Jo’s Monday walk : Aira Force

Beautiful Aira Force

Beautiful Aira Force

You have no idea how delighted I was to be able to visit Aira Force!  The forecast wasn’t great and, as we approached the English Lake District, a swirl of damp cloaked the mountains.  But a waterfall’s no good without the water, is it?  And in Autumn, the canopy of leaves radiates!  Driving through a tunnel of flame and gold, the senses are filled with wonder.

I had planned to walk to the falls from the nearby village of Glenridding, our base for the evening, but the road south from Pooley Bridge bypassed them.  Carpe diem had never seemed so appropriate.  A pocket of opportunity, as the drizzle ceased momentarily.

The National Trust car park

The National Trust car park

The car park was not as deserted as I might have expected, though the picnic tables were definitely unoccupied.  There were just enough people to exchange smiles with, in a ‘good to be alive’ sort of way.  A celebration of our good fortune.

Heading towards the Pinetum
A mingling of moss and leaves
With beautiful bracken as a bonus
A seat for one
The drama of age
And a coin tree
Those coins get everywhere!

Those coins get everywhere!

Treading carefully on the damp leaves underfoot, I could hear already the gurgle of water.  The stream chuckled merrily on its way to the lake.  Not far to go!  But for me, it was upwards by a series of steps, pausing often to admire my beautiful surroundings.

Onwards and upwards!

Onwards and upwards!

The leaves and moss a constant companion
And bracken too

I was eager for my first sighting of the waterfall.  Suddenly, through the trees, I caught a glimpse of its magnificense.

It looked wonderful!

So alluring!

Just a little more bracken

But first a little more bracken

And a few steps

And a few more steps

Beneath the bridge

And we’ve reached the bridge

The sound of rushing water has reached a crescendo.  Steps lead down to the bridge and I cannot stop myself from descending.  I lean over and gaze in worshipful awe.  From beneath me, the falls tear away to join the calm of the lake.

The falls tear away to the lake from beneath me

Leaping joyfully down to Ullswater

I peer in fascination
Loving the tumultuous excitement
The leaf a captive spectator

Leaving the lower bridge behind, I head on up to the top of the falls, the water my constant companion.  That and the moss and leaves. It’s possible to continue up to Gowbarrow Fell and the trig point for views all along the lake, but on a murky day like this the visibility would be poor.  And I’m so loath to leave the water behind.

My constant companion

My constant companion

Moss and bracken
Leaves
And always the water

Chirruping water

And my other companion

And my other companion

The air feels increasingly damp and we decide to retrace our steps and cross over the upper bridge.  The descent on the other side of the falls is down yet more steps, but they are well spaced, and not too slippy in stout shoes.

Heading back down
The leaves glistening with rain
And carpeting the steps

We can now look back at the full 65 foot height of the falls, which I found very difficult to photograph.  My little camera has its limits, and I most certainly do.  I have too much ‘white light’ in the shot.  I tried different angles but it didn’t help.  I’m sorry!

But I was much taken with this aged log

But I was much taken with this aged log

A certain person was getting rather impatient.  I suspect you might be ready for a seat somewhere too.  I spotted a lovely one but it was a bit damp.

What do you think?

What do you think?

He's wondering when we're going to get to cake!

He’s wondering when we’re going to get to cake!

I think we’ve had enough exercise, don’t you?  I hope you enjoyed it, despite all those steps.  This link will give you clearer guidance on how to negotiate the various paths, and National Trust can help you to get here.

walking logo

Many thanks to so many of you who have again contributed to making my Monday walks a great place to be.  Shall we get the kettle on, ready for a good read?  If you’d like to join me you’ll be made very welcome.  Full details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Just click on the logo above.

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Introducing Phoebe, in the lovely South of France, with not a drop of rain in sight.  Please say hello :

Coast Walk : the Cap d’Antibes

Tobermory says Scotland to me, but this one’s equally beautiful.  Thanks, Violet Sky!

Tobermory

Sounds like a good book?  And you’ll enjoy Anabel’s company, in Scotland!

Two Towers

Amy has something pretty spectacular for you this week :

Monday Walk : Cascade Caverns

The cutest giraffes!  Thanks for taking us to the zoo, Jackie  :

The Living Desert, Palm Springs CA

Photos do not come any more beautiful than this first one!  Many thanks, Lucile :

Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge : Nature

Jesh always has an interesting take on life.  And there’s an apple cake recipe too!

