Home / Routes / Birketts by Gowbarrow

Ullswater and the fells beyond from the heathery top of Gowbarrow, under a sky of broken cloud

Hard steepnessLoopWalked in part

Birketts by Gowbarrow

12.03 km

Distance

~3–4.5 h

Typical time

~550 m

Ascent

Summits

Photo: © Lee McCoy

Download GPX →Walked in part · km 0.7–2.3, km 3.0–3.7, km 3.8–4.7 from the map

Key facts

Distance 12.03 km

Ascent ~550 m

Descent ~551 m

Time ~3–4.5 h

Difficulty Hard overall — hardest: Steepness

Type Loop

Five tops around Gowbarrow Park above Ullswater, including the Wainwright summit of Gowbarrow Fell — 12 km and 550 m, with one stage averaging 16%. Rated hard to navigate despite the modest scale. Around 3.3 hours.

🥾 Walked in part — Lee walked this ground in August 2023; km 0.7–2.3, km 3.0–3.7, km 3.8–4.7 of this line are from the map. A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass. How to use this guide.

Difficulty profile

LengthModerate12.03 km round.

SteepnessHardSteepest sustained pull about 29% around the 9.8 km mark.

TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified

NavigationHardCare needed in cloud — ~31% featureless high ground. desk assessment — not field-verified

ExposureNot assessedExposure (drops, scrambling, how bad a slip would be) can’t be judged from gradient data alone, so we don’t guess. A rating appears once the route is editorially assessed or walked.

Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 1 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap

Elevation profile, shaded by steepness

1 Green Hill - Gowbarrow Park2 Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit)3 Great Meldrum4 Little Meldrum5 Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top)

Easy 75%Moderate 21%Hard 4%Severe

~550 m

Total ascent

473 m

High point

164 m

Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 12.03 km with around 550 m of ascent, taking in 5 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog

Mostly gates

Buggy

Not buggy-able

Knees

Steep in places

Dog: A stile of unmapped type — a dog may need lifting over.
Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
Knees: A sustained ~29% descent around the 9.7 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.

On the line: 12 gates · 2 stiles (type unmapped)

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us (opens in new tab) and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-26. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

Summit	Cumulative	Ascent	Time (fast–steady)
1Green Hill - Gowbarrow Park	1.7 km	264 m	0:47–1:03
2Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit)	2.9 km	315 m	1:07–1:28
3Great Meldrum	3.9 km	353 m	1:22–1:49
4Little Meldrum	4.9 km	356 m	1:34–2:05
5Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top)	5.6 km	366 m	1:44–2:18
Finish	12.0 km	550 m	3:19–4:25

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary. These use Naismith’s textbook constants (5 km/h, 600 m of ascent an hour). Measured against a pace fitted to 41 recorded Lakeland walks they run about 8% slow, and we have left them that way deliberately: a slow estimate strands nobody.

