Best Waterfalls in Cumbria (Lake District)
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls in Cumbria (Lake District) are Spout Force, Rutter Force, Colwith Force, Uldale Force, Fordingdale Force, Aira Beck, Flinter Gill and Stockghyll Force.
The Lake District and the wider county of Cumbria are laced with becks and gills that tumble off the fells, making this one of the richest corners of England for waterfalls. From wooded ravines close to the towns to remote drops out on trackless fellside, there is huge variety here.
Some, like Stockghyll Force above Ambleside and Aira Force on the shore of Ullswater, are among the easiest and most rewarding to reach, set on short signed walks with railed viewpoints and stone bridges. Others, such as Fordingdale Force above Haweswater and Uldale Force on the upper Rawthey, are genuinely obscure, hidden away on open upland where you need a map to find them.
There are gentler pleasures too, from the mossy gorge of Spout Force in Whinlatter Forest to the horseshoe drop of Rutter Force beside its old mill. Whether you fancy a quick stroll or a full day on the hills, the region delivers.
Here are eight of the best waterfalls to seek out in Cumbria (Lake District).
Spout Force
Photo: Simon Leatherdale via Geograph.org.uk
Spout Force hides in a steep, wooded gorge on Aiken Beck, in Whinlatter Forest near Cockermouth. The beck drops some thirty feet into a mossy ravine, viewed from a wooden platform set on the far side of the falls.
It is reached on a short forest walk of about half a mile from a car park off the Whinlatter Pass, with the narrow, canyon-like gorge opening up as you arrive. The fall runs at its best after rain, and the surrounding conifers make it a quiet spot away from the busier lakes.
Part of a wider network of forest trails, it is an easy one to seek out.
Rutter Force
Photo: Andrew Curtis via Geograph.org.uk
Rutter Force is a horseshoe-shaped waterfall about thirty feet high on Hoff Beck, a couple of miles south of Appleby, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales national park. Beside the falls stands the old Rutter Mill, a watermill first recorded in the sixteenth century that ground corn, later sawed wood, and even generated electricity for the nearby village in the early twentieth century, now let as holiday cottages.
The mill and its restored waterwheel make a well-known scene with the falls behind, reached down quiet lanes. It is a charming spot to seek out.
Colwith Force
Photo: Les Hull via Geograph.org.uk
Colwith Force is a waterfall on the River Brathay near Little Langdale, hidden away in woodland. The river drops in a set of steps totalling around forty feet, screened by trees so that you come upon it only from the path.
It is often walked as part of a circuit taking in nearby Skelwith Force, making a fine short outing through the woods. The way in runs on foot, with no view from any road, so you have to earn the sight of it.
Follow the woodland path and seek it out among the trees.
Uldale Force
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Uldale Force is a remote waterfall on the upper River Rawthey, below Baugh Fell about six miles from Sedbergh. It is one of a series of falls along this isolated stretch of river, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park though just inside Cumbria.
Rawthey Bridge is the usual starting point for reaching it on foot, and the main drop is around fifteen metres. This is quiet, out-of-the-way country, so bring a map and stout boots to seek it out.
Fordingdale Force
Photo: Michael Graham via Geograph.org.uk
Fordingdale Force drops on Measand Beck, in the Fordingdale Bottom above the head of Haweswater. It lies in open, rocky upland on the walkers' ground between Patterdale and Haweswater, a genuinely obscure fall that is little written about beyond its name and its position on the map.
The surrounding country is bare fellside of outcrop and scree, with no path to guide you in. This is one for confident hill walkers who enjoy tracking down a fall the hard way, so take a map and seek it out.
Aira Beck
Photo: Adrian Taylor via Geograph.org.uk
Aira Beck is the stream that comes off Gowbarrow Fell above Ullswater and drops through a wooded ravine on its way down to the lake. Its best-known moment is Aira Force, where the water falls around twenty metres into a narrow rock gorge, seen from a pair of arched stone bridges built above and below it.
Higher and lower down, the beck runs in a chain of smaller cascades and still pools, shaded by old oaks and ornamental trees planted more than two centuries ago. Paths climb steeply beside the water over rock steps that stay wet and mossy, so watch your footing as you seek it out.
Flinter Gill
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Flinter Gill is a steep, wooded ravine dropping into the village of Dent in Dentdale, climbed by a rough cobbled track known as the Flintergill Outrake. The beck runs down over rock steps and small cascades through the gorge, past flat slabs called the Dancing Flags.
Beside the track stands an old gnarled Wishing Tree, tied to a local tradition of circling it for luck. Higher up, the trail reaches a viewpoint looking out over Dentdale, a fine reward at the top.
It is a characterful little climb to seek out.
Stockghyll Force
Photo: Christine Matthews via Geograph.org.uk
Stockghyll Force is a woodland waterfall in a wooded ravine just above the town of Ambleside, where Stock Ghyll drops about seventy feet in a series of cascades among the trees. It is reached on a short, signposted walk uphill from the town centre, with a railed viewpoint set up to see the falls safely, and the woods around fill with daffodils in spring.
The beck once powered many watermills in the town below. As one of the easiest waterfalls in the district to reach, a short stroll from the shops and cafes, it is a fine one to seek out.
FAQs
Which waterfalls are easiest to reach in the Lake District?
Stockghyll Force above Ambleside and Aira Force on Ullswater are among the easiest, both set on short, signed walks with railed viewpoints. Spout Force in Whinlatter Forest is another gentle option, reached on a half-mile forest path.
When do the falls look their best?
After heavy rain is usually best, when becks are full and the falls run at their most powerful. Spring adds daffodils in the woods around Stockghyll Force, while autumn brings rich colour to the wooded gorges.
Are the paths safe for children?
Some, like Stockghyll Force and Aira Force, have railed viewpoints that suit families, though the paths climb steeply over wet, mossy rock. Remote falls such as Fordingdale Force have no paths at all and are better left to experienced walkers.
Conclusion
From the town-side ease of Stockghyll Force and Aira Force to the trackless fells around Fordingdale Force and Uldale Force, Cumbria and the Lake District offer waterfalls for walkers of every kind. Some come with railed viewpoints, stone bridges and made paths, while others ask for a map, stout boots and a willingness to head out across open country.
Wherever you go, remember that rock steps stay wet and mossy and full becks run fast, so keep back from slippery edges and take your footing seriously. Choose a day after rain to catch them in full flow, allow plenty of time for the walk, and enjoy the woods and fells along the way, because these are the best waterfalls to seek out in Cumbria (Lake District).
