Walking guide
The Outlying Fells of Lakeland
Alfred Wainwright · 2011
Wainwright's hand-drawn guide incl. Gowbarrow Fell above Ullswater, the fell on whose flank Aira Force falls.
United Kingdom · Lake District, England
Aira Force
A dramatic double bridge crossing frames this Lake District favorite, which William Wordsworth is said to have visited often, inspiring lines about the valley daffodils nearby. Old-growth conifers planted by an 18th-century landowner still shade the gorge trail.
UNESCO World HeritageA Lake District landmark tied to Wordsworth Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Aira Force drops 20 metres (66 ft) on the Aira Beck, inside Lake District National Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Glenridding, with MAN the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Aira Force itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Glenridding are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Wetter shoulder seasons keep Aira Beck at its fullest through the wooded gorge.
Entry: National Trust car park fee
Getting there
- Base town Glenridding
- Airport MAN
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Lake District, England, British Isles, Europe
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Aira Force
United Kingdom
Height20 mWidth—
Most similar
Svartifoss
Iceland
Height20 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Iceland
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
20 m
20 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Aira ForceSvartifossVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 49× taller than Aira Force. Victoria Falls is 5.4× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Aira Force yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Aira Force
4:25
6:30
1:11
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Lonely Planet EnglandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet England
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet England covering Teesdale and Ullswater, the settings of High Force and Aira Force.
Lonely Planet ScotlandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Scotland
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet Scotland covering Glen Nevis, Kintail and the Moffat area.
The Rough Guide to ScotlandRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Scotland
Rough Guides · 2025
Current Rough Guide with Highland and Borders detail for Steall, Glomach and Grey Mare's Tail trips.
On the map
54.5766, -2.9307
Quick answers
Where is Aira Force?
Aira Force is in United Kingdom (Lake District, England), inside Lake District National Park. The nearest base is Glenridding and the closest airport is MAN. Its coordinates are 54.5766, -2.9307.
How tall is Aira Force?
Aira Force drops 20 metres (66 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Aira Beck.
When is the best time to visit Aira Force?
Peak flow is March to May and October to November. Wetter shoulder seasons keep Aira Beck at its fullest through the wooded gorge.
What can you do at Aira Force?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
Is Aira Force a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. Aira Force lies within a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Lake District National Park. Expect park fees, marked trails and rules on where you can walk, swim and fly drones.
How do you get to Aira Force?
The usual base is Glenridding, and the closest airport is MAN. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. National Trust car park fee.
Nearby
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