The walk, stage by stage

1
Start → Green Hill - Gowbarrow Park (1.7 km, 264 m)
Climb of about 264 m over 1.7 km (around 16% average).
Starting from the valley floor (typically the Aira Force car parks or Dockray), ascend through the lower woodland and enclosures. Break out onto the expansive, open moorland of Gowbarrow Park, tackling the steep grassy slopes to reach the subtle, undulating rise of Green Hill
Waypoints
Aira Force / Dockray start, fell wall boundary, Green Hill summit (394 m)
Decision point
Aira Beck provides a massive, roaring handrail for the initial ascent. On the open fell, aim generally north-east towards the high ground; the paths here are well-worn but heavily braided by sheep and walkers
Easy to get wrong
A steep 16% initial climb to gain the main plateau. If ascending via Aira Force, the woodland paths are heavily stepped and can be incredibly busy. Once you clear the tree line, the terrain shifts to lumpy, grassy moorland that holds a significant amount of water, presenting a soggy, energy-sapping trudge after wet weather
If you need to get off
Turn around and carefully retrace your steps down the established trails directly back to the car park
2
Green Hill - Gowbarrow Park → Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) (1.2 km, 51 m)
About 1.2 km with 51 m of ascent.
Continue tracking north across the wide, lumpy plateau of Gowbarrow Park, navigating a maze of grassy hummocks and shallow dips to reach the highest point of the fell at Airy Crag
Waypoints
Green Hill, Gowbarrow Park plateau, Airy Crag (Gowbarrow Fell summit - 481 m)
Decision point
Airy Crag is distinctly rocky compared to the surrounding grassy hummocks, making it a clear visual target from a distance. The summit is marked by a prominent OS trig pillar
Easy to get wrong
Mechanically, this is an easy transition. However, the plateau is notoriously confusing in thick clag. It is a chaotic mix of heather, deep bogs, and grassy knolls that can easily turn an ankle and make maintaining a straight line difficult
If you need to get off
Retreat south/south-west towards the highly engineered, main terrace path overlooking Ullswater, which offers a foolproof, safe descent back to Aira Force
3
Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) → Great Meldrum (1.0 km, 37 m)
Descent of about 40 m over 1.0 km.
Leave the busy Wainwright summit of Airy Crag and drop north-east, crossing the wide, often trackless and soggy depression of the moorland to reach the subtle, grassy dome of Great Meldrum
Waypoints
Airy Crag, northern boundary wall, Great Meldrum summit (437 m)
Decision point
An old boundary fence/wall line crosses the saddle and can be used as a rough linear guide. Great Meldrum is the obvious, broad grassy rise immediately to the north-east
Easy to get wrong
You are leaving the heavily trodden tourist paths behind here. The ground between Gowbarrow and Great Meldrum is infamous for being incredibly wet, featuring deep peat hags and marshy grass that demands wide detours to keep your boots dry
If you need to get off
Turn back south to the main Gowbarrow summit to pick up the well-maintained descent paths
© Lee McCoy · 2 photographs
4
Great Meldrum → Little Meldrum (1.0 km, 3 m)
Descent of about 46 m over 1.0 km.
Continue north across the quiet, undulating moorland. The terrain dips gently into another marshy saddle before arriving at the minor, highly indistinct summit of Little Meldrum
Waypoints
Great Meldrum, connecting moorland saddle, Little Meldrum summit (404 m)
Decision point
Maintain a strict northerly bearing. The colossal, conical mass of Great Mell Fell looming in the distance to the north is an excellent macro-navigational marker on clear days
Easy to get wrong
Physical exertion is minimal, but the underfoot conditions remain a soggy, pathless trudge. Navigation across these minor grassy bumps in thick mist is surprisingly tricky, as the landscape lacks distinct rocky features
If you need to get off
If the bogs become totally impassable, take a careful bearing west to intersect the A5091 road, which runs parallel to the fells and offers a solid tarmac walk back to Dockray
5
Little Meldrum → Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top) (0.7 km, 11 m)
Undulating section of about 0.7 km.
Drop slightly north-east from Little Meldrum, crossing a final patch of marshy ground before making the tiny ascent onto the subsidiary bump known as Watermillock Fell (or Little Mell Fell South Top)
Waypoints
Little Meldrum, boundary fence, Watermillock Fell summit (424 m)
Decision point
Farm boundaries and dilapidated fences crisscross this area; use them to orient yourself, but ensure you do not inadvertently cross onto enclosed private farmland. The summit is barely distinguishable from the surrounding moor
Easy to get wrong
More of the same trackless moorland. The 11 m of ascent is trivial, but in late summer, thick bracken and deep moss can make progress feel sluggish and hide uneven ground
If you need to get off
Drop west directly to the A5091 road
Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top) → Finish (6.5 km, 183 m)
Climb of about 183 m over 6.5 km (around 3% average).
Descend from Watermillock Fell, looping west and then south to navigate around the lower flanks of the Gowbarrow massif. Connect with the quiet country lanes, farm tracks, and eventually the spectacular Ullswater Way terrace path that traverses the southern slopes of Gowbarrow, leading all the way back to your starting point
Waypoints
Watermillock Fell descent, lower farm tracks, Ullswater Way (terrace path), Memorial Seat, Aira Force Finish
Decision point
The Ullswater Way is extensively waymarked and impossible to lose. The massive expanse of Ullswater sitting directly below you to the south serves as an infallible, continuous visual handrail for the entire return journey
Easy to get wrong
A long 6.5 km walk-out. If utilizing the Ullswater Way terrace path for the return leg, be prepared for an undulating, highly engineered trail (accounting for the 183 m of ascent) that can feature polished stone steps which are slick after rain
If you need to get off
You are on the final exit route. Stick strictly to the established terrace paths or valley lanes. Do not attempt to shortcut straight down the steep, wooded, and craggy banks directly to the A592 lakeshore road, as the terrain features hidden sheer drops and dense undergrowth
© Lee McCoy

