Best Waterfall in England, United Kingdom - Map and Reviews

Catrake Force is a beautiful and relatively secluded waterfall located in Keld, a tiny hamlet in the upper reaches of Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The waterfall sits on Catrake Beck as it tumbles over a series of limestone steps and ledges before making its principal plunge into a narrow rocky gorge below. It is one of several notable waterfalls in close proximity along this stretch of the Dale, and while it may be less widely celebrated than nearby Hardraw Force or the famous falls of the Lake District, it rewards those who seek it out with a genuinely wild and intimate character. The surrounding limestone landscape gives it a distinctly northern English flavour — austere, green, and ancient-feeling. The name "Catrake" is believed to derive from Old Norse, reflecting the Viking settlement of this part of Yorkshire during the early medieval period. Swaledale as a whole carries deep traces of Norse influence in its place names, with words like "force" (from "foss," meaning waterfall) and "gill" (a narrow mountain stream) appearing throughout the valley. The Norse settlers who farmed and grazed these uplands would have known this beck and its falls well, and the landscape has changed little in its fundamental character since those times. The hamlet of Keld itself, through which walkers typically pass to reach the fall, is one of the most remote and atmospheric settlements in the Yorkshire Dales. In physical terms, Catrake Force drops perhaps eight to ten metres in total over its main section, with the water channelling through a tight limestone gorge that amplifies the sound considerably. After rain or in winter and spring, the beck runs with real force and the falls become thunderous and spray-laden, coating the surrounding rocks and ferns in moisture. In drier summer conditions the flow reduces but the falls remain photogenic, revealing more of the geological structure beneath — the clean horizontal bedding of the Great Scar Limestone that underpins so much of the Dales landscape. The gorge is draped in ferns, mosses, and hart's-tongue in the wetter crevices, and the whole scene feels enclosed and slightly secret. Keld and the immediate surroundings represent Swaledale at its most remote and scenically powerful. The village sits at the head of the dale where the valley narrows dramatically, and the area is ringed by open moorland rising to the fells above. Close by are other waterfalls including Kisdon Force on the River Swale itself, which is accessible by a short diversion and arguably even more dramatic. The route between Keld and Muker to the east is one of the great short walks in the Dales, passing meadows renowned for their wildflowers in early summer. The Pennine Way long-distance footpath passes through Keld, as does the Coast to Coast walk, making the hamlet a well-known waypoint for long-distance walkers even if Catrake Force itself is sometimes overlooked in favour of the Swale gorge below. Access to Catrake Force is straightforward on foot from Keld. There is limited roadside parking in or near the village, and walkers follow a clear path from the hamlet down into the gill to reach the falls. The walk from the centre of Keld to the waterfall is short — a matter of a few minutes — making it accessible to most visitors without requiring significant fitness or equipment, though the path can be muddy and uneven in places and appropriate footwear is advisable. The best time to visit for dramatic water volume is after a period of rainfall or during the wetter months from autumn through to late spring. Summer visits are pleasant for the greenery and light but may coincide with lower water levels. The nearest town of any size is Reeth, around twelve miles down the dale, and Kirkby Stephen lies to the northwest over the fell. One of the quietly fascinating aspects of Catrake Force and the Keld area is how it sits at the confluence of two of Britain's most beloved long-distance walking routes without becoming heavily touristed. The Coast to Coast walk, devised by Alfred Wainwright and followed by tens of thousands of walkers each year, passes directly through Keld, yet the falls themselves see a fraction of the footfall of comparable features elsewhere. The landscape around Keld also contains remarkable concentrations of traditional hay meadows that in June erupt into colour with wood cranesbill, yellow rattle, pignut, and dozens of other wildflowers — a habitat so rare nationally that the area is carefully protected. Catrake Force is, in this sense, part of a broader tapestry of natural and cultural richness that makes the head of Swaledale one of the genuinely irreplaceable corners of northern England.

