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.