taking place today too…

Aira Force.

Looking down on the top of the falls from the bridge.

Place Fell across Ullswater.

The steamer steaming along Ullswater, the high fells at the lake head are covered by cloud.

Looks like Angus has picked up some foliage on the climb! It was a special treat for him this walk - he is 12 on Sunday and of course he has slowed right down these days, after all, none of us are getting any younger. This walk is over relatively easy terrain which suited him just fine - Happy Birthday Angus!

Don't forget about me!

The head of Ullswater from Green Hill.

Place Fell from Green Hill.

Little Mell Fell from the summit of Gowbarrow Fell.

The way ahead - Little Mell Fell and Watermillock Fell beyond Great and Little Meldrum.

The High Street ridge and a peep into Martindale from the summit of Great Meldrum.

The Nab, Beda Fell and Place Fell across Ullswater from the top of Little Meldrum. Take no notice of the Birkett grid reference on this one, it is way out.

Everything, including the kitchen sink, on the way to Watermillock Fell.

Little Mell Fell across The Hause from Watermillock Fell (un-named on the OS map).

Blencathra and Great Mell Fell from Little Mell Fell.

The summit of Little Mell Fell.

Swinburn's Park from Gate Crags.

Little Meldrum - the hump to the left of the trees - from Gate Crags, Swinburn's Park.

The remains of the shooting box, Gowbarrow Park.

The view from the path through Swinburn's Park is spoiled by the trees but finally it opens up again to give great views along Ullswater. The pointed Catstycam has made a brief appearance on the distant right.

Looking north along Ullswater with the end of the High Street ridge beyond Hallin Fell.

Hallin Fell.

I think he enjoyed his birthday outing today.

Briefly clearing skies over Ullswater gave some glimpses of sun.

Sunlight on Wordsworth's daffodils, Glencoyne.

Gowbarrow Fell

Walked on 07/02/2006

Start point: Aira Force car park (NY 398 206)

Aira Force car park – Aira Force – Hind Crag – Bernard Pike – Green Hill (450) – Gowbarrow Fell (451) – High Force – Aira Force car park

Distance: 4 miles Total Ascent: 614 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 45 minutes

Weather: Starting off dull and overcast but quickly turning wet and wild. 8°C.

The weather has returned to dull and wet this week and today’s walk was a circuit of Gowbarrow Park taking in Aira Force waterfall. The heavens opened when I was up on Green Hill, backed by a strong wind so I was glad to get down to the relative shelter of High Force. Ten minutes later and I think I would have missed the views altogether.