There are lots of waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales so, if you love waterfalls, this is the place to visit.
You can choose between wide cascading falls, falls with a plunge pool for outdoor swimming and single drop falls. In fact, the Yorkshire Dales is home to England’s highest single drop waterfall.
Most waterfalls in the Dales are in rural areas so visiting them by public transport is difficult or impossible. Self driving is the easiest and best way to visit the Yorkshire Dales waterfalls.
Many of the waterfalls listed here can be visited in combination with other waterfalls on the same outing. Use our ‘nearby tips’ to help you get the most out of your sightseeing day.
Please note – all drive times are approximate!
The best waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales
Wensleydale in the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales is home to several waterfalls that can be combined into one long day trip from York.
There are several waterfalls in the vicinity of Hawes – Aysgarth Falls, Hardraw Force, Aysgill Force and Cotter Force.
These four waterfalls lie on, or just off, the main A684 road which crosses the northern part of the Dales between Leeming Bar to the M6 in Cumbria.
Aysgarth Falls
Aysgarth Falls is one of the best loved waterfalls in Yorkshire and it is often featured in images of Yorkshire. It consists of three separate waterfalls plunging over wide limestone steps on a one mile stretch of the River Ure.
The three falls are unimaginatively called Upper Force, Middle Force and Lower Force. The falls change with each season and are spectacular after heavy rain.
You can view the three waterfalls from a woodland path that runs alongside the river. The Aysgarth Falls walk is unpaved and uneven. However, it is relatively flat and it is doable with a pushchair. There are grassy areas and large boulders on the path for picnic stops.
You can walk to the right to the rocky edge of Upper Force near the car park but the rocks can be slippery when wet so watch your step.
You can also descend a steep narrow path to the banks of Lower Force.
Neither riverbank is fenced so keep children close. Swimming is not advised due to the current.
How to visit Aysgarth Falls
Aysgarth Falls is near the village of Carperby. It is well signposted and there is a fee paying car park at the falls.
The Aysgarth Falls walk is free to access and there are toilets and an information centre in the car park.
What to do nearby
Take a tour of 14th century Bolton Castle and enjoy a falconry display in its landscaped grounds. The castle is kid friendly and has several activities for kids.
Aysgarth Falls can be combined with a trip to Hardraw Force and Hawes, which is only 10 miles away.
York to Aysgarth Falls drive – 1 hour 25 minutes / 57 miles
Hardraw Force
Hardraw Force is England’s largest single drop waterfall. It is 100 foot high and is an idyllic woodland setting. It is one of my favourite Yorkshire waterfalls.
The word ‘force’ comes from fors, the Norse word for waterfall.
Hardraw Force is privately owned so you must pay at the visitors centre or coin operated turnstiles to enter.
There are two paths you can take to visit the falls.
One is a flat, uneven path that leads to the base of the waterfall. It is a short, walk which is easily managed with young children but it is not pushchairs.
The other path climbs the hillside to an elevated path that circles the waterfall.
An unfenced path winds around the elevated woodland providing great views of Hardraw Force and the Yorkshire Dales. At one point you cross a bridge near the top of the waterfall which gives you a fantastic perspective of how powerful Hardraw Force is.
The path is narrow and uneven with several steps so it is not pushchair friendly. Plus, there are several steep drops on the route so keep children close.
The elevated trail takes around 1 hour to complete and it is manageable with kids. The lower trail will take around 45 minutes.
How to visit Hardraw Force
You can find this Yorkshire waterfall behind The Green Dragon pub in Hardraw. There is a small car park and visitors centre with toilets on site.
Hardraw Force is open from 10am to 5pm in summer with reduced hours in winter. If the visitors centre is closed, you can use a coin operated turnstile to access the site. It only accepts coins so bring exact money.
A family of four ticket costs £10, single adults cost £4 and children £2.
What to do nearby
Visit Hawes and discover how the famous Wensleydale cheese is made at the Yorkshire Creamery. Make a stop at the Dales Countryside Museum to try your hand at rural crafts.
Hardraw Force is easily combined with a trip to Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle.
York to Hardraw Force – 1 hour 45 minutes / 66 miles
Aysgill Force
This 40 foot high waterfall can be accessed from Hawes or Gayle. The falls are best visited after heavy rain and I’d advise wearing appropriate footwear as the path is rocky and slippery in places.
