Parking is at Aira Force National Trust car park. The start is a short walk up the stream and onto the Ulswater way.
I follow the path, which circumnavigates Gowbarrow Fell and wind gently upwards. The views back across Ulswater are superb this morning.
I leave the Ulswater views and head onto Gowbarrow Fell, once on the top I get to see the planned walk laid out before me – straight ahead of the trig point is Little Mell and to the left is Great Mell.
I retrace my steps down to Swinburns Park and follow the path towards Little Mell, past the cute Watermillock Church.
There is a short distance on the road before a steep pull up the hill to Little Mell with the views of Great Mell, plus many surrounding peaks including Blencathra. On the way down a wee bird, bobbed and weaved around Sophie and I, a joy to watch.
The path linking Little and Great Mell is not very inspiring until I get to the off road lane heading upto Great Mell and then the path through some wonderful woods. The views of Blencathra across the plan and A66 are fantastic
I now head back towards Aira Force and find signs of Autumn approaching in the form of mushrooms.
I had no idea what to expect from Aira Force but was not disappointed with what I saw.
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