National Trust - Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

The waterfall hits you first - a proper 65-metre drop that thunders down through a narrow ravine just off the A592 between Penrith and Ullswater. Aira Force is one of those Lake District attractions that actually justifies the hype, though you'll need to put in a bit of legwork to see it properly.

The walk from the car park takes about twenty minutes uphill through mixed woodland. It's steep in places, especially on the way back down, so decent boots matter. The payoff is standing right beneath the cascade with mist hitting your face - there's something about being that close to falling water that photographs never quite capture. The National Trust has kept the path well-maintained without over-engineering it, which counts for something.

Gowbarrow Park spreads across the hillside above the waterfall - open fell with views across to Ullswater itself. Families with young kids might find the climb frustrating, but anyone who enjoys a proper fell walk will get hours out of it. The whole area drains into Ullswater, so it fits nicely with a broader holiday if you're staying at Ullswater Holiday Park or any of the other caravan spots scattered within a few miles.

Free to visit - that's the National Trust for you. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to do the woodland walk and see the waterfall properly. Spring's the best time when water levels are high; by late summer it can look a bit thin. Winter's dramatic but muddy. Go midweek if you can. Weekends pull in crowds, especially school holidays.