Waterfalls Walks Yorkshire Dales South

Waterfall Walks in Malham, Wharfedale and Nidderdale AONB

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 southern part of the Yorkshire Dales, including Nidderdale AONB. You’ll find waterfall walks in Malham, Upper Wharfedale, Bolton Abbey and Upper Nidderdale and with some of the most spectacular falls in the Yorkshire Dales, you won’t be disappointed!

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

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.

Cray Gill waterfall in upper Wharfedale

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

Buckden Beck waterfalls in Buckden
climbing up to Janet's Foss waterfall

Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

📍 Malham, Yorkshire Dales

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🚘🥾🎒✨🌳👻🚌🐶

📏 4 - 8 miles dependant on the route you opt to take.

This walk takes in the epic waterfalls of Malham; Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar.

The stuff of legends! Literally.

Did you know that Janet’s Foss is the home of Janet the Queen of the Fairies?! True story….. or is it?

Cow Close Waterfall above Cray in Wharfedale

Cow Close Waterfalls

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🎒🚘🥾💦🌳🚌🐶

📍 Cray, Upper Wharfedale. The Yorkshire Dales.

📏 4.5 miles linear walk

A waterfall for a true explorer!

This little gem of a find is a little off-piste and located in plain sight in Upper Cray, but will have you channelling your full inner explorer to get up close!

The waterfalls on the RIver Nidd in Lofthouse

River Nidd Waterfalls

⭐ Little Monkeys

📍 Lofthouse, Nidderdale

💦🎒🌳🥾🚌🐶

📏 Less than 1 mile

Located in Lofthouse, Upper Nidderdale, this hidden gem is spectacular in the winter and a perfect picnic and paddle spot in the Summer. It is not so much a walk as an amble from the car park, so GREAT for the littlest of monkeys!

Heber's Ghyll waterfall in Ilkley

Heber’s Ghyll, Ilkley

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

📍 Ilkley, West Yorkshire

🚘🎒🥾💦✨🌳🚌🐶

📏 2 miles

A waterfall, woodland and a Neolithic carved stone. What more could you want from a walk? (Unless you fancy a dinosaur hunt as well…)

Hebden Beck waterfalls near Grassington

Hebden Beck Waterfall (Scale Haw Force)

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🚘🥾💦✨🌳🧒🚌🐶

📍 Hebden, near Grassington. Yorkshire Dales National Park

📏 less than 2 miles circular

The most secret waterfall…

Also known as Scale Haw Force, this incredible waterfall is an absolute belter. Located on Hebden Beck, the waterfall is only really accessible by wading up the Beck or scrambling along the bank, which is what has earned it its Superstar Hikers rating, despite being less than 2 miles in length.

Swimming in Buckden Beck waterfall

Buckden Beck Waterfalls

⭐ Little Monkeys

🎒🚘🥾💦🌳🚌🐶

📍 Buckden, Upper Wharfedale

📏 less than 1 mile linear walk there and back.

This walk is a very short walk to the Buckden Beck Waterfalls, but for less than 1 mile, you will get LOADS of waterfall action!

Located on the lower slopes of Buckden Pike, we love this walk and it is one of our go to wanders for an end of the day paddle if we are in the area!

Bolton Abbey waterfalls in the Valley of Desolation

Bolton Abbey Waterfalls, Valley of Desolation

⭐⭐ Little Monkeys

📍 Bolton Abbey, Lower Wharfedale, The Yorkshire Dales

🎒💦🥾🌳✨🚌

📏 5 miles

Did you know that the Bolton Abbey Estate is not just about the trails, it has an incredible set of waterfalls too?

This circular walk will take you to them.

Cray Gill waterfalls in upper Wharfedale

Cray Gill Waterfalls

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📍 Buckden/Cray, Upper Wharfedale

💦🎒🥾🚘🌳🚌🐶

📏 5 miles circular

There are 11ty billion waterfalls on this walk. Fact.

Ok, I got the kids to count, but there are so many wonderful waterfalls to spot that 11ty billion isn’t a bad shout and for only 5 miles, that’s a lot of waterfalls mile!

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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