UK Waterfalls Worth the Walk

From short roadside stops to full-day hikes through ancient woodland, the UK has an astonishing number of waterfalls tucked into its mountains, gorges and national parks. Here's a tour through some of the best in Wales, England and Scotland.

Wales

Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys — One of the "Seven Wonders of Wales," this three-stage waterfall tumbles roughly 240ft down a cliff face in the Berwyn Mountains, with a tea room right at the base for a well-earned drink afterwards.

Aber Falls (Rhaeadr Fawr), Gwynedd — A 37-metre drop reached via a well-maintained trail through native woodland, popular with wildlife-spotters as much as waterfall-chasers.

Sgwd-yr-Eira and the Four Waterfalls Walk, Brecon Beacons — South Wales's "Waterfall Country" packs four spectacular falls into one circular route, including Sgwd-yr-Eira, where a rocky path actually runs behind the curtain of water.

England

Aira Force, Lake District — Perhaps the most famous waterfall in the Lakes, dropping around 20 metres through a wooded ravine beside Ullswater. The circular trail is family-friendly and even inspired Wordsworth's poetry.

High Force, County Durham — England's highest waterfall above ground, where the River Tees thunders over a 21-metre drop of dramatic basalt cliffs — best combined with a walk from the Bowlees Visitor Centre.

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales — A trio of Upper, Middle and Lower Falls set in Wensleydale, each with its own character, and an easy option for a family day out.

Cautley Spout, Cumbria — Tucked between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in the often-overlooked Howgills, this is one of England's longest waterfalls, cascading roughly 180 metres down open fellside.

Scotland

Eas a' Chual Aluinn, Sutherland — Britain's tallest waterfall, dropping around 200 metres in the remote Northwest Highlands. Getting there takes a demanding hike or a boat across Loch Glencoul, but the reward is one of the wildest sights in the country.

Steall Falls, Glen Nevis — Scotland's second-highest waterfall, plunging around 120 metres near Fort William, reached via a dramatic gorge walk with several stream crossings.

Grey Mare's Tail, Dumfries and Galloway — A 60-metre plunge from Loch Skeen in the Southern Uplands, with both an easy five-minute viewpoint walk and a steeper path for those after mountain views.

The Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye — A series of crystal-clear waterfalls and plunge pools beneath the Cuillin Mountains, glowing turquoise on a clear day and popular for a (very cold) wild swim.