Walking Routes

and Walking tips

A selection of three routes, showcasing the varied landscape of the Wainwright Fells, to inspire your next walk. Aira Force and Gowbarrow is a short and easy walk that has it all. The Castlerigg and Ashness walk increases the distance while sticking to an easy route. Finally the Coledale Horseshoe is ready to reward you if you can meet it's challenge of distance, steep sections and scrambles.

Aira Force and Gowbarrowa

Cascades on the Aira beck tubbling over the rocks and surrounded by woodland and moss covered rocks.
Cascades on Aira Beck above Aira Force - KeswickLimey
Looking through the trees to see the white water gushing over the Aira Force waterfall with the bridge over the beck at the top of the picture
View of Aira Force - KeswickLimey
The bracken, heather and rocks of the top of Gowbarrow in the foreground, the curve of Ullswater in the midground and numerous fells in the distance
View from Gowbarrow looking towards Ullswater and the central fells
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 4 mi / 6.5 km
Ascent: 1164 ft / 355 m
Average time: 2 1/2 hours
Start and end point: National trust Aira Force car park

About the walk

A short and easy walk that has it all. Beautiful woodlands, the impressive Aira Force waterfall, numerous smaller waterfalls, a Wainwright peak and views over Ullswater as well as towards the other Eastern fells.

Make the walk your own

Start in Pooley Bridge or Glenridding and catch the Ullswater Steamer. Join in with any National trust trails and activities. Choose a slightly different path route to the one shown here.

Map showing a suggested route for the Aira Force and Gowbarrow walk. It starts in the National trust carpark and follows the Aira Beck up past Aira Force. The path continues North before turning East and heading up Gowbarrow. The path then loops back down the otherside of Gowbarrow and round back to the carpark.
A suggested route for the Aira Force and Gowbarrow walk

Castlerigg and Ashnessa

Including: Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat

Close up view of the ancient stones with the Lake District fells in the background.
Castlerigg Stone Circle - KeswickLimey
Small waterfall passing through upland landscape with a lone tree to the left and the peak of Bleaberry fell in the background
Waterfall and lone tree below Bleaberry Fell - KeswickLimey
A grassy field in the foreground with the lake Derwentwater in the foreground and Catbells and surrounding fells in the background
View from Walla Crag of Derwentwater and Catbells
Difficulty: Medium
Length: 11.46mi / 18.45km
Ascent: 2470 ft / 753 m
Average time: 6 hours
Start and end point: Keswick

About the walk

Ready to add in some distance, but looking to keep the route easy without any steep bits or scrambles? Then this may be the walk for you. It visits both the ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle and the iconic Ashness Bridge, while boasting spectacular views over both Derwentwater and Thirlmere and off towards the Helvelyn range.

Make the walk your own

Catch the Keswick Launch to take you back to Keswick, while enjoying being on the water and resting your feet. Or shorten the walk by heading straight to Ashness Bridge after summitting Walla Crag.

Map showing a suggested route for the Castlerigg to Ashness walk. Starting in Keswick the walk heads first to Castlerigg Stone Circle, before following along to Walla Crag. The route then heads up Bleaberry fell and along to High Seat before dropping all the way back down to Ashness Bridge. From Ashness bridge follow the lakeside path back to Keswick.
A suggested route for the Castlerigg to Ashness walk

Coledale Horseshoea

Including: Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Eel Crag/Crag Hill, Sail, Outerside and Barrow

View of the arc and sheer drop of Hobcarton crag
Hobcarton Crag
Looking past purple heather to the peak of Grisedale Pike
Peak of Grisedale Pike
Looking donw to the lake of Derwentwater with the fells behind and the town of Keswick just visible to the left.
View from Barrow of Derwentwater and the fells behind
Difficulty: Advanced
Length: 8.66 miles / 14 km
Ascent: 4057 ft / 1237 m
Average time: 5 and a half hours
Start and end point: Braithwaite

About the walk

Ready to add in some height, some steep sections and some scrambles? If you are, then this walk will reward you with experiencing the impressive Hobcarton Crag and spectacular views over the North Western fells, back towards Derwentwater and Keswick and even across to the Solway Firth and Scotland on a clear day.

Make the walk your own

Shorten the walk by descending back down after Hopegill Head via Force Crag Mine and along Coledale Beck back to Braithwaite. Or, add in other Wainwrights such as Whiteside, Grasmoor, Wandope, Whiteless Peak, Scar Crags or Causey Pike.

Map showing a suggested route for the Coledale Horseshoe. Starting in Braithwaite and heading first up Grisedale Pike, before following along Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head. The route then heads down to Coledale Hause before heading back up to Crag Hill and then Sail. Finally the route takes in Outerside and Barrow before finishing back in Braithwaite.
A suggested route for the Coledale Horseshoe