Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • Sustainable Stays
      • Dog Friendly Accommodation
      • Family Accommodation
      • Accommodation with a Swimming Pool
      • Accommodation with Gyms
      • Accommodation with Hot Tubs
      • Group Accommodation
      • Luxury Accommodation
      • Something a Bit Different
      • Spa Breaks
    • Accessible Accommodation
    • B&Bs & Guesthouses
    • Hotels
    • Lake District Cottages
    • Self Catering Accommodation
    • Camping, Glamping, Caravans and Lodges
    • Holiday Parks
    • Hostels
    • Pubs with Rooms
    • Restaurants with Rooms
    • Holiday Homes for Sale
    • Cottage Agencies
  • What's On
    • Challenge Events
      • 13 Valleys
      • Great North Swim
      • Tour of Britain
      • Windermere Marathon
      • Cross-Bay Walks
      • Traditional Sports
      • Gurning Festival (Egremont Crab Fair)
      • World’s Biggest Liar
    • Cultural Events
      • Winter Droving
    • Festivals
      • Fells for All Festival
      • Marmalade Festival at Dalemain
      • Lake District Music Summer Festival
      • Cumbria Dark Skies Festival
    • Food Events
    • Galleries & Exhibitions
    • Markets
    • Add your event
  • Things to Do
    • Bookable Experiences
    • 50 Great Cumbrian Experiences
    • Lake District Attractions
    • Adventure Activities
      • Adventure on the Water
      • Adventure Training
      • Extreme & Off Road
      • Rocks & Ropes
    • Arts and Culture
      • Let's Go Culture
      • Famous Artists, Poets & Writers
      • Festivals
      • Galleries & Exhibitions
      • Independent Cinema
      • Museums
      • Theatre & Live Performance
    • Experiences
      • Aerial Experiences
      • Animal Experiences
      • Bushcraft Experiences
      • Craft Demonstrations & Workshops
      • Food & Drink Experiences
      • Gift Experiences
    • Guided Tours
      • Coach & Minibus Tours
      • Guided Cycling
      • Guided Walks
      • Nature & Wildlife Tours
    • Health & Wellbeing
      • Forest Bathing
      • Gym & Swim
      • Massage
      • Wild Swimming
      • Yoga
    • History and Heritage
      • Cumbrian Castles
      • Cumbrian Churches
      • Historic Houses, Parks & Gardens
    • Outdoor Activities
      • In the Air
      • On the Land
      • On the Water
      • Cycling
      • Walking
      • Boat Hire
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding & Pony Trekking
      • Lake Cruises & Boat Trips
      • Sporting Activities
      • Hen & Stag Activities
      • Team Building activities
      • Free Wainwright Podcasts
    • Shopping
      • Virtual Christmas Market
      • Cumbrian High Street Shopping
      • Local Produce
      • Markets in the Lake District, Cumbria
      • Shop Online
    • Accessible Activities
    • Family Days Out
    • Wildlife & Nature
    • Safety/Adventure Smart
  • Food and Drink
    • Dog Friendly Places to Eat
    • Family-friendly places to eat
    • Afternoon Tea
    • Breweries & Distilleries
    • Cafés
    • Fine dining
    • Foraging & Bushcraft
    • Local Produce
    • Pub Food & Gastro Pubs
    • Restaurants
    • Vegetarian & Vegan
    • Food & Drink in Cumberland
  • Explore Cumbria
    • Areas of Cumbria
      • The Lake District
      • Carlisle & Hadrian’s Wall
      • Eden Valley & North Pennines
      • Morecambe Bay
      • Western Lake District & Coast
      • Where The Lakes Meets The Dales
    • Towns & Villages
      • Ambleside
      • Coniston
      • Keswick
      • Windermere & Bowness
    • Lakes of the Lake District
    • Travel
      • Let's Go Car Free
      • Getting To Cumbria
      • Getting Around Cumbria
      • Sustainable Stays
      • Car Parking and Car Charging
      • Group Travel
    • Year of the Coast
    • Dark Sky Cumbria
    • World Heritage Cumbria
    • Access for all - Adventure for Everyone
      • Accessibility on film
      • Adventure for all - Ideas and Inspiration
    • Historic Houses, Parks & Gardens
    • Mountains and Fells
    • Wainwrights
    • The National Trust in the Lake District
    • Cumbrian Castles
    • Cumbrian Churches
    • Harbours & Marinas
    • Tourist Information Centres
  • Ideas and Inspiration
    • Starring Great Britain: The Lake District, Cumbria
      • timeline
      • Gallery of Locations
    • Lake District, Cumbria Bucket List
    • Selfie Guide
    • Suggested Itineraries
    • Sunny day ideas
    • Rainy day ideas
    • Spa Breaks
    • Romantic Breaks
    • Family Holidays
    • Dog Friendly Holidays
    • Bespoke Holidays
    • The Inn Collection Group in the Lake District
    • Sustainable Stays
    • Caring for the environment
      • Lake District Foundation
      • Safety/Adventure Smart
    • Live, Work and Study in The Lake District, Cumbria
  • Weddings
    • Wedding Venues
      • Exclusive Use Venues
      • Venues with Accommodation
    • Wedding Suppliers
    • Wedding Fairs & Events
    • Stag & Hen Parties
    • Honeymoon & Minimoon
    • Transport
    • Spa Treatments
  • Conferences & Event Spaces
    • Conference Venues with Rooms
    • Attraction Venues & Meeting Spaces
    • Functions, Banquets and Corporate Event Venues
    • Team Building
    • Event Organisers, Catering & Suppliers
  • Prizes & Guides
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter
    • Free Holiday Guide Downloads
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Download Free Desktop Wallpaper
    • Download Free Wainwright Podcasts
    • Prize Draws
      • Win a Cream Tea on Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
      • Win a Cumbria Coastal Heritage Break
      • Win an Active Adventure Break to Windermere
      • Win a stay at North Lakes Hotel & Spa
    • 2025 Dogs Love Cumbria Guide Photo Competition
  • Let's Go Lake District Blog
  • Plan your journey
  • Special Offers