Summits bagged (5)

1Green Hill - Gowbarrow Park439 mEastern · Birkett
2Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit)481 mEastern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge
3Great Meldrum437 mEastern · Birkett, Synge
4Little Meldrum404 mEastern · Birkett, Synge
5Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top)424 mEastern · Birkett, Synge

In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.

Getting there & parking

Aira Force, High Cascades (NT, paid) — 0.0 km from the start (straight line)

Second National Trust car park at Aira Force, above the main one. Fees: pay and display (Lake District National Park car-parks directory, checked Aug 2026).

Directions Something changed here?

If it is full: Aira Force (NT, paid) (0.8 km, 78 m up); Green Hill Gowbarrow Park (verge, west) (1.0 km, 55 m up) a few spaces only; Green Hill Gowbarrow Park (verge, middle) (1.0 km, 55 m up) a few spaces only; Green Hill Gowbarrow Park (verge, east) (1.5 km, 71 m up) a few spaces only

Round How (layby) — 0.5 km from the start (straight line)

Walking base for Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) and Little Mell Fell — the 'Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell' route starts 394 m away. Free (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

Aira Force (NT, paid) — 0.5 km from the start (straight line)

For Gowbarrow Fell and the path toward Great Dodd via Dockray. Fees: pay and display (LDNP directory, checked Aug 2026). Open Toilets open 10am-3pm; accessible toilet 24hrs (LDNP directory, checked Aug 2026).

🕑 Typically full before 09:00 on fine weekends, Apr-Oct — Lee McCoy, local observation, 2026-08-09.

Directions Something changed here?

🚺 Aira Force Car Park (~606 m straight line) — Free · Accessible☕ Aira Force Tearooms

Park Brow (NT, paid) — 0.7 km from the start (straight line)

Walking base for Low How, High Brow, Randerside and Great Dodd — the 'Birketts above Ullswater' route starts 455 m away. Also serves 'Gowbarrow Fell and Little Mell Fell'. Fees: £6 for 2 hours; £8 for 4 hours; £9.50 all day. Free for National Trust members. 508/509 bus stop nearby. Free for NT members (checked Aug 2026).

Directions Something changed here?

Green Hill Gowbarrow Park (verge, west) — 0.7 km from the start (straight line)

0.8 km from Green Hill Gowbarrow Park.

Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Every option near this start, on the parking map →

Water, shelter & getting away

💧 possible water source (2 m)💧 possible water source (74 m)🚌 Aira Force - Park Brow Foot (183 m)🚌 Park Brow Foot - Aira Force (185 m)

💧 Treat water from the fell before you drink it. A mapped point is usually a tap or public supply, but never drink untreated from a beck, stream or tarn — even clear-looking hill water can carry giardia or cryptosporidium from livestock or a carcass upstream and leave you seriously ill. Run it through a filter or purifier (a LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze or HydraPak) or bring it to a rolling boil first.

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

Buses

The 508 stops at Matterdale, opposite Aira Force, 240 m from this start. The last bus is 18:02 towards Penrith (508) and 17:15 towards Martindale (UB1) and 15:15 towards Lowther (UB2), every day. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

The UB1 passes this route at 5.8 km (Horrockwood, opposite The Quiet Site, 570 m off the line). Other services cross it too — 508 at 12.0 km.

