Best Waterfalls Near Lancaster
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Lancaster are White Spout, Lower Leck Beck, Thornton Force Waterfall, Short Gill Waterfall, Flinter Gill, Gastack Beck Waterfall, Stainforth Force and Force Gill.
Lancaster sits perfectly placed for a waterfall hunt, with the Forest of Bowland close by to the east and the Yorkshire Dales beyond. Nearest of all, White Spout drops on the moors of upper Littledale, just a few miles from the city.
Push further east into limestone country and you reach Lower Leck Beck below Leck Fell, on the Lancashire and Cumbria border, where water vanishes underground into one of Britain's great cave systems. Close by, the Ingleton trail leads to wide Thornton Force on the River Twiss.
Up around the village of Dent lie three quiet gems: Short Gill in Barbondale, cobbled Flinter Gill, and roadside Gastack Beck in Deepdale. Over towards Settle, Stainforth Force steps down the River Ribble by an old packhorse bridge, while Force Gill spills off the flanks of Whernside near the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Several of these mean a proper drive into the hills, but the scenery more than repays it. Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Lancaster.
White Spout
Photo: Tom Richardson via Geograph.org.uk
White Spout Closest to the city, White Spout is a small moorland fall in upper Littledale, on the edge of the Forest of Bowland just a few miles east of Lancaster. It drops on a minor stream called Whitespout Gutter, in high grazing land that drains away through Udale Beck and Artle Beck.
This is remote, unspoilt country with no signposts or facilities, so you reach the fall on foot across rough open ground on the Littledale circuit. The best view is from beside the beck where the path crosses, near some old shooting butts.
It makes a satisfying short outing for walkers who like their scenery wild and unfussy.
Lower Leck Beck
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Lower Leck Beck A drive east into limestone country brings you to Lower Leck Beck, on the border of Lancashire and Cumbria below the fells of Leck Fell. This is classic karst landscape, and the beck is bound up with one of Britain's greatest cave systems: water sinks underground through the rocks of Ease Gill and rises again 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 dark cave mouths, is the highlight of a long circular walk from Leck village. The upland shafts are fenced off, so stick to the path.
Thornton Force Waterfall
Photo: Kevin Rushton via Geograph.org.uk
Thornton Force Waterfall The star of the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, Thornton Force is a wide fall on the River Twiss, where the water pours over a lip of limestone into a pool below. You can walk right under the overhanging rock, which is a treat in itself.
The real fascination, though, is the geology in the cliff behind: level beds of limestone lie flat on top of much older, tilted slates, with a gap of hundreds of millions of years between the two, a textbook example of what geologists call an unconformity. It is reached on the paid circular trail from Ingleton, a scenic route that strings together a whole series of falls.
Short Gill Waterfall
Photo: Michael Graham via Geograph.org.uk
Short Gill Waterfall Tucked into Barbondale on the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales, southwest of the village of Dent, Short Gill drops in a series of cascades through a narrow limestone gorge. The near-vertical beds of rock here lie along a great geological fault that once marked an old county boundary, so there is real interest for anyone keen on landscape.
Below ground, the same stream has carved a cave system known to cavers, while above ground the dale is a steep-sided glacial valley of open fell. This is a wild spot reached only on foot and well off the beaten track, so come prepared.
Flinter Gill
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Flinter Gill Right at the village of Dent, Flinter Gill is a steep, wooded ravine climbed by a rough cobbled track known as the Flintergill Outrake. The beck runs down over rock steps and little cascades through the gorge, passing flat slabs called the Dancing Flags.
Beside the track stands an old, gnarled Wishing Tree, wrapped up in a local tradition of circling it for luck, so give it a try as you pass. Climb higher and the trail reaches a viewpoint looking out over Dentdale, a fine reward for the effort.
It is a characterful walk that packs a lot into a short distance.
Gastack Beck Waterfall
Photo: John H Darch via Geograph.org.uk
Gastack Beck Waterfall Not far from Dent, in quiet Deepdale, Gastack Beck Waterfall drops right beside the lane where the road crosses the beck. The water comes down a rock face in neat tiers, close enough to admire from a small layby by the crossing, which makes it one of the easiest falls here to reach.
There is no path to it, though, and the rocks at the base are slippery, so it is best enjoyed from the roadside rather than scrambled around. This is an obscure little roadside fall in a peaceful dale, the kind of place you might drive past without noticing.
Stainforth Force
Photo: John S Turner via Geograph.org.uk
Stainforth Force Over towards Settle, Stainforth Force is a set of stepped limestone falls on the River Ribble, just below the village of Stainforth. The river drops over rock ledges into a large pool beside a handsome seventeenth-century packhorse bridge, now cared for by the National Trust.
Come in autumn and you may watch salmon and sea trout leaping the falls on their way upstream to spawn. The pool below is a well-known wild swimming spot, though it turns dangerous in spate, so take great care after rain.
Getting there is easy: a short walk from a car park in the village leads under the road and across the railway.
Force Gill
Photo: Peter McDermott via Geograph.org.uk
Force Gill High on the flanks of Whernside, about a mile and a half north of the mighty Ribblehead Viaduct, Force Gill drops through a small gorge. It is at its most forceful after heavy rain, and sits right on the popular walking route up Whernside, so many baggers pass it on their way to the summit.
Close by, the beck is carried over the top of the Settle to Carlisle railway on an aqueduct, near the mouth of the long Blea Moor Tunnel, where a bridleway crosses. The fall sits in open fell country below the mountain, big and bare and windswept, making it a rewarding target on a walk.
FAQs
Which waterfall is closest to Lancaster?
White Spout is the nearest, on the moors of upper Littledale just a few miles east of Lancaster. It is remote and unsignposted, reached on foot across open ground on the Littledale walking circuit.
Can you go wild swimming at any of these falls?
The pool below Stainforth Force near Settle is a well-known wild swimming spot, though it turns dangerous in spate. Take great care after heavy rain and check conditions before entering the Ribble.
Are these waterfalls good for a family day out?
Some suit families better than others. Thornton Force on the Ingleton trail and roadside Gastack Beck near Dent are among the easiest, while remote spots like Short Gill and Force Gill demand more from walkers heading into the Dales.
Conclusion
From a short moorland stroll to a long day in the Dales, the waterfalls around Lancaster offer plenty of variety. White Spout lies closest, out on the Littledale moors, while the Ingleton trail and its wide Thornton Force reward a drive east into limestone country.
The village of Dent makes a lovely base for Short Gill, Flinter Gill and roadside Gastack Beck, and Stainforth Force near Settle steps handsomely down the Ribble. For the wildest scenery, Force Gill spills off Whernside beside the Ribblehead Viaduct, and Lower Leck Beck reveals a hidden world of caves.
Wear boots that cope with rough ground, check the weather and take care near fast water. Whether you want an easy outing or a proper hike, these are the waterfalls to seek out near Lancaster.
