Aira Force is a 20-metre waterfall on the Aira Beck stream, emptying into Ullswater near the village of Dockray. The falls are one of the most visited natural features in the Lake District, and for good reason: the single drop plunges into a deep wooded gorge, and the National Trust has laid out well-maintained paths around both the main fall and the smaller Upper Aira Force above it.
The car park and start of the path is about 6 kilometres north of Glenridding along the A592. The walk to the falls and back is about 3 kilometres and takes an hour at a gentle pace. The path loops through oak and ash woodland that turns spectacular colours in autumn. At weekends in summer the car park fills early; arriving before 10am or after 4pm avoids the worst of the crowds.