High Force Waterfall 2024 Guide

For an exciting day out in the north of England, a trip to High Force Waterfall makes a lot of sense. It’s physically impressive and there are several walking routes taking you close enough to see it. Plus, there are car parks with toilets nearby! What more could you want?

I visited High Force Waterfall in March 2024 and have compiled this guide to help you plan your own trip. I’d definitely recommend a visit and hope the information in this guide is useful.

Where is High Force Waterfall?

You’ll find High Force Waterfall along the River Tees in County Durham, within the North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty.

The area around High Force Waterfall is rural and barely tamed. Even during my visit in March, with cloud overhead and drizzle above, the area was incredibly stunning.

I found it super bizarre when approaching the waterfall. There were barely any cars on the road, but then suddenly the roads became super busy. Wonder why?!

All about High Force Waterfall

High Force is a popular destination due to its claim as one of Britain’s largest waterfalls. Although other waterfalls are taller, it takes the spot as Britain’s most powerful waterfall. (Or its most power-fall?)

This gorgeous cascade features a strong flow which has enraptured people for centuries. It’s been the scene for many a drawing, most notably by Turner. Nowadays it benefits for being close to a road with easy walking trails on either side of the river bank.

The waterfall itself falls over Whin Sill. Sills are an igneous rock which forms when magma intrudes between two flat rock layers. They’re one of my favourite geological structures to see as they are relatively easy to spot in the landscape! Whin Sill in particular is a massive sill which formed around 300 million years ago due to the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea. And now it forms a vital role in forming the hard surface across which the waterfall cascades.

High Force was the first waterfall I’ve seen in the UK and it did not disappoint!

Where to park

High Force Waterfall is virtually impossible to get to unless you’ve got a car. Sure, a bus route passing the waterfall exists, but this is only operated on Wednesdays and you’ll need to get to one of the nearby towns (which will already be a challenge).

The easiest solution is to drive and park at the car park operated by Raby Estates. This estate owns the eastern bank of the waterfall and have a hotel (High Force Hotel) there too. They have a car park, which costs £3 for three hours, and also have facilities like an outdoor food vendor and toilets, making it a super convenient option.

A lot of cars also park along the road for free, which is great if you’re doing a longer walk around the area. If you are specifically visiting for the waterfall though, you might end up walking a long way to see it!

If are on longer walk or want to see nearby the other nearby waterfall (Low Force), you can park at Bowlees Visitor Centre. This car park is on a donation basis so is a bit cheaper, and it’s a good option if you also want to visit Low Force or check out other routes.

Ratings

As part of this blog, I give every place I visit a rating so that I can easily compare places and decide whether they’re worth a visit. Those are the scores you see at the top of the page!

This is how High Force Waterfall rated:

• Safety: 4/5 – the walk to the waterfall generally felt safe and fine. I only worry as the river is fast moving and I wouldn’t like to accidentally fall in!
• Accessibility: 4/5 – as far as walks go, the Raby Estates trail is easy and accessible.
• Enjoyment: 5/5 – High Force Waterfall is such a fun place to visit.
• Value: 4/5 – High Force Waterfall isn’t free if you use the Raby Estates trail, but there are free alternatives. That being said, car parking charges might start adding up.

Overall score: 4.25/5

If you’ve already visited, let me know if you agree with these ratings! Just to note, the ratings are my personal opinion based on my visit, so you might have a completely different experience.

How to walk to High Force Waterfall

You’ve got two main options for walking to see the waterfall: taking the official Raby Estates trail, or going along the western bank.

Option 1: use the path at High Force Hotel

The official way of visiting High Force Waterfall is via the route provided by Raby Estates. They have a short trail from the car park which leads you close to the waterfall. It took us around 15 minutes to get from the entrance to the path and the base of the waterfall, so it’s perfect if you’re strapped for time!

As this path is privately owned and maintained, a ticket costs £3.50 for adults or £1.50 for children. It seems like good value when you compare it to the price of a meal deal, but bear in mind we were only on it for an hour.

The path is paved and easy to walk across. It does slope at points as you need to descend to reach the river, but for the most part it is accessible for pushchairs. The only steps are right at the end, where you can go down onto the riverbank, but from above you’ll still get a good view of the waterfall.

There is an alternative woodland route back, which is much steeper and muddier, but which might be entertaining to children due to the carved animals and occasional playing equipment en-route.

Raby Estate’s path to High Force Waterfall brings you to close proximity of the waterfall, and you can view it from a level location too. It’s a great option for people who can’t walk too far or want to keep the mud to a minimum.

Option 2: walk to the other side of the waterfall

A longer option is to walk to the other side of the waterfall. You’ll walk further to reach the waterfall on this route, but you can view the waterfall from multiple angles – and, as it’s publicly accessible land, it’s free!

If starting from the High Force Hotel car park, you’ll need to head along the road to the left (downstream of the waterfall). There’s then a path which you can take down the valley. You’ll then walk across a field until you reach a bridge, which you can use to cross the river.

You can then head upstream along the Pennine Way until you reach the waterfall. There’s first a viewpoint where you can see the waterfall from a distance. This viewpoint is at an elevated point a bit further away from the waterfall compared to the Raby Estates bank, but it is still pretty impressive.

Best of all: keep walking for two minutes and you will reach the top of the waterfall! This was the first time I’ve been above such a tall waterfall and it was a sight to behold.

This walk took us around 1 hour (round trip) at a fast pace, excluding time admiring the waterfall. In March it was muddy, and the ground was quite uneven. There are some big slopes too. However, as far as walks go, any seasoned hiker will find it a doddle.

For a longer walk, you can visit Low Force at the same time.

Which route should you take?

The big question then is: which walking option should you take?

I did both routes when I went and would recommend it. High Force Waterfall looks different depending on what angle you look at it from, so I got a new perspective at every viewpoint.

The Raby Estates trail is perfect for anyone who is rushed for time, doesn’t want to walk too far or wants an easy and accessible route. But experienced hikers will find it a disappointment as it is very short, and of course it isn’t free.

The free route on the other side of the river is great for people wanting to stretch their legs and experience the wilderness of the North Pennines whilst they walk. It’s not too difficult aside from a few stretches of steps, and you’ll see High Force from above too, which is fun. However, don’t attempt this with pushchairs or if you don’t like mud.

Refreshments and facilities at High Force Waterfall

You’ll find toilets at High Force Hotel car park. There’s an outdoor shack serving hot drinks and snacks, and (expensive) food is available within the hotel itself.

Bowlees Visitor Centre contains toilets and a cafe. I didn’t visit this one so I’m not sure how good the facilities are, but it might make a good stop if you are on a longer walk or want to check out Summerhill Force or Gibson’s Cave nearby.

Conclusion: visiting High Force Waterfall

I loved visiting High Force Waterfall, one of Britain’s largest waterfalls, which you’ll find in County Durham. There aren’t crazy numbers of waterfalls in England so seeing one as impressive as this was incredible.

It’s easy to visit High Force using the Raby Estates trail, and seeing it from above from the western side of the bank, along the Pennine Way, is an exciting alternative. I’d recommend either route – you can’t go wrong!

I hope this guide to High Force Waterfall helps you to plan your own visit, and, if you get there, you have a brilliant time.

Do you have any questions about visiting High Force? Let me know in the comments.

More information

Bowlees Visitor Centre has a useful map which is worth checking out before visiting.