Cray Gill Waterfalls

Directions to Cray Gill Waterfalls

1. Beginning at Buckden Car Park, take that gate out of the car park, which leads in the direction of Cray. The path is a wide stony bridleway, which heads gradually upwards towards Buckden Rake. Keep on this path after it levels out, passing through several gates, until after approximately 2km from the car park, you reach a gate in the wall to your left, leading downhill in the direction of the hamlet of Cray. The signpost says ‘public footpath Cray’.

2. Head through this gate, which heads steeply downwards through the field, roughly heading to the wall, then following that down. At the bottom you reach the stepping stones across the water. Cross these and head up the path behind the right hand side of the White Lion pub.

3. There is a yellow way marker pointing you in the direction of the path. Continue until the path forks and there is a footpath sign. You need to bear left at this point, heading on the lower left hand fork, it looks like you are going to head into the driveway of one of the properties, but there is a sign pointing towards a narrow path through the wall that leads between the edge of the garden to the property and a dry stone wall. This then heads through a wooden gate into a more open field. The path is clear here and you need to follow it round, keeping the wall on the right. (For those not keen on cows, we encountered some very friendly ones in this field the first time we walked it. There were none, on our re-walk)

4. You will see Cray Beck on your left, firstly at a distance below you, before the path descends to be closer to it. At the point that it disappears into the woodland, there is a gate with a National Trust sign on it. Head through this. The path continues. Keep the woodland on your left. You will soon hear the sound of the first waterfall, and catch a glimpse of it through the trees. You cannot access it here, there is a steep drop so please don’t even try! If you walk a bit further along to where the beck is easily accessible and then double back on yourself, there is an easy path alongside the water, which will lead you right up to the waterfall. (We walked this first after a period of dry weather, where it was easy to access this first waterfall. The second time was after heavy rainfall. The waterfall was accessible still by the path, but you weren’t able to get quite as close to it without taking your shoes off and wading up!)

5. Once you have taken in the beauty of the first falls, head back to the path, and then continue along the footpath. You will almost immediately see a bridge ahead of you and an obvious offshoot path heading right, at a right angle from the main path. This will take you to a spectacular waterfall, hidden just off path. This is the waterfall with the biggest drop at around 20 feet. Head back to the path, once you have visited it.

6. Cross the bridge, keeping the beck to your left. There’s a lovely spot to get down to the water’s edge at the bridge to have a splash and paddle (just be aware that we did this walk firstly after a period of dry weather, so the falls will be vastly different after heavy rain. Always check depths and be wary of currents before allowing children to paddle)

7. Continue along the path keeping the beck to your side. You will encounter lots of small drop waterfalls along the route, some of which are accessible from the path, some less so. Bear in mind that we did not have to climb to any of these waterfalls and accessibility was well within the capabilities of the children (aged 5 & 7 at the time). Any off path exploring near water should be supervised at all times by an adult, and please be aware that the stones around the edge of the water can be slippery.

8. The rushing beck, soon broadens out, and eventually joins the River Wharfe. Continue along the path, through the beautiful meadow land until you reach a quiet country lane. Turn right and head along the road until you reach the bridge at Hubberholme. (we encountered no cars at all, whilst we walked along here on both occasions, but be aware that it is a road!)

9. Cross the bridge towards the pub, then turn left along the other country lane leading out of Hubberholme (you have now joined the Dales Way path)

10. Continue along the road, until you see a signposted footpath to your left, signposted the Dales Way. Take this, and head back along the River Wharfe, until you return to Buckden Old Bridge. Cross the bridge then head back into the village and then back to the car park.

Last walked July 2022