Aira Force is a waterfall in the Lake District of England. It regularly tops polls, trip advisor and google searches. Owned by the National Trust, it has around 350,000 visitors each year. In this video you will see just how wonderful these waterfalls are.
We start upstream at the cascade bridge, cross over and walk downstream Aira Beck. Beck is the Norse word for a brook or stream. Many words and places in the Lake District have Norse (Viking) origins. It’s not just the roaring water that is beautiful, the whole area is full of wonderful trees. In fact, it’s a remnant of the lost rainforest, a very rare landscape of temperate rainforest, which makes up just 1% of the world’s environment.
On we go, crossing another bridge, various smaller falls, cascades and frothing pools along the way. We see some particularly impressive old oak giants, twisted, gnarled and mysterious. Finally we reach the main event, Aira Force, thundering 22 metres (65 feet) into the pool below. Force being derived from fos, the Norse word for waterfall of course.
We first see it from the upper stone bridge, then walk down to the lower stone bridge. There are some impressive views, but finally we have to leave. And yet, there is still much to see as we make our way through the arboretum (tree garden). Finally, there’s a last bridge to cross, the beck has calmed now and we can enjoy the gentle ripples bathed in the golden light of autumn. What a day!
Let me know if you enjoyed this walk, it’s definitely up there somewhere in my top 10. If you know of any waterfalls that can top this, do let me know.
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