Let’s face it – hunting for the best waterfalls and wild swimming spots in the Lake District can be a pain and a lot of effort that sometimes turns out in fact to be not worth the effort at all. So when I found this waterfall a mere stones throw from the roadside, where there also happens to be ample parking, I knew I’d struck gold on the whole Lake District wild swimming spots malarky. The pool to swim in is deep, the waterfall is powerful and the access is so easy my 86-year old Grandma could get down to it (maybe). It really is the perfect wild swimming spot to include into a busy day of adventure or if you just want a quick and simple waterfall to swim in without all the faff of planning. Read on to find out all you need to know!
Wild swimming spot at Aira Force and how to get there
Aira Force, the popular waterfall in the Lake District at Ullswater, is worth a visit in itself for the dramatic 20-metre drop and beautiful bridges that frame the fall BUT head further upstream to High Force and that’s where you’ll find the perfect wild swimming spot.
Parking at High Force Car Park- CA11 0JY
Luckily, there’s a large National Trust car park at the High Cascades about a 5 minute walk from the waterfall. The cost varies depending on how long you want to spend there as there’s some lovely walks in the area.
The cost is £5 for 2 hours, £7 for 4 hours, £8.50 all day and National Trust members park for free by scanning your membership card.
Getting to the waterfall
These will be the easiest set of directions to find a wild swimming spot that you’ve ever had to follow. First, from the car park, cross the road and head through the gate. There’s often a lot of sheep in this field so keep your dog on a lead here if you’re adventuring with your pooch.
There’s an obvious and well-worn path that heads straight downhill towards another gate. Follow this path for a couple of minutes and go straight through the gate at the bottom.
In front of you you’ll see a wooden bridge (avoid this) and a set of wooden signposts. Follow the path to the right, downstream, and in about 30 seconds on your left, you’ll be at the base of the waterfall on your left hand side and this is your swim spot.
It’s that easy!
There’s a flattish area of stones where you can stand to get changed and entry to the water is easy but a bit slippery so take care here.
TOP TIP; this is a VERY popular area for visitors and walking so if you want any chance of having this spot to yourself I’d either head here in winter or early or late in the day. We were here for around 9am on an early spring day in March and only saw a couple of other people but I’ve also been here in summer when it’s a struggle to weave through the bodies or even find a parking space!
If you’re new to wild swimming and need any tips for how to find swim spots and tips for safe wild swimming then check out my previous blog Why everyone is wild swimming and why you should start too.
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