Swineside Knott & Gowbarrow

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Brown Hills (3.6 km, 395 m)

   Climb of about 395 m over 3.6 km (around 11% average).

   Starting near the shores of Ullswater (typically the Glencoyne Bay or Aira Force parking areas), this route begins with a long, steady approach up the fellside. The path climbs out of the valley through a mix of woodland fringes and open grazing land, offering spectacular, expanding views of the lake behind you. As you round the flanks above Glencoyne Park, the gradient sustains an 11% average, pulling you up onto the grassy, undulating spur of Brown Hills on the eastern reaches of the Stybarrow Dodd ridge

   Waypoints

   Glencoyne / Ullswater Shore (approx. 150m): The valley-bottom starting area. Glencoyne Park Boundaries: The intake walls separating the valley from the open fell. Brown Hills: A minor grassy prominence serving as the gateway to the high common

   Decision point

   Ullswater: The lake provides a massive visual handrail directly behind you. Glencoyne Valley: Keep the deep, steep-sided trench of the Glencoyne valley to your left (south/west) as you ascend the ridge

   Easy to get wrong

   Saturated Ground: The lower approaches out of the valley are notorious for holding water and can be deeply muddy after rain. Endurance: The 3.6 km initial pull is a long slog that requires steady pacing before you hit the high ridge. Wind Exposure: As you clear the valley and step onto Brown Hills, you lose the shelter of the trees and take the full force of any weather rolling off the Helvellyn range

   If you need to get off

   Simply turn around and trace your ascent path directly back down to the lakeshore. Do not drop blindly into the steep, craggy sides of the Glencoyne valley to your west

2. 2

   Brown Hills → Swineside Knott (0.3 km, 0 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.3 km.

   A very brief, almost flat ridge traverse. From Brown Hills, the route heads north-east across the broad, grassy expanse of Watermillock Common. The path here is faint, weaving through short grass and minor peat hags to reach Swineside Knott, which acts as the high point of this immediate section

   Waypoints

   Brown Hills: The starting point of the ridge traverse. Swineside Knott (553m): The highest point on Watermillock Common, marked by a small pile of stones, offering a sumptuous view down the entire length of Ullswater

   Decision point

   Line of Sight: Swineside Knott is visible ahead as a rounded grassy mound with a few protruding rocks on its eastern side

   Easy to get wrong

   Faint Paths: There is no heavily engineered path here. You are following intermittent sheep trods and relying on your own line of sight

   If you need to get off

   Given the short 300-meter distance, the best bail option is to return to Brown Hills and descend your ascent route, or push forward to the drystone walls of Common Fell to guide you down

3. 3

   Swineside Knott → Common Fell (1.0 km, 6 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.0 km.

   Leaving Swineside Knott, the route continues north-east across the wide, undulating plateau of Watermillock Common towards Common Fell. This section is notoriously boggy. The route shadows a drystone wall for part of the way before breaking off across pathless, saturated ground to reach the summit mounds

   Waypoints

   Watermillock Common: The sprawling, wet saddle between the peaks. Common Fell (552m): A series of rounded grassy mounds. The true summit is marked by a small cairn. The Glacial Erratic: A prominent, massive boulder sitting on one of the subsidiary mounds of Common Fell, looking entirely out of place in the grassy landscape

   Decision point

   Drystone Wall: A boundary wall runs along the flanks of the common here. It is an absolute lifeline in poor visibility—use it as a structural handrail to guide your north-easterly trajectory

   Easy to get wrong

   The Bogs: This section is famously "juicy". Expect deep, boot-sucking peat and standing water, even in the height of summer. Clag Disorientation: Watermillock Common is a wide, featureless void in the mist. It is incredibly easy to lose your bearing among the multiple identical grassy hummocks

   If you need to get off

   If the bogs are overwhelming, keep the wall on your left and use it to funnel you north-east towards Dockray and the road. Do not drop east down the pathless, bracken-choked slopes directly toward the lake

4. 4

   Common Fell → Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) (4.3 km, 234 m)

   Climb of about 234 m over 4.3 km (around 5% average).

   From Common Fell, the route drops steadily north-east over the minor bumps of Round How and Bracken How, losing altitude rapidly to reach the village of Dockray in the valley bottom. After crossing the A5091 road and Aira Beck, the route immediately begins the 234m ascent of Gowbarrow Fell. The climb up Gowbarrow's western flank weaves through bracken and heather before tackling the rocky outcrops surrounding the summit of Airy Crag

   Waypoints

   Dockray / A5091 Road (approx. 300m): The valley-bottom crossing point marking the halfway transition. Aira Beck: The water crossing before the second major ascent. Gowbarrow Fell / Airy Crag (481m): The Wainwright summit, a rugged, rocky tor rising out of the heather, marked by a trig pillar

   Decision point

   The Road and Beck: The A5091 and Aira Beck act as unmistakable, definitive linear boundaries. You cannot accidentally miss the transition point. Airy Crag: The summit rock tor is obvious from the lower slopes of Gowbarrow and serves as a direct visual target

   Easy to get wrong

   Fatigue: Dropping all the way to the valley floor only to climb 234m back up Gowbarrow is mentally and physically taxing. Summer Bracken: The lower slopes of Gowbarrow are smothered in head-high bracken in the summer, which can completely mask the path and hide loose rocks. Summit Scramble: The final approach to Airy Crag requires navigating over some minor, uneven rocky steps

   If you need to get off

   Dockray: This is the perfect bail point. Once you hit the A5091 road, you can simply walk the tarmac south-east directly back to the Aira Force or Glencoyne parking areas without setting foot on Gowbarrow

5. Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit) → Finish (4.0 km, 14 m)

   Descent of about 307 m over 4.0 km.

   From Airy Crag, the route descends south, dropping onto the famous Gowbarrow Terrace. This engineered balcony path contours the fellside, offering what is arguably the most photographed, uninterrupted view of Ullswater. The wide, flat path weaves gently down through the intake walls, eventually dropping into the ancient, atmospheric woodlands surrounding Aira Force, before returning to the start point

   Waypoints

   Gowbarrow Terrace: The stunning balcony path traversing the southern face of the fell. Memorial Seat (Yew Crag): A prominent viewpoint on the terrace path. Aira Force Woodlands: The transition from open fell to enclosed, historic woodland

   Decision point

   Ullswater: On the terrace path, the immense expanse of the lake is your constant, infallible handrail. Engineered Paths: Once on the terrace and in the woods, the paths are unmistakable and heavily signposted

   Easy to get wrong

   Steep Drops: While the terrace path is wide and beautifully maintained, the edge drops away precipitously toward the lake. Dogs must be kept on leads, and care should be taken in high winds. Slippery Woods: The paths through the Aira Force woodlands are a maze of polished rock steps and exposed tree roots that become dangerously slick when wet. High Traffic: Expect to encounter large crowds of tourists and families once you hit the terrace and the waterfalls

   If you need to get off

   This entire stage serves as an exit route. Once you are on the terrace path, you are committed to the safe, standard descent back to the Ullswater car parks. There are no navigational traps here; simply follow the main thoroughfare down