Aira Force, Ullswater, The Lake District
We spoiled ourselves this Sunday with a bucket list waterfall - Aira Force. Worth every last penny in fuel (over an hours’ drive which is tantamount to a road trip if you ask me) and absolutely freezing. Why are waterfalls so much colder than lakes? Pepys said it was something to do with the rainwater and being so high up but I wasn’t really paying attention…I have since read though that ‘waterfalls mean young rivers…which mean cold water.’ I can vouch for that.
We’ve had some time off recently and it shows. Last weekend was our first swim in a few weeks and it was a killer. Local…Devil’s Bridge. A repeat location which does tend to curtail the excitement a bit so that one's gone to the bottom of the pile.
This one felt like the real return.
I’d recommend Aira Force if you have little adventurers who love to explore the outdoors. Loads of bridges, winding steps, twists and turns, here, there and everywhere. It’s a magical place through the eyes of a little one I imagine. Where fairies live and trolls hide. To us, this Sunday, it felt grossly busy. Inevitably, when we got to a ‘swimmable’ fall and began to change, we gathered an audience.
I was unpleasantly surprised by how cold it was. This is only our third waterfall and I suppose we’ve become familiar with lakes. Still…the shoulders went in eventually. Hands are still the worst for me but I still haven't replaced my budget neoprene gloves. It's a continued struggle.
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