How to visit Aysgill Force
These falls can only be accessed on foot. It will take around 30 minutes to reach Aysgill Force from Gayle whereas Hawes is a longer 4.5 mile circular route.
York to Aysgill Force – 1 hour 45minutes / 66.7 miles
Cotter Force
Cotter Force is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales. After recent groundworks, Cotter Force can now be accessed by wheelchair users and pushchairs.
The low waterfall falls over six steps into Cotterdale Beck, a tributary of the River Ure and Aysgarth Falls.
It is a well known waterfall that was sketched by the British artist J. M. W Turner in 1826.
How to visit Cotter Force
Park at Holmes Head Bridge on the A684 between Hawes and Sedburgh. From here, it is an easy 250 metre round trip walk to view the falls.
York to Cotter Force – 1 hour 47 minutes / 68 miles
West Burton Falls
If you have time, you could visit West Burton Falls, also known as Cauldron Falls.
This small waterfall is a short walk from West Burton village green. It was also one of the Yorkshire waterfalls painted by Turner.
These falls have a gorgeous plunge pool which is lovely to swim in on a summer’s day.
York to West Burton Falls – 1 hour 21 minutes / 57 miles
Swaledale has several waterfalls, four of which are centred around the village of Keld. This area is a beautiful part of the Dales and is worth a full day trip from York.
The four waterfalls can be visited in one day but some can only be visited on foot. If you plan to hike to all of them, the best place to park is in Keld village.
East Gill Force
East Gill Force is a 15 foot high waterfall just below East Gill Bridge on the edge of Keld. It is at the foot of East Gill and feeds into the River Swale.
How to get to East Gill Force
It is a short 300 metre walk from Keld to East Gill Force.
You can see the waterfall from the road but for the best views, descend the slope to the picnic area. We visited the falls as part of a longer 9-mile circular walk from Muker.
Wain Wath Force.
Wain Wath Force is the first of a trio of waterfalls on the River Swale. Wath is an old Anglo Saxon word for ford and there was once a ford crossing above the fall.
It is not a big or dramatic Yorkshire waterfall (it only drops 1 ½ metres) but it is in a scenic setting against limestone cliffs. It is a popular picnic and swimming spot in summer especially for families.
How to get to Wain Wath Force
It is a ½ hour walk from Keld to Wain Wath but you can also drive there. There is limited free roadside parking near the gate which accesses the waterfall.
Catrake Force
This pretty waterfall is also a hidden one. It cannot be seen from the road and there is also a restricted view on foot.
Catrake Force consists of four small waterfalls over four steps. The largest single drop is 20 feet.
How to get to Catrake Force
The waterfall can only be accessed from the campsite in Keld.
The campsite offers fee paying parking for day visitors to the area. This is the best place to park if you plan to visit all the Keld waterfalls on foot.
Kisdon Force
Kisdon Force is the best known of the Keld waterfalls. It consists of two falls – Upper and Lower Kisdon Force – which feed into the River Swale. The falls are in Kisdon Force Woods, a tranquil Site of Special Scientific interest.
The two falls have a combined drop of 33 feet and both falls have a plunge pool for swimming or cooling down after a hike. There is a grassy area for summer picnics.
How to get to Kisdon Force
Kisdon force is signposted off the Pennine Way which you can join in Keld. Make sure you walk in the right direction – downstream!
The final slope to the waterfall is very steep and slippery; there is a rope to help you down and up. It is not suitable for young children.
Nearby attractions
If you visit Swaledale in late Spring, don’t miss the stunning wildflowers meadows in Muker. You can walk through the meadows on a single paved path to the River Swale. It is highly recommended.
Also worth a stop is the Tan Hill Inn, a 15 minute drive from Keld. This isolated pub is England’s highest pub and has fantastic views over the surrounding area.
York to Keld – 1 hour 55 minutes / 81 miles
The southern Yorkshire Dales also has several waterfalls worth visiting. This section of the Dales is best visited as a full day trip from York as there is so much to see and do here.
Ingleton Waterfalls
Ingleton is a Yorkshire Dales market town that is famous for its caves, surrounding peaks and its 4 ½ mile waterfall trail. It is the most famous and most popular Yorkshire Dales waterfall walk.
The Ingleton Waterfalls walk is on privately owned land on the edge of town so you need to pay to access the trail. It is a scenic walk encompassing six pretty waterfalls of varying sizes. It takes 3 – 4 hours to complete.
