Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Chester
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Chester include Plaspower Waterfall, Dyserth Waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr, Waulkmill Waterfall, Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm, Hatch Brook Waterfall, Roddlesworth Waterfall and Machno Falls.
Chester sits between two lots of hills, and both are prime waterfall ground. West and southwest lie the Welsh valleys and mountains, while east the land climbs toward the Peak District and the West Pennine Moors.
Closest of all, just west near Wrexham, Plaspower Waterfall steps over the River Clywedog in wooded Plas Power. Push into north Wales and you reach the broad drop of Dyserth Waterfall in Denbighshire, then, further southwest in the Berwyn mountains, the towering Pistyll Rhaeadr near Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and the quieter Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm above Llangynog.
West again, near Betws-y-Coed, Machno Falls tumbles through its gorge at Penmachno. Turn the other way, east toward the Peak, and Waulkmill Waterfall sits on the edge of Bollington.
Further north, up in Lancashire, Hatch Brook near Brinscall and Roddlesworth near Blackburn hide in wooded ravines. Several of these depend heavily on rain, running to a trickle in dry weather, so choose your day with care and take boots for the rougher paths.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Chester.
Plaspower Waterfall
Photo: Geraint Roberts via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Plaspower Waterfall near Wrexham Just west of Chester, near Wrexham, Plaspower Waterfall is a cascade on the River Clywedog within Plas Power Woods, a Woodland Trust estate reached on the riverside walk through the trees. The water tumbles over a rocky step in the river, part weir and part natural fall, into pools where children paddle on warm days, making a photogenic spot along the Clywedog Valley Trail.
It lies close to the weir and stepping stones on the same stretch of river, tucked into quiet woodland, with the nearest parking over at Nant Mill. As the closest fall on this list, it makes an easy half-day out from the city with a gentle walk to match.
Dyserth Waterfall
Photo: Chris Downer via Geograph.org.uk
See Dyserth Waterfall in Denbighshire Out in Denbighshire, west of Chester, Dyserth Waterfall drops right behind the car park in the village of Dyserth, making it one of the easiest falls to reach in north Wales. A short walk and a bridge bring you to the foot of the water, which comes down a rock face in a single broad drop of around seventy feet.
Steep steps climb alongside for views from above, and a small cafe and picnic spot sit by the entrance. If you want a proper waterfall without a long trek, this is the pick of the bunch, and it suits families or anyone after a quick, rewarding stop close to the road.
Pistyll Rhaeadr
Photo: Alan Hughes via Geograph.org.uk
Walk to Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyns Southwest of Chester, on the southern edge of the Berwyn mountains about four miles from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys, Pistyll Rhaeadr is the best-known tall waterfall in Wales. The Afon Disgynfa falls in stages down a high cliff, the top plunge dropping around forty metres into a pool before tumbling on through the lower drops, with a natural rock arch called the Fairy Bridge spanning the falls.
It is counted among the Seven Wonders of Wales. A short, easy walk from the car park reaches the base, while a hill path climbs to the top, and there is a tea room by the falls.
Waulkmill Waterfall
Photo: Hal Westhead via Geograph.org.uk
Find Waulkmill Waterfall at Bollington East of Chester, on the northeastern edge of Bollington in Cheshire, Waulkmill Waterfall is a small fall on the River Dean in Ingersley Vale, below Kerridge Hill at the edge of the Peak District. It is part natural and part industrial: a natural fall with a mill weir built on top, which once served the textile mill at Ingersley Clough.
It sits in woodland of beech, oak and sycamore, reached on a circular walk of a few miles from Bollington. Bluebells and red campion come out here in spring, making it a lovely stop for a seasonal ramble.
Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm
Photo: Graham via Geograph.org.uk
See Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm near Llangynog Also in the Berwyn mountains southwest of Chester, Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm sits at the head of the Blaen y Cwm valley, where the young Afon Tanat spills off the southern hills near Llangynog in Powys. It is one of a scatter of falls in the upper Tanat valley, close to the ancient church at Pennant Melangell, and among the more reachable of them, taken in on a walk up the valley from the church.
The setting is quiet upland country of rough grazing and steep slopes, with no facilities at the fall itself. Pair it with nearby Pistyll Rhaeadr for a full day among the Berwyns, and bring everything you need with you.
Hatch Brook Waterfall
Photo: Alan Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Discover Hatch Brook Waterfall near Brinscall North of Chester, up in Lancashire near Chorley, Hatch Brook Waterfall is a small woodland fall on Hatch Brook above the village of Brinscall, in the West Pennine Moors. It drops through a wooded ravine, and its flow varies greatly with the weather, from a decent fall after rain to little more than a trickle in dry spells.
It is awkward to reach, seen from above the track or by a steep scramble down to the base, so it is one for the surefooted. This is a little-known spot in the Brinscall woods rather than a signposted attraction, best saved for a wetter day when the brook is running full.
Roddlesworth Waterfall
Photo: Mr T via Geograph.org.uk
Visit Roddlesworth Waterfall south of Blackburn Also in Lancashire, north of Chester, Roddlesworth Waterfall is a small cascade on the River Roddlesworth, set in the Roddlesworth and Tockholes plantation south of Blackburn, a mixed woodland laid out around a chain of reservoirs. A short walk from the road along riverside and woodland paths reaches the fall, which ranges from a trickle in dry weather to a roar after 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. It makes a relaxed woodland outing if you fancy heading north rather than into the Welsh hills.
Machno Falls
Photo: Damon Knight via Geograph.org.uk
See Machno Falls near Betws-y-Coed West of Chester, near Betws-y-Coed in Conwy, Machno Falls is a set of cascades tumbling through a rocky gorge on the Afon Machno just north of the village of Penmachno. A rough, unmarked path leads down from a roadside spot to view the falls through the trees, so watch your footing.
Close by stands the so-called Roman Bridge, in fact a seventeenth-century stone packhorse bridge, arching over the same river. It is a quiet, little-visited place with no facilities, well off the usual Snowdonia trail, and worth the longer drive if you want to pair falling water with a bit of history on a day out from the city.
FAQs
Which waterfall is closest to Chester?
Plaspower Waterfall in Plas Power Woods near Wrexham is the nearest at roughly 20km west of Chester, an easy riverside walk along the Clywedog.
What is the tallest waterfall you can visit from Chester?
Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyn mountains, southwest of Chester, is the highlight, its top plunge dropping around forty metres and counted among the Seven Wonders of Wales.
Are these falls good after dry weather?
Some suffer in dry spells; Hatch Brook near Brinscall and Roddlesworth near Blackburn can slow to a trickle, so visit after rain. Dyserth in Denbighshire holds up better.
Conclusion
From the easy drop at Dyserth to the mighty Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyns and the wooded ravines of Lancashire, Chester reaches an unusually varied spread of waterfalls in every direction. Head west and southwest for the Welsh valleys and mountains, or turn east and north toward the Peak District edge and the West Pennine Moors.
Several of these falls depend heavily on the weather, dropping to a trickle in dry spells and roaring after rain, so time your trip and pack boots for the steeper, rougher paths. Whether you want a quick roadside stop or a proper hill walk, there is enough here to fill many a day out.
Welsh hills or Pennine woods, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Chester.
