Waterfall Walks Yorkshire Dales North

Waterfall walks in Wensleydale and Swaledale

Are you looking for the BEST Yorkshire Dales waterfalls?

Then you are in the right place because this page is full of the BEST family friendly waterfall walks in the Northern and Eastern parts of the Yorkshire Dales. You’ll find waterfall walks in Wensleydale and Swaledale and with some of the most spectacular falls in the Yorkshire Dales, you won’t be disappointed! There is a RIDICULOUS concentration of epic, secret and hidden waterfalls in this part of the Yorkshire Dales, so many that a waterfall hunter will be in their element!

Did you know that the Yorkshire Dales is the home of SO MANY WATERFALLS that we couldn’t fit them all on one page? So if you are looking for waterfall walks in the Southern Dales and Nidderdale you’ll find them, or perhaps you are looking for waterfalls in the Western Yorkshire Dales? Well you’ll find them too!

Looking for the Biggest waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales?

Well you’ll find it right here as Hardraw Force is the largest single drop waterfall in England!

SO MANY WATERFALLS! And do you know what? We love waterfall hunting so much, you will HAVE to keep checking back for more because we are always on the hunt for more!

All of these walks are family friendly, suitable for kids and vary in difficulty, so check out the ratings below and have fun waterfall hunting!

Walk Difficulty Ratings

All of our tried and tested kid friendly walks have been divided into 3 categories dependant on difficulty, length and terrain:

⭐ Little Monkeys:

Walks suitable for younger children. Shorter length walks with occasional pushchair access.

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers:

Walks suitable for pre-schoolers. Medium length/ difficulty walks.

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers:

Walks suitable for older children. Longer length walks with some difficult terrain.

East Stonesdale Force waterfall in Keld

Walks at a Glimpse

Here is our quick look key so you can identify what each walk has without taking too long!

👶 Suitable for Pushchairs

🎒 Suitable for Carriers

🚘 Car Park/ On Street Parking

🚌 Public Transport Links

🐶 Dog Friendly

🥾 Sturdy Footwear or Wellies

🧒 A park or play area

🦆 Ducks to Feed

💦 Water play/ paddle/ swim

✨ Cool history or geology

👻 Legendary Story

🌳 Walking Games

The waterfall below mill gill force waterfall in Wensleydale
Gunnerside Gill and footbridge near the ruins

Gunnerside Gill

📍 Gunnerside, Swaledale North Eastern Yorkshire Dales

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🥾🚘🎒✨💦🚌🐶

📏 10 miles circular

This epic 10 mile circular walk around Gunnerside Gill was the kids’ official favourite walk of 2022. Yes. Even at 10 whole miles!

That in itself is an indication of this walk’s awesomeness! It takes in the abandoned ruins and scheduled monuments of the once thriving lead mines, fabulous waterfalls, and loads more!

Richmond Foss waterfall in Richmond

Easby Abbey and Richmond Foss

📍 Richmond, North Yorkshire

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾🎒💦✨🌳👻🐶🚌

📏 4 miles circular walk

This walk takes you from the centre of Richmond to Easby Abbey, passing the fabulous waterfalls of Richmond Foss. You’ll also head past the legendary Drummer Boy Stone and at the end (ok also at the beginning…) there’s a park!

Oh and also ICE CREAM!

Hardraw Force waterfall in the winter

Hardraw Force Waterfall

📍 Hardraw, Wensleydale. The Yorkshire Dales

🚘🥾👶/🧒💦👻🌳🚌🐶

📏 1-2 miles circular trail

A fabulously accessible waterfall walk, Hardraw Force is ace and even better in the winter when it’s a true force to be reckoned with!

Located behind the Green Dragon Pub in Wensleydale this waterfall incurs a fee to go and see it as it’s found on private land.

(Ooh and it was where they filmed THAT scene in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves)

Walking in front of Cotter Force waterfalll

Cotter Force

📍 Near Hawes, Wensleydale

⭐ Little Monkeys

👶💦✨🌳

📏 Less than 1 mile linear

This is a brilliantly accessible waterfall walk in Wensleydale. Both pushchair and wheelchair accessible, it’s also the perfect length for very little legs, just starting to explore!

Cauldron Fall waterfalls in West Burton

Cauldron Falls, West Burton

Cauldron Falls, West Burton

📍 West Burton, Wensleydale, The Yorkshire Dales

⭐ Little Monkeys / ⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾🎒/ 👶🧒💦🌳🐶🚌

📏 Circular walk, less than 2 miles

Cauldron Falls is a stunning waterfall found at the top of another set of wonderful waterfalls in a beautifully wooded clearing in Wensleydale.

This walk offers a super short pushchair option (which is a really a walk to the waterfalls and back) or a longer version. Plus, it has a play area (with a pub opposite!) WINNER!

Standing in Wainwath waterfall near Keld

Keld Waterfalls

📍 Keld, Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire Dales

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🥾🎒🚘💦🌳🚌🐶

📏 6 miles circular (ish)

This is not a walk. This is a waterfall bagger’s dream! With 6 waterfalls to bag on one walk, this one is one for the mega waterfall fans out there! Plus, if you fancy a paddle or even a wild swim, this one’s for you!

Mill Gill Force waterfall near Askrigg

Mill Gill and Whitfield Gill Force

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Askrigg, Wensleydale The Yorkshire Dales

🚘🥾🎒💦🌳🚌🐶

📏4.5 miles

Oh yes. This one is for the waterfall lovers out there! Not one, but TWO epic waterfalls, and you get a bonus waterfall in for good measure!

This walk starts and ends in the bustling village of Askrigg in Wensleydale and is awesome in winter and paddlesome in Summer!

West Burton to Aysgarth Circular

📍 West Burton, Wensleydale Yorkshire Dales National Park Central

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk, 5.5 miles

🥾🎒🚘💦🌳🚌🐶

This fab circular wander starts and ends at the pub and play park, has two famous waterfalls and has the option for a pub stop in the middle too!

So if you love a wander with waterfalls, play park and pubs and VIEWS! Then this is the one for you!

Looking at Aysgill force in the snow

Aysgill Force Waterfall

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Gayle, near Hawes, Wensleydale, the Yorkshire Dales

🚘🥾🎒🦆🚜💦🧒🚌🐶

📏 Circular walk, 4 miles

This 40 foot wonderful waterfall is well worth the walk from Hawes, where there is plenty of kid friendly stuff to do, including a PARK!

You’ll love it!

Swinner Gill and Crackpot Hall

📍 Keld, Swaledale, Yorkshire Dales National Park (North)

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers (some unguarded drops)

🥾🎒🚘💦👻🌳🚌🐶

📏 4 miles there and back again

This walk takes you to the stunning Swinner Gill, which is home to a spectacular waterfall (the picture on the right was during a drought!) But not only that, the walk will take you past the ruins of the epic Crackpot Hall, which has its own local legend, and East Stonesdale Force too!

Helpful Information!

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

⭐ If you choose to paddle, be aware of bio security. Always wear clean dry water shoes (if worn) to avoid cross contamination of species between watercourses, this is a particular issue in the Yorkshire Dales, to help protect the white clawed crayfish.

⭐ If you decide to paddle, be aware that wild water can be dangerous, and water levels will vary season to season. Always supervise children around water. Check out the safety information on the Royal Life Saving Society website.

Playing in Aysgarth Falls in the autumn leaves

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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