Apple Hill

I know you’ll all be waiting for Part 2 of Rotterdam.  I was!  Bring on the windmills, Elena!

Rotterdam in a Day (part 2)

Denzil finds some strange things in the Belgian countryside :

Outrelouxhe : Just because… I like the name

If you’re seeking entertainment you can’t do better than join Badfish!

Treats and Tricks in Oman

And as I’ve pointed out before, Tobias has a very different take on life :

Pezenas

Wonderful variety again this week so thank you all very much.  It’s going to be a wild one, I think, so hang onto your hats!  Have a happy one and I’ll see you all soon.

137 comments

  1. Pingback: Monday Walk: SoCo, Austin | The World Is a Book...

    1. Many thanks, Karin. 🙂 Some of the colours were so vibrant and I was disappointed that the photos don’t have the same zing, but it is only a point and shoot camera. The place made me very happy 🙂

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  6. Looks like a lovely walk, with all those wonderful stone bridges and gorgeous autumn browns in the bracken. It couldn’t be more different to around where I live which is part of the fun of this link up. Thanks for hosting and sharing my post!

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  7. It looks like it was a beautiful walk, Jo! I love the waterfall and all the foliage falling away. I always have trouble getting good pictures of waterfalls too. I wonder what the trick is, with all that white light. I’ve been taking many walks these days with wet and slippery leaves underfoot. I’m always afraid I’m going to go slip-sliding away. I’m glad you stayed safe and had a fun birthday! 🙂

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    1. I was out slip sliding away this morning too, Cathy, with my walking friends. It’s really windy today so those leaves won’t last long.
      I’m hoping Jude knows a trick or two for waterfalls, but she has a proper camera (as do you 🙂 ) I’ll pass it on if she comes up with the goods. 🙂 I did have a lovely birthday, thanks, hon. The jam and cream scones that followed this walk were heavenly. 🙂

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      1. You have to get the exposure right so use aperture settings to let less light in, or use a filter over the lens – a bit too complicated for me yet Jo. One of the things I hope to learn and improve on as I get used to the ‘proper’ camera 😉

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  8. What a beautiful walk Jo – the colour of the foliage definitely adds a certain beauty to the views.
    As for that bench – I could not help but think of Jude 🙂

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  9. Beautiful walk – and interested to see another coin tree on a path to a Lake District waterfall, as we found a similar one earlier in the year. Thanks, as always, for the mention. Something else almost ready for you, so watch this space…

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    1. Glenridding is the perfect village for walking, Anabel. There were signs pointing every which way, including one up Helvellyn. Wish I’d been there a little longer (never satisfied! 🙂 ). Many thanks- will look forward to it.

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  12. What a lovely atmospheric walk and you’re right, no point in visiting a waterfall if it’s dried up! I’m thinking you must be very fit doing all these long walks, I’m glad though as they’re a joy to read. I love the coins in the logs and think they must be particular to the North as I’ve never seen them anywhere else.

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    1. This was quite a short one, though you could have made it a lot longer, Annika. 🙂 I’m not as fit as I’d like to be but real fitness takes effort. 😦 I just love to be out and about. In the comments Gerry says he saw a coin tree in Dartmoor, so I guess it’s just a matter of luck. This one was enormous- you couldn’t miss it! Thanks for your kind words 🙂

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  14. Pingback: Started with a kiss | Le Drake Noir

  15. Oh, I did enjoy this Jo but without all the effort involved again 😉 It really does look a treat with the Autumnal foliage and undergrowth – I can smell that mossy dampness .
    As we’ve said … waterfalls are thrilling and this one is a great cascade ,you’ve certainly caught that sense of its rushing power with your pictures!
    The weather may not have been as you wished but perhaps that would have been outweighed by having it all to enjoy by yourselves 🙂
    Have a beautiful Monday !

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    1. Thanks, Poppy 🙂 Just back from a slippy and windy walk in the woods with ‘the gang’. You’re very kind about the photos. I do struggle to inject enough colour. It was absolutely scintillating in places, and I really didn’t want to come home, but my photos are an embarrassment compared to yours.

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      1. You daftie Jo x 😉 I spend a lot of time with photography , photos , colour and post processing Jo – way too much I expect . There’s sure to be a time when the sun comes out and you’ll catch those colours as you’d like . Still leaves on the trees down here . Just . It’s a bit wild out there today 🙂

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