Stagecoach 508 “Ullswater Bus”

Penrith – Pooley Bridge – Aira Force – Glenridding – Patterdale (summer services continue over Kirkstone Pass to Troutbeck and Windermere)

Catch it from: Penrith · Windermere (summer only)

The key route from Penrith for the Eastern and Far Eastern fells: Helvellyn from Glenridding, Place Fell, the Hartsop fells. The summer Kirkstone extension drops you at the pass for Red Screes and Caudale Moor.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.

If the parking is full

There is a fallback here, but it is a weak one. Some of the 3 below tend to fill for the same reasons at the same time. Treat the list as one-and-a-bit options rather than 3.

High Cascades (NT, paid)
The Hause, Little Mell Fell (verge)
Round How (layby)

Worked out from the parking we hold within walking reach of this route and the other walks each place serves — two places that serve the same walks fill for the same reasons. We are not saying whether anywhere has spaces today, and we never will: this is what exists, not what is free.

When the sun reaches the tops

Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later. The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.

Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in late December — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise.

Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.

Safety & conditions

Access: The summits of Little Meldrum and Watermillock Fell (Little Mell Fell South Top) lie outside mapped CRoW open-access land. That records no statutory right of access — it is not a statement that access is forbidden, and permissive access is not recorded in that layer. This line is computed rather than walked, so treat the access as unchecked and look for the courteous way through — how we work this out.

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Short version: turn back at about 4.9 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.

Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

Places to stay near this start

Lowthwaite Bed and Breakfast (opens in new tab) guest house

about 3.9 km from the start, in a straight line

The only property in the cluster that answers the whole arrival sequence for a family: a drying room in the all-rooms facilities list, a cot and a high chair, children of all ages accepted, and an honest note that its ground-floor room is still reached by steps. It is also the only page in the radius that describes this exact walk from its own door - Gowbarrow Fell to Aira Force and back through Matterdale - and Little Mell Fell, the second summit of one of the routes this start serves, is the fell behind the house.

Most of the furniture in the rooms was made by hand in Tanzania, where the owners used to run a business organising Kilimanjaro climbs.

Drying room “The following are available for all rooms: Television,DVD player, Hairdryer, Tea/Coffee making facilities, Use of garden and patio, Use of guidebooks and other books, Maps (for planning and laminated for walks), Drying room, and Fridge (in the Dining Room).”
Family rooms “We have a cot, high chair(s) and special cutlery for small children.”
Parking “Another alternative is to use what3words where our car park is primed.lavished.amounting”
Children “Children Welcome We are very happy to welcome children of all ages.”

Low Gale (opens in new tab) self-catering

about 4.4 km from the start, in a straight line

The best answer in the cluster for a party with a dog, a small child and tired knees at once: single storey, sleeps seven, cot available, off-road parking, drying facilities and a coin laundry, with hot food available from the hotel kitchen so nobody has to drive at seven in the evening. The price of all that is a three-night minimum with fixed Friday and Monday changeover, which is why the minimum-stay line matters more here than anywhere else in this list.

The Ullswater Steamer jetty at Howtown is reached from the cottage by footpath, so the lake boat can be walked to rather than driven to.

Drying room “Ample storage and drying facilites Very spacious, comfortable lounge Fully fitted dining kitchen”
Dogs “Low Gale Ullswater is an elevated single storey, dog friendly holiday cottage located just beside Fusedale Beck and can easily accomodate 7 people.”
Family rooms “Cot available Dishwasher *Washing Machine 2 bathrooms 1 double bedroom 2 twin rooms 1 single room”
Evening meal “visitors can cook local fayre or alternatively take advantage of the dine at home meals available from the Hotel kitchen.”
Parking “Facilities Free Superfast Broadband Dog friendly Off road parking Smoke-free Garden / Patios Cot available Dishwasher *Washing Machine”

Worth knowing before you book

These places state on their own site that they do not take children.

YHA Helvellyn (opens in new tab) “Under 12s are not permitted in dorm rooms. Children under 3 can stay with us for free.”

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab).