Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Blackpool
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Blackpool include Hatch Brook Waterfall, White Spout, Roddlesworth Waterfall, Lower Leck Beck, Thornton Force Waterfall, Gibson's Spout, Scaleber Force Waterfall and Stainforth Force.
Blackpool may be known for its beach and its tower, but a short drive inland unlocks a fine crop of waterfalls in the hills of Lancashire and beyond. Head south and east toward Chorley and Blackburn for the woodland falls at Hatch Brook and Roddlesworth, hidden in the West Pennine Moors.
Turn toward Lancaster and the Forest of Bowland for remote White Spout, out on the open moor. Push further east into the Yorkshire Dales and a whole run of falls awaits: the cave-riddled Lower Leck Beck, the geologically curious Thornton Force on the Ingleton trail, and the twin gems of Scaleber Force and Stainforth Force near Settle.
Northward, on the fringe of the Lake District, little Gibson's Spout tucks into the hills near Bootle. Some are easy woodland strolls, others need boots and a map, but all sit within a comfortable day's reach.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Blackpool.
Hatch Brook Waterfall
Photo: Alan Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Hatch Brook Waterfall Above the village of Brinscall, in the West Pennine Moors near Chorley, Hatch Brook drops through a wooded ravine to form this small fall. Its flow varies greatly with the weather, from a decent cascade after rain to little more than a trickle in dry spells, so time your visit for after a good downpour.
It is awkward to reach, either seen from above the track or by a steep scramble down to the base. This is a little-known spot in the Brinscall woods, off the radar of most visitors, and a quiet introduction to the falls within easy reach of Blackpool.
Wear sturdy footwear for the descent.
White Spout
Photo: Tom Richardson via Geograph.org.uk
White Spout Out on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, a few miles east of Lancaster, White Spout drops in upper Littledale on a minor stream called Whitespout Gutter. This is high grazing land, draining down through Udale Beck and Artle Beck, and the fall is remote and unspoilt, with no signposts or facilities to guide you.
You reach it on foot across rough open ground on the Littledale circuit, the best view being from beside the beck where the path crosses near the old shooting butts. Peaceful and little known, it suits walkers after a taste of the Bowland hills, a fine change of scene from the Blackpool seafront.
Roddlesworth Waterfall
Photo: Mr T via Geograph.org.uk
Roddlesworth Waterfall South of Blackburn, in the Roddlesworth and Tockholes plantation, this small cascade runs on the River Roddlesworth through mixed woodland laid out around a chain of reservoirs. A short walk from the road along riverside and woodland paths brings you to the fall, which ranges from a trickle in dry weather to a roar after heavy rain.
The wider wood, with the ruins of an old house among the trees, is a popular spot for family walks and dog-walking, though there are no facilities at the fall itself. Easy and welcoming, it makes a gentle woodland outing from Blackpool, ideal when you fancy a stroll rather than a stiff hike.
Lower Leck Beck
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Lower Leck Beck On the border of Lancashire and Cumbria, below the fells of Leck Fell, Lower Leck Beck runs through classic limestone country on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. This is karst landscape, and the beck is tied to one of the great cave systems of Britain: water sinks underground through the rocks of Ease Gill and resurfaces lower down at Leck Beck Head, part of the longest cave system in the country.
Above ground, the steep-sided gorge at Ease Gill Kirk, with its leaning rock walls and cave mouths, is the highlight of a long circular walk from Leck village. The upland shafts are fenced off, so tread carefully.
Thornton Force Waterfall
Photo: Kevin Rushton via Geograph.org.uk
Thornton Force Waterfall A highlight of the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, Thornton Force is a wide fall on the River Twiss, where the river pours over a lip of limestone into the pool below. Visitors can walk right under the overhanging rock, which is quite a thrill.
Its great interest lies in the geology on show in the cliff behind: level beds of limestone sit straight on top of much older, tilted slates, with a gap of hundreds of millions of years between them, a classic example of what geologists call an unconformity. You reach it on the paid circular trail from Ingleton, which strings together a fine set of falls, well worth the drive inland from Blackpool.
Gibson's Spout
Photo: Hilary Cooper via Geograph.org.uk
Gibson's Spout Over in western Cumbria, near the village of Bootle, Gibson's Spout is a small waterfall on a burn in the low hills a mile or so from the village. Victorian engineers tidied the fall up long ago to help form a small reservoir for the village water supply, so it carries a little human history alongside the natural spectacle.
It is a modest, little-known spot, marked on the old maps but easy to miss. Quiet farming and hill country surrounds it on every side.
For a gentle outing well away from the crowds, it rewards those who make the drive north from Blackpool toward the fringe of the Lake District.
Scaleber Force Waterfall
Photo: Peter Bond via Geograph.org.uk
Scaleber Force Waterfall A mile or so south-east of Settle, Scaleber Force sees Stockdale Beck drop about forty feet in two steps over limestone into a deep pool, set in a wooded gorge. The gorge was cut along a great fault in the rock, and an old lime kiln stands among the trees of the little woodland reserve around it.
You reach it from pull-ins on a quiet lane, then down a steep, narrow stepped path to a viewing point. This is a short but rewarding spot rather than a long walk, so it suits a quick stop as much as a longer day.
It makes a splendid Dales outing within reach of Blackpool.
Stainforth Force
Photo: John S Turner via Geograph.org.uk
Stainforth Force Just below the village of Stainforth, north of Settle, Stainforth Force is a set of stepped limestone waterfalls on the River Ribble. The river drops over rock ledges into a large pool, beside an old stone packhorse bridge of the seventeenth century, now cared for by the National Trust.
In autumn, you can watch salmon and sea trout leaping up the falls on their way to spawn upstream, while the pool below is a well-known wild swimming spot, though it turns dangerous in spate. You reach it on a short walk from a car park in the village, under the road and across the railway, a rewarding finish to a day out from Blackpool.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Blackpool is best for a family walk?
Roddlesworth Waterfall, in the woods south of Blackburn, suits families well, with easy riverside and woodland paths and plenty of space for children to roam. Stainforth Force near Settle is another gentle option.
When is the best time to see salmon at Stainforth Force?
Autumn is the time to visit Stainforth Force, north of Settle, when salmon and sea trout can be watched leaping up the falls on their way to spawn upstream on the River Ribble.
Are the Yorkshire Dales waterfalls a long drive from Blackpool?
The Dales falls, such as Thornton Force at Ingleton and Scaleber Force near Settle, lie around fifty to sixty kilometres from Blackpool, so allow a full day to enjoy them properly.
Conclusion
From the wooded ravines of the West Pennine Moors to the stepped limestone of the Yorkshire Dales, Blackpool sits within reach of a rich variety of waterfalls. Some, like Roddlesworth and Stainforth Force, come at the end of an easy stroll and suit a relaxed family day.
Others, such as White Spout and Lower Leck Beck, ask for boots, a map and a taste for open, lonely country. The Dales falls around Settle and Ingleton reward the longer drive with proper drama and some fascinating geology.
Check the weather, since many of these run best after rain, and take care near swollen pools in spate. Whether you head for the Pennines, the Dales or the edge of the Lakes, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Blackpool.