Cotter Force is a picturesque waterfall located in Wensleydale, one of the most celebrated of the Yorkshire Dales. Situated on the Widdale Beck near the hamlet of Appersett, just a short distance west of Hawes, it represents one of the region's quieter and more intimate natural attractions. While it may lack the sheer scale of better-known falls such as Hardraw Force or Aysgarth Falls, Cotter Force more than compensates with its unspoiled character and the sense of discovery it rewards upon visitors who make the modest effort to reach it. The falls drop over a series of limestone and gritstone ledges into a sheltered gorge framed by trees, creating a scene of considerable beauty that changes dramatically with the seasons. The waterfall forms where Widdale Beck descends through a glacially sculpted valley. The surrounding landscape is typical of upper Wensleydale: broad, windswept moorland punctuated by drystone walls and traditional field barns, with the valley floor offering a gentler patchwork of meadows. The becks and gills that carve through this limestone country are responsible for numerous waterfalls scattered throughout the Dales, and Cotter Force is among the finest of the lesser-known examples. The geology of the area reflects the characteristic Yoredale series of rock — alternating bands of limestone, shale, and sandstone — which creates the stepped, tiered character seen in so many of the region's waterfalls. In person, Cotter Force possesses an intimacy that larger, more famous falls cannot match. The gorge through which the beck runs is lined with mossy rocks, gnarled trees, and ferns that thrive in the perpetual moisture. The sound of the water is constant and enveloping — not the thunderous roar of a large fall but a lively, musical rush that fills the narrow dell. After heavy rain, the force with which the water tumbles increases considerably, and the beck takes on an urgency and volume that is genuinely impressive for such a modest stream in ordinary conditions. In dry summer weather, the flow softens to something more delicate, and the clarity of the water over the pale rock becomes particularly appealing. The surrounding area around Appersett and Hawes is rich in walking routes and natural interest. Hawes itself, the main market town of upper Wensleydale, lies barely two miles to the east and offers a full range of visitor facilities including the Dales Countryside Museum, the famous Wensleydale Creamery where the eponymous cheese has been produced for centuries, and a lively market. The Pennine Way long-distance footpath passes through the area, and the network of public footpaths connecting Appersett to Cotter Force and beyond links neatly into longer walks across the moor or down the dale. The Great Knoutberry Hill and the broad tops of the surrounding fells are accessible from here for those wishing to extend their outing into wilder country. Access to Cotter Force is straightforward and well within the reach of most walkers. The most common approach begins at or near Appersett, a small settlement on the A684 Sedbergh to Hawes road, where limited roadside parking is available. A footpath leads from the village alongside Widdale Beck, following the water upstream through pasture and into the wooded gill where the falls are found. The walk is short — typically around half a mile to a mile each way — and involves relatively modest gradients, making it suitable for families and less experienced walkers, though the path can become muddy and slippery after wet weather, and sensible footwear is always advisable. The falls themselves sit on private land but are accessible via the public right of way. The best times to visit Cotter Force are spring and autumn, when water levels tend to be higher and the woodland surrounding the gorge is at its most vivid — fresh green growth in April and May, and a spectacular show of amber and russet in October and November. Midsummer, while pleasant, can see the flow reduced to a trickle in dry years, somewhat diminishing the drama of the scene. Winter visits can be magical if conditions allow, particularly when the rocks and surrounding trees are rimed with ice or dusted with snow, though the path can become genuinely treacherous underfoot. The gorge is sheltered from the worst of the dale's wind, making it a surprisingly pleasant refuge even on blustery days. One of the most appealing qualities of Cotter Force is its relative obscurity. While the Yorkshire Dales attract millions of visitors each year and certain honeypot sites can become extremely crowded, Cotter Force remains largely the preserve of those who have done a little research or who have explored beyond the obvious. It is the kind of place that rewards curiosity — a genuine hidden gem in a landscape already full of natural riches, offering a moment of quiet communion with the upland becks and the ancient geology of the Dales without crowds or commercial infrastructure. For those who find their way there, it tends to linger in the memory long after more celebrated sights have faded.