Don't Miss

  • Spring | Description

    Spring

  • Sign up to receive our newsletter containing news and special offers from the Lake District, Cumbria.

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

  • Site Logo
  • Print Logo
Site Search Icon

My Planner

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Already saved an Itinerary?

List All My Saved Itineraries

Language
  • DE
  • EN
Menu

You are here: Home > Things to Do > Aira Force Waterfall

Aira Force Waterfall

Beautiful natural scenery at Aira Force Waterfall in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, John Malley
  • Beautiful natural scenery at Aira Force Waterfall in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, John Malley
  • Bridge and viewpoint at Aira Force Waterfall in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Stewart Smith
  • Food and Drink at Aira Force Tea Room in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Stewart Smith
  • View From Gowbarrow Fell near Aira Force Waterfall in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Georgia Fitzpatrick
  • Family days out at Aira Force Woods in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Stewart Smith
  • Experience nature at Aira Force Woods in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Stewart Smith
  • Beautiful walks at Aira Green in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Paul Harris
  • Paddling in Ullswater near Aira Force Waterfall in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Paul Harris

Type:Waterfall or Gorge

Matterdale, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS

Add Aira Force Waterfall to your Itinerary

Website

Email

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel01768482067

About

An 18th century pleasure ground, Aira Force was the backdrop for Wordsworth’s ‘Somnambulist’ - a gothic tale of love and tragedy. Weave your way through a network of woodland trails, through a landscape that contrasts quiet glades with the drama of waterfalls, to where Aira Beck thunders in one 65-foot drop past fern and rock into the pool below. Continuing up to Gowbarrow summit offers panoramic views over Ullswater. Starting your day in Glenridding and arriving at Aira Force by boat is a great chance to take in the sights of the Ullswater valley, strolling back along the lakeshore. Look out for red squirrels, explore the natural play area, picnic and paddle at Aira Green, canoe at Glencoyne Bay, follow the tree trail through the 19th century Pinetum. Arrive early for your best chance of seeing a red squirrel.

Access to the waterfall viewing platforms is currently closed due to a tree fall. Even though you can’t get as close to the waterfall as usual we have been working to keep the foliage cut back so you can enjoy the best possible view from the other footpaths.

