The best UK waterfalls to visit while camping
· Updated
Britain's best waterfalls are almost all a short walk from a car park or campsite, and most are at their loudest and fullest after heavy rain and through winter and early spring. If you want the drama, go when the ground is wet. If you want the easy stroll, most of these are half an hour or less from where you park.
This guide names the falls worth building a trip around, from the thunder of High Force in Teesdale to Pistyll Rhaeadr, the tallest in Wales, and tells you when to see each one and how to stay safe on slippery ground. It pairs well with our guide to camping along the UK's national trails, since several of these falls sit on or near the long-distance routes.
It comes from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping close to every waterfall below.
The best UK waterfalls to visit while camping
These are the falls worth planning around, spread across England, Wales and Scotland. Each is close to a pitch, and each rewards a wet week rather than a dry one.
| Waterfall | Where | Why it is worth it |
|---|---|---|
| High Force | Teesdale, County Durham | One of England's most powerful falls, a single drop of about 21m (70ft) on the River Tees |
| Aira Force | Ullswater, Lake District | A 20m (65ft) National Trust fall reached by an easy woodland path |
| Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar | Malham, Yorkshire Dales | A gentle fall into a pool and a dramatic limestone gorge, on one circular walk |
| Hardraw Force | near Hawes, Yorkshire Dales | England's highest single-drop waterfall above ground, roughly 30m (100ft) |
| Sgwd yr Eira | Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) | The Four Waterfalls walk, with a path that runs behind the falling water |
| Pistyll Rhaeadr | near Llanrhaeadr, Powys | The tallest waterfall in Wales at about 73m (240ft) |
| Falls of Falloch and Steall Falls | Glen Nevis and Loch Lomond, Scotland | A plunge pool off the A82 and one of Scotland's highest falls at around 120m |
| Thomason Foss and Mallyan Spout | North York Moors | Two woodland falls near Goathland, Mallyan Spout being the Moors' tallest |
High Force, Teesdale
High Force is one of the most powerful waterfalls in England, where the River Tees drops about 21m (70ft) in a single fall over the hard rock of the Whin Sill. After rain it is genuinely thunderous. The falls sit beside the Pennine Way in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, and the viewpoint is a short, well-made walk from the car park, so it suits families and anyone short on time.
Aira Force, Ullswater
Aira Force is a 20m (65ft) fall in a National Trust glen above Ullswater in the Lake District, and it is one of the easiest big falls to reach. Stone bridges cross above and below the drop, giving you the best views in the district for the least effort. Base yourself at one of the campsites in the Lake District and Cumbria and you can pair it with a lakeside walk in an afternoon.
Malham: Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar
Malham gives you two falls on one short circuit in the Yorkshire Dales. Janet's Foss is a gentle cascade tumbling over tufa into a clear pool, framed by ancient woodland, and Gordale Scar is a towering limestone ravine with water spilling through it. The full loop from Malham village also takes in Malham Cove, making it one of the best half-day walks in the north of England.
Hardraw Force, Wensleydale
Hardraw Force is England's highest single-drop waterfall above ground, falling roughly 30m (100ft) in one clean sheet near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. It is unusual because you reach it through the grounds of the Green Dragon Inn, which charges a small entry fee that keeps the path maintained. The walk in is flat and short, so it is an easy one with children.
Sgwd yr Eira and the Four Waterfalls walk
Sgwd yr Eira in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) is famous for one reason: you can walk behind it. The path passes along a ledge under the overhang, with the whole river pouring past in front of you. It is the highlight of the Four Waterfalls walk near Ystradfellte, a longer and rockier route than most on this list, so wear proper boots and expect wet, uneven ground.
Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys
Pistyll Rhaeadr is the tallest waterfall in Wales, dropping about 73m (240ft) in stages down a rock face near Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys. There is a car park and a cafe at the foot of the falls, so you can see the full height within a couple of minutes of arriving, or climb the path alongside for a view from the top.
