The hidden Lake District waterfall you can walk to straight from a pub beer garden

Waterfalls are one of nature’s simple joys. Whether they are tall and powerful as they pour over cliffs, or small streams trickling over smooth stones, they always seem to leave you feeling amazed.

The UK has some truly stunning waterfalls, and many of the best can be found among the fells and lakes of the Lake District, making them an easy trip from Greater Manchester.

Aira Force at Ullswater and Rydal Falls near Rydal are two of the most famous, but there is another waterfall with a very unusual setting that many people do not know about.

Photo © Steve Bayley (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Ritson’s Force is a group of waterfalls in the Mosedale Valley, close to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, and not far from Wast Water, the deepest lake in the country.

What makes it special is that you can reach it from the back of the Wasdale Head Inn beer garden.

Not many pubs can say they have a waterfall just behind them. The falls sit along the river that flows past the inn, and you can follow a pretty path that crosses a stone bridge, then winds through fields and woodland before reaching Ritson’s Force.

Photo © Andrew Hill (cc-by-sa/2.0)

This part of the Lake District feels far removed from busy places like Windermere and Ambleside, yet it is well worth the journey for its wild and rugged scenery.

The Wasdale Head Inn is a traditional walkers’ hotel and a perfect base if you want to get away from everyday life.

Here you can enjoy generous plates of comforting food and cosy beds after a long day exploring the fells.

In its review of the Wasdale Head Inn, The Telegraph described it as a classic Lakeland inn in remote Wasdale, loved by walkers and climbers for its simple rooms, filling meals and real ales, with a warm welcome waiting in the bar.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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