Forest bathing at Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

Aira Force is a waterfall on the north shore of Ullswater, set in an eighteenth-century pleasure ground of woodland trails, champion trees and veteran trees. The beck runs down through a wooded ravine lined with moss and ferns, and red squirrels live in the woods. Above it, Gowbarrow Park was once a deer park and is now grazed by Herdwick sheep. The Aira Force to Glencoyne trail passes through ancient woodland.

This is one of the busiest spots around Ullswater, so arrive early or late in the day if you want the trees to yourself, and leave the waterfall viewpoint to the crowds. The woods along the beck above the falls, and the path towards Glencoyne, tend to be quieter. Much of the ground is steep and rugged, and the falls are not reachable by wheelchair or pushchair. The longer Gowbarrow loop climbs onto open fell, so it is less sheltered in bad weather.