The path is uneven and the rocks can be wet and slippery from spray so good gripping footwear is a must. The path is not wheelchair or pushchair friendly as there are also several steps on route.
There is car parking, toilets and a cafe at the entrance plus there is a small refreshment kiosk at the halfway point of the trail.
How to visit Ingleton waterfalls
Ingleton waterfalls tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for children.
In the summer months the trail is open from 9am to 7 pm but is only open to 2.30pm during the winter months.
Nearby attractions
Nearby Ingleton walks include Ingleborough, one of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks. It is a long walk but not technically challenging.
You can also visit England’s longest show cave, White Scar Cave and Ingleborough Cave.
York to Ingleton – 2 hours drive / 75 miles
Stainforth Force
Stainforth Force near Settle is a low waterfall on the River Ribble measuring just over 8 foot high.
In Autumn you can see salmon leaping up the low falls on their way to reach their spawning grounds in Upper Ribblesdale.
These are some of the most accessible waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales and, as a result, get very busy in peak season.
How to visit Stainforth Falls
Park in the National Park car park in Stainforth and follow the Pennine Bridleway signs. On route you will cross the historic packhorse bridge that was built in 1675.
York to Stainforth – 1 hour 44 / 61 miles
Catrigg Force
This idyllic waterfall is in a secluded, wooded gorge and is hidden from view until you are upon it.
There are two waterfall drops plunging into a deep pool. Each drop is 20 foot high and they are separated by a 60 foot long woodland copse.
How to get to Catrigg Force
Park in the National Park car park in Stainforth and follow the signs to Catrigg Force. The walk is one mile.
Posforth Gill Falls
This waterfall pair is found on the Bolton Abbey estate, east of Skipton. The falls are in Posforth Gill, which is otherwise known as The Valley Of Desolation.
Depending on the weather and current access, you may only be able to see the lower part of the falls but, after heavy rain, it is spectacular.
How to visit Posforth Gill Falls
The falls are a little off the beaten track; not many visitors to Bolton Abbey visit the waterfalls.
Start at the Cavendish Pavilion and follow the signs for Simon’s Seat. The waterfalls are a short detour from this path.
The path is uneven, rocky and undulating so it is not suitable for pushchairs.
Nearby attractions
You can easily spend a whole day at Bolton Abbey exploring its woodland walks, riverside trails and the Abbey ruins. Bolton Abbey is a great value for money day out as you only pay for parking.
Alternatively, visit one of England’s beat preserved medieval castles in Skipton.
I also recommend a quick stop at rural Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour, halfway between Bolton Abbey and Skipton.
York to Bolton Abbey – 1 hour 14 minutes / 39 miles
Central Malhamdale is one of my favourite locations in the Yorkshire Dales.
The hiking in this area is spectacular; a circular walk that includes Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss waterfall was recently voted the best walk in Britain.
Janet’s Foss
Janet’s Foss is a small pretty waterfall a 1 1/2 mile walk from Malham village. It lies at the end of a wooded valley which is carpeted with garlic in Spring.
The waterfall has a gorgeous plunge pool for swimming.
How to get to Janet’s Foss
Park in the fee-paying National Park centre in Malham. Cross over the beck and follow the signs to the waterfall and Gordale Scar.
The first part of the path through fields is flat and mostly paved. After a kissing gate, you enter the wooded valley. The path here is uneven and rocky.
It is a 3 miles round trip from Malham to Janet’s Foss.
Alternatively, drive for one mile along Gordale Lane and park near the top of the waterfall.
Nearby attractions
Malham Cove is a must see attraction in the Yorkshire Dales.
You can walk to the base of the cove from Malham village in 30 minutes on a paved, accessible path.
At the side of the cove there is a set of steep stone steps that will bring you to the top of the cove and its limestone pavement.
Harry Potter fans will recognise the pavement as Harry and Hermione’s camping site in the movie ‘Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince.’ There are fantastic views over Malhamdale from the top of the cove. The limestone pavement has knee deep ravines and the edge is unfenced so watch your step.
A further half mile walk from Janet’s Foss is Gordale Scar. It is well worth visiting this dramatic, imposing gorge. From here, you can return the way you came to Malham or continue on the circular hike to reach Malham Cove.
You can also visit Malham Tarn, one of only two natural lakes in the Yorkshire Dales.
York to Malham – 1 hour 35 minutes / 54 miles
If you have a favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales that is not in this round up, let me know so I can visit!
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