Gowbarrow Fell

About Gowbarrow Fell

Rising steeply above the northern shores of Ullswater, this fell offers a mix of craggy woodland and open heather. While modest in height, its position provides an unparalleled perspective on the lake’s dog-leg bend and the mighty Helvellyn range. The ascent through the Aira Force glades makes for a varied, rewarding walk.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'gaukr' (cuckoo) and 'berg' (hill or mound), suggesting the fell was a notable landmark for early Norse settlers to hear the first birds of spring in the Ullswater valley.
• •For centuries, the fell served as a medieval deer park. The remains of the ancient stone 'Deer Park Wall' can still be seen traversing the slopes, originally built to contain the private herd of the Howard family from nearby Greystoke Castle.
• •As a classified Synge, it is featured in the specific list of Lakeland fells documented by Tim Madgwick, based on the original 1970s survey by the Reverend F.R. Synge which focused on summits with a distinct 30-metre drop on all sides.
• •The summit offers a unique vantage point to the west, looking directly across the Glencoyne valley towards the massive, dark bulk of Sheffield Pike and the high, often cloud-topped plateau of Helvellyn.
• •While the higher reaches of the fell offer genuine quiet, the lower paths near Aira Force are often populated by confused visitors who have accidentally wandered away from the waterfall in footwear more suited to a coastal promenade.