5 Beautiful & Accessible Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales

Love walking across the rolling hills and mountains? Then you’ll love the Yorkshire Dales. If you’re not much of a walker like me, there is still so much you can see without breaking a sweat, especially the waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales.

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If you are travelling around the United Kingdom, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

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Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales

Aysgarth Falls

These waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales have a bonus for you as it has three to see, getting you right beside the River Ure.

Parking is pay-and-display and can either be at the Visitor Centre, which has 80 car parks or behind the village of Aysgarth.

The walk doing all three waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, takes only about an hour, depending on how long you spend at each waterfall. The track is an easy walk on a good path, with only stairs to negotiate at times.

The three Falls along the River Ure are named Upper, Middle and Lower Aysgarth Falls. If you start from the Visitor Centre, you could do the Upper Falls first by walking back down toward the bridge.

Upper Aysgarth Falls

The best view of all the Upper Falls is on the road just before you cross the bridge.

I parked in the village and walked down the road to the falls, which only took 5-10 minutes, but there is a steep part of the road. If you park in the Visitor Centre, you can take the path back to the bridge. Once you get to the bridge, you have your first sight of the Upper Aysgarth Falls.

A track takes you up the right side of the Falls. From here, you are up close to the top Cascade.

You can walk back to the Visitor Centre and on the other side is the path that takes you to the Middle and Lower Falls.

Middle Aysgarth Falls

Only a few hundred metres from the Visitor Centre is the Middle Falls.

About 20-30 steps will take you down to the viewing platform, where you can see the power of these falls, especially after some rain.

The platform gives a good vista, although the trees and bushes are growing up fast and may not leave much of a view if not kept in check.

Lower Aysgarth Falls

Only 10 minutes down the track, you’ll find the Lower Falls. There is a track down before you get to the falls that you can loop back up on your way back to the Visitor Centre.

Once again, you can get very close to the River Ure, so be careful as there is no barrier. You can walk back up the river to see a small cascade before taking the loop and walking back up to the main path.

Hours

Daily 10 am – 5 pm

West Burton and Cauldron Falls

Right behind the houses in the village of West Burton is Cauldron Falls, one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales. There is a small car park (5 spaces at the most) next to the river, although you can also park on Main Street, making it a highly accessible waterfall for all in the Yorkshire Dales.

As you enter the village, you’ll pass downstream of the falls. This little Cascade falls into a tranquil part of the river.

The falls are impressive, especially in the late afternoon with no sun reaching here.

You can walk on the right side where I am or cross the bridge to the left-hand side where the rocky ledge is in the photograph’s background for a closer view.

Aysgill Force

I stayed at the YHA in Hawes. It was here that I learnt about one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, Aysgill Force. It is about a 30-minute walk behind the village of Gayle, which was behind Hawes.

You can walk up the road, and as you get to the farm, you should hear the falls. Walk a bit further until you get to the stile, then walk down to the river with a bridge to the path on the other side.

A hundred metres or so further back, you’ll find these surprising falls with a massive drop of 40 feet.

The falls are getting harder to see as the trees grow taller. This point of the path is the only clear view of the falls I could get. If there has been a bit of rain, the trail can get very muddy.

You can follow the path back as it opens into sheep grazing fields, then cross the stiles until you’re back in Gayle.

More to do in the Yorkshire Dales

There are more waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales or if you are a real hiker, there is the Three Peaks walk that you can challenge yourself with at 24 miles in 12 hours. You can join an organised group to complete this epic walk via the website here.

I only spent one day exploring the waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, but there is so much more for me to see and do. There are more waterfalls, walks and even Bolton Castle to visit next time.

If you want to check out UK passes and what you should get for where then read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.

Where I Stayed in the Yorkshire Dales

I stayed in the YHA in Hawes. Not only are they situated on the hill with great views over the countryside, but they help fellow travellers with tips on where to go, hike or bike around the Dales.

I loved staying in this hostel as it was easy to get around to see the waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales I wanted, as well as being comfortable with great people to make you feel at home.

There is free parking, and great walking and cycling tracks in the area as well as the market town of Hawes only a short stroll away.

If you would like to stay here, click on the booking.com link or to see other accommodation in the area, click on the booking.com link here.

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Links

If you’d like to read more about my travels in the UK, click on the countries following links; England, Scotland and Wales.

If you want to check out UK passes and what you should get for where then read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.

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