I actually had another longer walk planned for today but last night I managed to break the toe next to the small one on my right foot. This morning when I awoke it was a mixture of colours and more than half its normal size. After having a short walk around the village I decided to give it a go but decided on a shorter walk on one of the smaller fells. I decided on Gowbarrow Fell thinking that if we had to abandon the walk at least we could see the waterfalls. Our route took us from the car park at Aira Force onto a path which gently ascends the southern end of the fell giving fantastic views along Ullswater. At its furthest point near a memorial seat and cairn the path turns northwards towards the ruins of an old shooting lodge. From here the path rises to the summit nearly following the track of a wall. From the summit we continued following this wall now downwards until we picked up the path leading down the waterfalls.

As we drove down Ullswater the views along and across the water were too good to resist. I pulled into a lay-by near Glencoyne Bridge to get this picture of Gowbarrow Fell.

A couple of early birds on the way to Glencoyne

I was quite surprised at finding a totally empty car park at Aira Force, it was 9am. We soon had the boots on and were on our way.

It was a beautiful morning with a mist across the water

Looking back along our narrow track towards Glencoyne Park and Swineside Knott

Looking down on Lyulph's Tower with the mist clearing the top end of Ullswater

Taken into the sun but I quite liked this view of the High Street fells behind Place Fell and Hallin Fell

Our side of the valley was catching the early morning sunshine

The Memorial Seat

Edith near the cairn at the Memorial Seat

Looking across Ullswater to Place Fell. At this time darker clouds were building to the South.

On our way towards the Shooting Lodge and looking back to Hallin Fell. We started to lose the sunshine behind the clouds here

The ruins of the Shooting Lodge. Up to this point the path had been quite pleasant. From here to the summit it became very wet and not at all pleasant in wet weather.

From near the summit looking to Little Mell Fell

and to Great Mell Fell. The weather as far as views were concerned had worsened by now.

There appeared to be some sunshine around the Blencathra area however

Looking towards the Dodds

Edith on Gowbarrow Fell

Dave on Gowbarrow Fell

Our descent followed the wall to the north of the summit down to join the Aira Force path. Looking down to Dockray on the descent.

Looking up Ullswater on our descent. Sadly the views were very restricted at this point

Looking across to Parkgate Farm with Watermillock Common behind

We are now on the path that will take us back down to the car park via the waterfalls

Looking over the beck to Park Brow

A series of falls around High Force

Aira Force and the top bridge

The bottom bridge

Anybody got some pliers?......A collection of coins in an old tree on the way back to the car park

From being completely empty at 9am the car park was completely full at 12:30

Next Walk:    23rd October 2007 -- Black Fell, Tarn Hows and Colwith Force

Last Walk:     20th October 2007 -- Arnside Knott from Silverdale

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