Walks to Lake District Forces

There are many waterfalls or "forces"¹ in the Lake District. Here's a couple of our walks to two of the best:

The bottom of Scale Force

• Mellbreak and Scale Force - this walk includes Scale Force, the longest single drop waterfall in Lakeland at 52m (170ft). It's a bit of a scramble to the main drop but well worth the effort.

  Our walk also takes you up Mellbreak which gives you impressive views over Crummock Water and on towards Buttermere.

• Aira Force and Gowbarrow Fell - for a gentler walk you might like to try this walk to the ever popular Aira Force (21m/70ft) through the Pinetum.

  Then, after the noise and bustle of visitors to the force, the quiet path to Gowbarrow Fell alongside the river is perhaps a welcome contrast. It is worth making the effort to visit both Gowbarrow and Green Hill for the views down to Ullswater and to the surrounding hills.

1. The word "force" comes from the Old Norse fors "waterfall" and comes from when the Norse, originally from Norway, arrived in Cumbria in around 925AD and left their mark in the names many things in Lakeland. It is also the root of the similar word "foss".

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