Aira Force - Dockray - Dowthwaitehead - Aira Force

David and Chris Stewart

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This has to be one of our favourite Lake District walks. The walk starts at the car park for Aira Force. The riverside paths of Aira Force take you past some spectacular waterfalls and gulleys (Aira Force is owned and managed by the National Trust).

As you emerge at the top of the falls you cross some fields to the village of Dockray (where there's a pub). Then you continue into the Dowthwaitehead Valley, which you follow to its head, before striking across the fells to the ridge. This part of the walk involves difficult navigation - hence the hill scramble grading - and you definitely need a compass.

Emerging over the top of the ridge and turning back towards Aira Force, you are rewarded with stunning views of Ullswater and the fells of High Street behind it.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - North East

Features

Great Views, Hills or Fells, National Trust, Pub, Toilets

10/24/2021 - Joseph Carroll

Walk Completed on 22/10/2021. Guidance Note: There is no longer an arch at the start of the walk. Once out of Aira Force and until you reach step 15, the scenery is rather dull by Lake District standards. From step 7 until you return to Aira Force the ground is extremely wet and often boggy underfoot. Three of our group tracked the walk at between 7.3 and 7.4 miles, so nowhere near the 9.3 miles stated.

8/14/2015 - Mhairi Irving

Completed the walk on 08/08/15 - my birthday - started and ended at waymarker 6 - The Royal Hotel Dockray. Great day for the walk. Easy to navigate. Throughout the route - Boggy in places, very steep between waymarker 13-14 - take care, overgrown ferns between waymarker 15-17. Unfortunately our GPS failed to record between Aira Force and our hotel. Great walk, thank you for sharing this walk.

6/5/2006 - Walkingworld Administrator

Please note the stile at waymark 15 is broken and great care is needed to cross over. Thanks to Henry, (Stockbridge Ramblers). The local footpaths officer has been informed.

9/10/2004 - Alicia Billyeald

This was a really good walk. It covered different types of landsapes - wooded, meadows moorland, fell and bracken covered paths. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.