Aira Force

Seclusion is needed by the soul more than you think folks. Peace and quiet for a few hours to collate your thoughts is priceless. Hence forth I present to you a place where Wordsworth ‘wondered lonely as a cloud’
The best things in life are indeed free (ok, ok, not entirely free: you do have to pay and display in the car park) On a leisurely drive with some friends through the lakes one fine Sunday afternoon we discovered (completely by fluke incidentally) this little gem of a place. Aira Force is a water fall which drops an impressive 65 feet and is surrounded by woodland.
The drill here is simple, and simplicity at times can be bliss. You park your car you grab something from the café or stock up your picnic rucksack of goodies and off you go. A hike up through the woods will take you back to your childhood state of mind. Either you’ll be climbing the steep paths through the woodland wrestling with the firs, pines, spruces and cedars like Indiana Jones (moi), or gingerly moving along with a camcorder wide eyed as if you were filming a prequel to Blair Witch project. (fainthearted friend) None the less the fruits of your labour will eventually emerge in the shape of Aira Force waterfall.
Now I am and always will be a massive fan of waterfalls. There is something extremely therapeutic about the sound of the water, it floats me, freshens me up. This particular waterfall is one of the most famous in the Lake district. When we visited there was hardly anyone there. The water was so fresh and clean, I could easily have just bathe under it and would have done had it not been for a slight chill in the air and two rather strange German tourists. By strange, I mean scary horror film strange, tailing us all the way upto the falls! Perhaps it was just the fear mongering camcorder blair witch friend…
Once you’ve taken plenty of post card worthy pictures and enjoyed the scenery, on the way back there are plenty of amazing and potentially romantic picnic spots. Plenty of daffodils around also if it’s the right time of year. I loved them and I loved my visit and so will you. Who knows they might even inspire you into poetic action as it did Mr. Wordsworth.
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.