Aira Force Tearoom

A short stroll from the main Aira Force car park is the Aira Force tea-room, a place to relax and refuel ready for your next adventure. With indoor and outdoor seating, serving some tasty treats and refreshing cold drinks, here’s what you can enjoy in the tea-room.

A morning coffee with a view. The terrace is built at the front of the tea-room to make the most of those stunning views over Ullswater Lake and the fells behind so that you can sit back in the sunshine, sip your coffee and take it all in.

Some great picnic spots. Whether you want to roll out your rug down by the lake or find a seat at one of the picnic tables, there are some beautiful spots around Aira Force to enjoy a picnic with your loved ones. Bring your own or head to the tea-room for a choice of freshly made sandwiches, cakes, fruit and bottled drinks, as well as snacks for the kids. 

Fun for the kids. Just outside the tea-room there’s some great fun to be had hopping between tree stumps and running over logs in the natural play area.

Dogs are welcome. The Aira Force tea-room is dog friendly inside and out. Please keep your dog on a lead and under control. We’ve got dog bowls so that your pooch can keep hydrated whatever the weather.

Find out more about Aira Force: Aira Force and Ullswater | National Trust

Book Tickets

Opening Times

* * Please see the National Trust website for the most recent up to date opening times as they are subject to change.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled toilets

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • On-site light refreshments
  • Picnic site

Children

  • Baby changing facilities
  • Children welcome

Groups

  • Facilities for groups

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Public toilets

Site Features

  • National Trust Property

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted - Booking is essential for coach parties. No access for coaches during busy holiday periods.

Tripadvisor

Awards

  • Other AwardsNational Trust National Trust 2019
  • Cumbria AwardsMember of Cumbria Tourism Member of Cumbria Tourism 2016

Related

Food and Drink at Aira Force Tea Room in Matterdale, Lake District © National Trust Images, Stewart SmithAira Force Cafe, PenrithA short stroll from the main Aira Force car park is the Aira Force tea-room, a place to relax and…

Map & Directions

Map Link

Click here to view map

What's Nearby

  1. Ullswater 'Steamers' on Ullswater in the Lake District, Cumbria © Ben Barden
    Ullswater Steamers

    With beautiful, dramatic scenery that lends itself to days spent hiking amongst the…

    2.12 miles away
  2. St. Martin of Tours, Martindale
    St. Martin of Tours Church, Martindale

    The 'Old Church' of St Martin was built in the 1660's on the site of a probable earlier…

    2.31 miles away
  3. Scenic Wintry View of Rookin House Activity Centre in Troutbeck, Lake District
    Rookin House Activity Centre

    Wide range of activities including Horse Riding, Quad Biking, Go-Karting, Archery, Clay…

    3.31 miles away
  1. Brotherswater
    Brotherswater

    Located close to Kirkstone Pass, Brotherswater is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. …

    4.8 miles away
  2. Helvellyn
    Helvellyn

    Helvellyn is one of the most famous mountains in the Lake District and has Striding Edge…

    4.94 miles away
  3. St. Andrew's Church, Dacre
    St. Andrew's Church, Dacre

    A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location…

    5.38 miles away
Previous Next

You may also like

  • Bookable Experiences

  • Download Guide

  • Gift Vouchers

  • Itineraries

  • E-newsletter Sign Up

  • Blog

Stay in Touch

Follow The Lake District, Cumbria on Social Media

Sign up for E-newsletter

Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria

Sign Up
  • Let's Go Lake District Blog
  • About Visit Lake District
  • Media Enquiries
  • Travel Trade
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs in the Lake District, Cumbria
  • Site Map
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sustainable Stays
  • World Heritage Cumbria
  • Wainwrights
  • Romantic Breaks
  • Selfie Guide
  • Accommodation
  • What's On
  • Things to Do
  • Food and Drink
  • Lake District Weddings
  • Access for all - Adventure for Everyone
Contact Us

Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL

Made by Simpleview Logo
Beyonk Logo
Experience Booking Powered by Beyonk

Ratings Powered By

tripadvisor

Cumbria Tourism

© Cumbria Tourism