Name of walk	Gowbarrow Fell, Aira Force and Little Mell Fell
Date of walk	2009-02-18

This is my first walk for a month. The Fells have been too icy of late but now the thaw is here so I decided to have a walk around Gowbarrow Fell (1579ft) beside Ullswater, which is low enough to be snow free. Ged and Kas came too. We started from the National Trust car park for Aira Force. Being half term there were lots of people about but we soon lost them by heading off right.

The route had good views down Ullswater.

Lyulphs Tower, an old shooting box built in the last half of the eighteenth century, with Place Fell behind.

Once a bit of height is gained there is an excellent view down the lake, a pity it is so cloudy. There is still snow on the higher fells, leading to another person falling 400ft off Swirral Edge on Helvellyn yesterday.

Looking up Ullswater and across at Hallin Fell and behind that Arthur`s Pike, Bonscale Pike and Loadpot Hill.

The remains of a shooting box. 50 years ago when Wainwright wrote his Eastern Fells book it was still in one piece, roof and all.....the ravages of time!

Gowbarrow summit cairn with Great Mell Fell behind.

Looking over at Little Mell Fell, a little walk we would do later in the afternoon.

Walking down towards Dockray.

We followed Aira Beck down to the waterfalls of Aira Force. Looking down from the bridge at the viewing area.

Looking up to the bridge from the viewing area.

We then headed off in the car to locate the parking place for Great Mell Fell for future reference, but only had time to climb Little Mell Fell (1657ft). We drove to the hause and made the quickest summit journey ever! Ten minutes from the car to the summit cairn!! But STEEP!

A pity it was too misty to see all the snowy fells beyond.

Looking over to Great Mell Fell with Blencathra beyond.

The view back to the car from half way down.