Cauldron Falls in the village of West Burton is one of my favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales and is relatively easy to get to. It may not be the biggest – but I love it around here. Read on to learn my Top 10 favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales…

My favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales

The waterfalls of the Yorkshire Dales are a natural wonder that encapsulates both awe-inspiring beauty and natures raw power. Nestled within the unique rugged landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, there are plenty of cascading falls which offer a breathtaking spectacle for any visitor to Yorkshire and you are literally spoilt for choice if you are a waterfall lover.

I’ve visited lots of waterfalls in The Yorkshire Dales, but in this blog I have selected my Top 10 favourite waterfalls to visit which may help you plan a trip to the area. Each waterfall in my list possesses its own unique charm and character, with most being surprisingly easy to get too, and some being great wild swimming spots too. Read on to learn more…

Map locations of my Top 10 Yorkshire waterfalls:

The above interactive google map shows the location of my 10 favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales and all of them are very accessible – being no more than 30 mins walk from the nearest parking spot, most are only 10 mins walk! You won’t find a more accessible and stunning set of waterfalls in a relatively small area in the whole of the UK!

Below you’ll find a photo of each of the 10 waterfalls and a broad description – with some linking off to separate blog posts on this website which will have more detail and even a walk nearby if you are interested. I hope it helps you in seeing these stunning natural wonders in person and seeing some of Yorkshires best waterfalls.

#1. Aysgarth Falls Waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales

Aysgarth Falls walk waterfall Yorkshire Dales West Burton

Aysgarth Falls is perhaps the most impressive set of waterfalls in Northern England and consists of Upper, Middle and Lower Falls. Pictured here is Upper Falls, which most only visit but all tiers are worth visiting, with Aysgarth Lower Falls my personal favourite. I’ve done a separate blog post on Aysgarth Falls which helps in planning a visit to the area. Link below.

#2. Hardraw Force Waterfall, near Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales

Hardraw Force waterfall walk short highest tallest waterfall England Yorkshire Dales map route Hawes

Hardraw Force waterfall is England’s highest single drop waterfall and surprisingly easy to walk too along a flat path for 5 mins or so – perfect for kids and the elderly! You do have to pay to access the waterfall though, via the visitor centre behind the Green Dragon Pub. Find out more on exploring Hardraw Force in the link below.

#3. WainWath Force waterfall, in Keld in Upper Swaledale

Wain Wath Force is a lovely set of waterfalls in the peace and quiet of Upper Swaledale, and a perfect spot for wild swimming too. You can actually park the car on the road side right next to these waterfalls for a quick dip. Wain Wath Force is near the Yorkshire village of Keld and there are other great waterfalls nearby too, such as Kidson Force. There’s a fantastic waterfall walk I like to do in the area which takes in some excellent waterfalls – see link below.

#4. Gordale Scar, near the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales

Gordale Scar is one of the most imposing places in Yorkshire and the waterfalls here are very dramatic. A walking route actually goes right up these falls which can be scrambled up if the water is not too heavy! Find out more on the location of Gordale Scar on this Malham Cove walk here

#5. Cauldron falls in West Burton, near Aysgarth in the Yorkshire Dales

Cauldron Falls in the village of West Burton is one of my favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales and is relatively easy to get to. You can park the car in West Burton village and walk to this spot in a few mins. It’s perfect for a swim too!

#6. Richmond Waterfalls on the River Swale

Richmond Waterfalls are impressive and perhaps the most popular of the waterfalls in this list, being within Richmond Town, a popular tourist spot. If you visit early morning you can get the place in a more peaceful setting!

#7. Scaleber Force, near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales

Scaleber Force is a spectacular 40 foot waterfall, located just outside of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is well worth a stop off to explore! Find out more on where it is on this blog post https://www.thereluctantexplorers.com/scaleber-force-settle

#8. Cotter Force, near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales

Cotter Force, west of Hawes, is a secluded series of waterfalls in woodland on Cotterdale Beck, a tributary of the River Ure in Wensleydale. One of the National Park’s most accessible waterfalls, it’s only a 5 minute walk along a path suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users.

#9. Cow Close Gill Falls in Upper Wharfdale

This waterfall actually has no name on the maps – but we can call it Cow Close Gill Waterfall as that’s the gill it’s on (or on Google Maps it’s called Middle Falls) ! Whilst it’s little known – it’s one of my favourites to photograph and these waterfalls are a stunning set of multi-tier cascading waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, in upper Wharfdale. It’s actually not far from the road side and you’ll want to visit just after heavy rain. You can find out more on the location of this beauty spot on this fantastic blog: travelmademedoit.com/cow-close-gill-waterfall

#10. Thornton Force, on the Ingleton Waterfall Trail

Thornton-Force-waterfall-ingleton-swimming-yorkshire-dales-best

Last but not least on this list, is Thornton Force – a pretty well known large waterfall near Ingleton in North Western Yorkshire that is perfect for swimming in – and many do. The waterfall is part of the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail – and if your a lover of waterfalls (and I guess you are after reading this post) then I highly recommend the 3.5 mile Ingleton Waterfall Trail where you will see some truly stunning cascading falls.

BEST WATERFALLS IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES SUMMARY

So there you go – I hope this blog post on my 10 best Waterfalsl in the Yorkshire Dales has been helpful and introduced you to some waterfalls you may not have heard of before? I live not far away from Yorkshire and I’ll often re-visit these places in all seasons as they look different every time.

Before I go if you are interested in Waterfalls you may well be interested in Wild Swimming too, so please allow me to plug my eBook digital guide to my Top 10 Wild Swimming Spots in the Lake District – see below! Cheers & Enjoy!

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BLOG POST BY STUART HODGSON

THE HIKING PHOTOGRAPHER

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