Aira Force
Watermillock, United Kingdom
A waterfall of about 20 m in a wooded ravine above Ullswater, crossed by stone footbridges. The car park by the lake road fills early in summer.
Aira Force lies on Aira Beck, which rises on Stybarrow Dodd and flows into Ullswater. The waterfall is around 20 m high (65 feet according to the National Trust). Two stone bridges span the gorge, and a viewing platform at the lower crossing offers the best view. The name comes from Old Norse and means roughly “waterfall on the gravel-bank river”. William Wordsworth often visited the spot and mentioned it in three poems.
It is about a 20 to 30 minute walk from the main car park; the paths are rocky and uneven, with some steps. According to the National Trust, the car park is usually full by around 11am on busy days, and the site is busiest between 11am and 3pm, so arrive early. Alternatively, you can get here by the 508 bus or by Ullswater steamer from Glenridding. The waymarked circular walks are roughly 0.8 to 3.2 km long.
- Nearest town
- Watermillock, United Kingdom
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 54.5730, -2.9290
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Riverside Touring ParkMotorhome stopover18 km from Aira ForceMotorhomesShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Great Langdale CampsiteCampsite18 km from Aira ForceTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Seathwaite Farm CampsiteCampsite18 km from Aira ForceTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowers
- Trafford Caravan ParkMotorhome stopover21 km from Aira ForceCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
- Caldbeck CampingCampsite21 km from Aira ForceTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowers
- Bowness on Windermere - Camping and Caravanning Club SiteMotorhome stopover24 km from Aira ForceMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in United Kingdom · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Aira Force?
Aira Force is in Watermillock, United Kingdom, at GPS 54.5730, -2.9290. It is about 8 km from Pooley Bridge.
Can you camp near Aira Force?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Knotts Hill Lodge Park, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 125 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Aira Force?
Aira Force is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lake District passes: Kirkstone to Hardknott.
What is there to see near Aira Force?
Places worth a stop nearby: Kirkstone Pass (12 km), Honister Pass (19 km), Tarn Hows (21 km) and Buttermere (23 km).
When is the best time to visit Aira Force?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)