There is something atmospheric about a rainy walk on an overcast weekend.
Published 18th Oct 2026, 06:00 BST
With the drizzly days rolling in, I wanted to find the best waterfall walks in Yorkshire. My reasoning was simple: more rainfall means dramatic waterfalls. And if I was hiking to watch water, surely I wouldn’t mind getting drenched along the way?
That’s when I remembered Hardraw Force: the highest single-drop waterfall in England.
Since I was hunting for waterfall walks, I decided that anything record-breaking should definitely top the list. On a grey-skied Sunday, I clambered into my car, packing waterproofs for good measure.
Hardraw Force is located in the village of Hardraw, towards the northern boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
It had been months since I’d driven further than Malham or Whernside, and I’d almost forgotten how scenic these roads were. From Leeds, the drive took two hours, passing Settle, Ribblehead Viaduct, and Hawes (where I managed to resist stopping at Wensleydale Creamery).
Driving along Bellow Hill, Hardraw seemed to suddenly appear out of nowhere, its stone properties hidden by trees.
Hardraw Force is owned by The Green Dragon Inn, an ivy-cloaked pub in the middle of the village. Some say that the Green Dragon is haunted — a previous landlord reported flying CDs and floating beer glasses. Perhaps I'd brave a drink afterwards; its creaking sign was certainly atmospheric.
Signposts direct visitors to a small parking area behind the inn. In an adjoining Heritage Centre, I paid £4 to enter Hardraw Force through a turnstile. A smiling lady handed me a map. “This is the longer route,” she said, pointing at a dotted track.
Tumbling over a limestone cliff, Hardraw Force is hidden within a woodland reserve. Flowing away from the waterfall, Hardraw Beck is criss-crossed by whimsical footbridges — visitors follow the stream to its source.
Following the turnstile operator’s advice, I crossed the first footbridge and took a steep flight of stairs, joining the longer ‘upper trail.’ Despite peering through the foliage, I heard the waterfall before I saw it. Reaching a wooden bridge, I watched as thundering waters disappeared over the edge of the clifftop. The noise alone sent goosebumps along my arms.
Excited to see Hardraw Force from its plunge pool, I followed the trail along the perimeter wall, gradually descending to ground level.
A few other visitors were taking this route, including a family with a toddler — sat smugly in a muddy puddle, throwing sticks towards Hardraw Beck, and taking full advantage of all-in-one waterproofs.
The lower path was only a 10-minute walk, so I was surprised at how adventurous it felt. The atmosphere was giddying as the thundering noise of Hardraw Force grew louder.
Finally emerging at the plunge pool, I was awe-struck. The water dropped 100ft from the clifftop above: a powerful stream that plunged straight into a churning pool below. The spray was so strong that it splattered my face from metres away. Enthralled, I must have stood there for 15 minutes.
Returning along the footbridges and woodland trails, I stopped to snap photographs of the scenery. Everything was electric green – I’d love to return when the leaves turn orange, and the scenery changes again.
Back at the car, I threw on some dry layers and blasted the heating. Hardraw Force was a reminder of the power of nature, and no, I didn’t mind getting a little wet.