Family-friendly things to do at Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

A family walks along a path through an autumn forest — A family enjoying the woodland trails around Aira Force and Ullswater | © National Trust Images/Stewart Smith

Go an outdoor adventure at Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park this autumn. Exploring woodland pathways, watching the waterfalls, spotting red squirrels or having a picnic there’s plenty of space for wild play. Find out what's on offer and all the details you need to plan your visit.

Planning your family visit

Toilets with baby changing facilities and an accessible toilet are located in the Aira Force main car park.
There is a small Welcome building (usually staffed) in the main car park.
Picnics are welcome. There are plenty of benches including accessible ones and plenty of grassy areas to pop a picnic blanket down.
Highchairs and 'pick and mix' lunch boxes are available in the tea-room, which is approximately 100m from the main car park and 200m from the Welcome building.
The waterfall can't be reached with a pushchair as the ground is stepped and uneven, but the glade, arboretum and Aira Green can be visited.
Download a map of Aira Force and the access statement gives more detail about the site.
Arrive by boat using Ullswater 'Steamers' which call at Aira Force pier in Aira Green (across the A592 road).
Aira Force is a popular place in school holidays. If visiting with family it's best to arrive early or later in the day as car parks usually fill up by 11am with cars starting to leave from 3pm onwards.
Aira Force car park is the closest to the tea-room and toilets. Cash or parking app to pay. National Trust members scan card at ticket machine.
Stagecoach bus service 508 from Penrith takes about 30mins, get off at the Aira Force bus stop.

Events and activities

Pick up an activity sheet from the Welcome building. Learn about the nature in the area with a woodland spotter sheet or tick off some of your '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.

The Looking through the Claude Glass trail invites you to follow in the footsteps of artists and printmakers who were inspired to draw, paint and sketch the dramatic views around the waterfall. Pick up a trail from the Welcome building.

How long does it take to walk to Aira Force waterfall?

We suggest allowing roughly an hour to complete the circular Waterfall Trail. The paths can be a bit steep in places, with uneven sections and rugged steps. The stone bridge and metal walkways around the edge of the gorge offer thrilling views of the Aira Beck dashing through the rocks below. All times are approximate, with smaller legs, stops for playing, looking at interesting things or snack breaks, routes may take longer.

There are different trails to choose from, take a look at the trail map or speak to member of our team when you arrive.

Arboretum Trail 0.5 miles (900m) | 15mins | Height Gain: 25m
Waterfall Trail 0.9 miles (1.5km) | 45mins | Height Gain: 70m
High Force Trail 1.4 miles (2.3km) | 1hr 15mins | Height Gain: 100m
High Cascades 1.8m (2.9km) | 1 hr 45mins | Height Gain: 130m
Gowbarrow Fell 4.5 miles (7.2km) | 2.5-3.5 hrs | Height Gain: 320

Pushchair friendly walks

A short wander to the Glade and Arboretum along a gravel path is pushchair friendly (approx. 15mins), as is the path to Aira Green, a grassy field across the road leading to Ullswater lakeshore and the jetty for Ullswater ‘Steamers’. Aira Force to Glencoyne Bay footpath goes through pasture in Glencoyne Park and is mostly rough gravel, accessible for some pushchairs.

Spot a red squirrel

The woodland around Aira Force is home to native red squirrels. They tend to be active early in the day and can be quite shy. Keep an eye out for movement on the ground if they are foraging for food or up high in the trees as they scamper along branches.

Nature's playground

From splashing in streams and muddy puddles to clambering on rocks or tree trunks there’s plenty of wild play to enjoy. Try balancing and hopping between logs in the little natural play area just beyond the car park and near to the tea-room.

Stop off at the La’al Adventure Box to borrow a lawn game or even some wellies for your little ones (available during school holidays February-October). Pick up a nature trail sheet at the Welcome Building.

Bring a picnic

Enjoy eating your food outdoors on the benches or bring a blanket to spread on a grassy area with views over Ullswater. If you fancy a hot drink or extra cake pop into the tea-room.

Two children hiding at the base of a tree at Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park in the Lake District — There's no place better than the woods for a game of hide and seek. | © National Trust Images / James Beck

Play in the woodland

Imaginations can run wild in the woods, find nooks in trees to hide in, collect fallen leaves or interesting shaped sticks. The gorge is lined with different trees including tall Himalayan Firs. Enjoy navigating the rough stepped pathways. Enjoy the sounds of the birds and water in the beck.

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‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park are great places to start ticking of some of your '50 things' list. Here's a few ideas to get you started: 

No. 5 Skim a stone: Have you ever stood at the water’s edge and watched a stone skip across the surface? It’s a tricky skill to master, but if you’ve got a steady arm and a keen eye, you’ll soon learn how to do it.
No. 6 Go welly wandering: When it's pouring with rain, what could be better than chucking on your wellies and waterproofs and zooming around in the puddles, soaking up all the watery fun?
No. 12 Have fun with sticks: There are so many ways that you can have fun with sticks, we can’t begin to list them all here.
No. 18 Create some wild art: When it comes to creating wild art, the only limit is your imagination. What will you use, and how? There's so much to choose from in the natural world - but make sure you're not making your art from another creature's home.