Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Middlesbrough
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Middlesbrough include Thomason Foss, Richmond Falls, Nelly Ayre Foss, Mallyan Spout Waterfall, Falling Foss Waterfall, Marske Beck, Harmby Waterfall and Deep Gill Force.
Middlesbrough sits within easy reach of two of England's finest walking landscapes, and both are threaded with waterfalls. Head south into the North York Moors and the village of Goathland alone offers a cluster of them: the plunge pool of Thomason Foss, the wide ledges of Nelly Ayre Foss, and the tall ribbon of Mallyan Spout, the tallest fall in the national park.
A little further on, closer to Whitby, Falling Foss tumbles past a woodland tea garden. Swing southwest instead, into the Yorkshire Dales, and the choice is just as rich.
Richmond Falls roar through the middle of their market town, while Marske Beck hides the quiet Orgate Force in Swaledale. Over in Wensleydale, a short path leads down to Harmby Waterfall, and near East Witton the little-seen Deep Gill Force slips through its wooded gill.
None are far, all reward a day out, and each has its own character, from roaring cascades to little-known trickles. Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Middlesbrough.
Thomason Foss
Photo: steven ruffles via Geograph.org.uk
Thomason Foss Tucked into a wooded, rocky ravine on Eller Beck near Beck Hole, this fall sits deep in the North York Moors close to Goathland, roughly a forty-minute drive south into the hills. The beck spills into a dark, enclosed plunge pool that has become a well-liked wild swimming spot.
To reach it, allow about twenty minutes on foot from the bridge by the Beck Hole pub, following the beck upstream and scrambling over boulders near the end. Smaller and quieter than nearby Mallyan Spout, it stays tucked among the trees and runs fuller after a spell of rain.
Richmond Falls
Photo: Gareth James via Geograph.org.uk
Richmond Falls Right in the middle of Richmond, these natural falls run over stepped ledges on the River Swale, just below the castle on its rock. In dry weather the water slips gently over the stone; after rain it becomes a powerful, roaring cascade.
Riverside paths follow both banks, and there is parking, toilets and a play area close at hand, with a viewpoint over the falls a short step from the car park. About forty minutes' drive southwest into the Yorkshire Dales, it is one of the easiest spots on this list to reach, sitting in the heart of a handsome market town.
Nelly Ayre Foss
Photo: John Ryles via Geograph.org.uk
Nelly Ayre Foss A small, wide fall on West Beck near Goathland, Nelly Ayre Foss is the quieter cousin of the better-known cascades close by. The water spills over rock ledges in a wooded valley, and many walkers take it in as part of a circuit that links Mallyan Spout and Thomason Foss.
It lies a couple of kilometres upstream of Mallyan Spout, reached on foot from Goathland, with the final drop down to the water a steep and slippery scramble. Peaceful and little visited, it rewards anyone willing to walk a bit further into the moors, around forty minutes south of Middlesbrough by car.
Mallyan Spout Waterfall
Photo: Anthony Foster via Geograph.org.uk
Mallyan Spout Waterfall On the western edge of Goathland, West Beck plunges around seventy feet down a mossy ravine wall to make Mallyan Spout, the tallest fall in the North York Moors national park. A footpath beside the Mallyan Spout Hotel drops down to the beck, then picks its way along a rocky ledge through the ravine to the foot of the water.
It is a short walk, though slippery in places, so sensible footwear helps. The spout is at its most impressive after heavy rain and can dwindle to a thin trickle in dry spells.
Reckon on roughly forty minutes' drive south from Middlesbrough into the moors.
Falling Foss Waterfall
Photo: Stephen McCulloch via Geograph.org.uk
Falling Foss Waterfall A few miles inland from Whitby, Falling Foss tumbles about thirty feet through woodland on the Little Beck. Beside it stands Midge Hall, a former woodman's cottage that opens seasonally as the Falling Foss Tea Garden, serving cakes and drinks at tables among the trees.
Short, popular woodland walks reach it from the May Beck and Littlebeck car parks, threading through the greenery. The fall is just one of a string of features along the beck, which also includes a hermitage carved from the rock nearby.
Around fifty minutes' drive southeast of Middlesbrough, it makes an easy and rewarding half-day in the moors.
Marske Beck
Photo: Andy Waddington via Geograph.org.uk
Marske Beck Marske Beck runs down to the River Swale near the village of Marske in Swaledale, deep in the Yorkshire Dales. Its finest feature is Orgate Force, a modest but pretty fall a little way upstream of the village and one of the least-known cascades in the Dales.
Because the beck drains only a small patch of ground, it runs best after wet weather and can slow to little in dry spells. You reach it on foot on the circular walks out of Marske, passing through woodland below limestone cliffs.
There are no facilities at the fall, so come prepared for a proper Dales ramble.
Harmby Waterfall
Photo: Gordon Hatton via Geograph.org.uk
Harmby Waterfall At the edge of the village of Harmby, near Leyburn in Wensleydale, a small fall drops through a wooded gorge just off the main road. A short path fitted with steps leads down to it from the village.
This is a modest cascade, at its best after rain, and it stays far quieter than the better-known falls dotted elsewhere in the dale. Roadside parking in the village is limited, so it pays to arrive early or on a quiet day.
Set roughly fifty minutes' drive southwest of Middlesbrough, it slots neatly into a wider day out across Wensleydale.
Deep Gill Force
Photo: Colin Gregory via Geograph.org.uk
Deep Gill Force Near East Witton, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Dales close to Jervaulx Abbey, Deep Gill Force hides in a wooded valley. The beck drops around twenty feet above a small stone arch bridge, among trees and forestry plantation.
Little known and rarely visited, it has no marked route, so finding it is part of the adventure. This is a modest fall in a quiet, out-of-the-way gill rather than a headline attraction, and that is precisely its charm.
About an hour's drive southwest of Middlesbrough, it suits anyone happy to pair a gentle explore with a look round the nearby abbey ruins.
FAQs
How far are these waterfalls from Middlesbrough?
Most sit between roughly 37 and 50 kilometres from Middlesbrough, an hour or less by car. The Goathland falls and Richmond Falls are the closest, while Deep Gill Force near East Witton lies a little further into the Yorkshire Dales.
Which waterfall is best after heavy rain?
Richmond Falls, in the centre of Richmond, becomes a roaring cascade after rain, and Mallyan Spout near Goathland runs at its fullest too. Smaller becks such as Marske Beck and Harmby Waterfall also perk up once the weather turns wet.
Can you swim at any of them?
Yes. The dark plunge pool below Thomason Foss near Beck Hole is a well-liked wild swimming spot, though the water is cold and the final approach involves a boulder scramble, so take care.
Conclusion
Whether you are drawn to the moors or the dales, there is a fall here to match any mood and any weather. After heavy rain the bigger cascades like Richmond Falls and Mallyan Spout come thundering into life, while dry spells suit a gentle woodland wander to Falling Foss or Deep Gill Force.
Pack sturdy boots, since several of these spots involve a slippery scramble or a rough path, and check opening times if you are counting on the tea garden at Falling Foss. Many of the falls pair naturally with a nearby town, castle or abbey, so you can build a full day around them.
From Goathland's cluster to the quiet corners of Swaledale and Wensleydale, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Middlesbrough.