Falls of Falloch and Steall Falls, Scotland
Scotland saves the biggest for last. The Falls of Falloch, just off the A82 north of Loch Lomond, is a short walk to a broad plunge pool that roars in spate. Deeper into the hills, Steall Falls in Glen Nevis drops around 120m and ranks among the highest in Scotland; reaching it means walking the Nevis Gorge path and crossing a three-wire bridge, so treat it as a proper hillwalk, not a stroll.
Thomason Foss and Mallyan Spout, North York Moors
Thomason Foss and Mallyan Spout are two woodland falls near Goathland in the North York Moors. Mallyan Spout is the tallest fall in the National Park, a slender ribbon dropping through mossy crags, while Thomason Foss plunges into a dark pool beloved of wild swimmers. Both are short walks and both sit close to the campsites in North Yorkshire. For more routes across this area, see our guide to walks in the North York Moors.
When to go for the best flow
Waterfalls are at their most dramatic after rain and through the wettest months, so winter and early spring usually deliver the biggest, loudest falls. A dry August can leave a famous cascade looking like a trickle, while the same fall two days after a storm can be spectacular.
The trade-off is footing. Wet weather that swells the falls also makes rocks, roots and steps slick, and the paths can be muddy. Spring gives you a good balance of full water, longer days and drier trails, and it brings the woodland to life. If you are chasing the best light and the wildflowers along the way, our guide to wildflower walks near campsites pairs neatly with a late-spring waterfall trip.
Staying safe around waterfalls
Fast-moving water is the real danger at every fall on this list, so keep well back from wet edges and never climb on the falls themselves. The rock beside a waterfall is almost always slippery, moving water is far stronger than it looks, and a fall from the top or a slip into a plunge pool can be fatal. No photograph is worth stepping past a barrier or onto a wet ledge for.
- Wear proper footwear. Grippy walking boots or trail shoes, not trainers or sandals, because slick rock and mud are a given near falling water.
- Keep back from the edge. Stay behind fences and viewpoints at the top of a fall, and do not scramble down to reach the base unless there is a made path.
- Watch children and dogs closely. Fast water and steep drops are no place for either to roam; keep dogs on a lead and keep children within arm's reach near the water.
- Do not swim below a fall unless you know it well. Plunge pools hide strong currents, cold shock and submerged rocks.
- Check the forecast. Rivers rise fast; a fall that is safe in the morning can be dangerous after heavy rain upstream.
The RNLI's water safety advice is worth a read before a trip built around rivers and pools, and follow the Countryside Code for access and Leave No Trace: take your litter home, leave gates as you find them, and stick to the paths so the ground around these popular spots is still there for the next family.
Pitching up near the falls
The good news for campers is that these falls are clustered in the best walking country in Britain, so a pitch is rarely far away. The Yorkshire Dales alone gives you Hardraw, Malham and easy reach of the Pennines; the Lake District has Aira Force and dozens more; and Wales and the Scottish Highlands are dense with cascades and campsites both.
Waterfall walks fold neatly into a family camping weekend because they are short, they have a clear payoff at the end, and children love them. If you are planning a trip around the little ones in Wales, our guide to family hikes in Wales lines up well with a visit to Sgwd yr Eira or Pistyll Rhaeadr. Browse all our campsites across Britain to find a pitch near the fall you fancy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best UK waterfall to visit while camping?
High Force in Teesdale is the most powerful and one of the easiest to reach, a short walk from its car park. For sheer height, Pistyll Rhaeadr in Wales (about 73m) and Steall Falls in Glen Nevis (around 120m) are hard to beat.
When are UK waterfalls at their most impressive?
After heavy rain, and through winter and early spring when rivers run high. A dry summer can reduce a famous fall to a trickle, while two days of rain can make it thunderous. Spring balances good flow with drier, safer paths.
What is the tallest waterfall in the UK?
Pistyll Rhaeadr in Powys is the tallest in Wales at about 73m (240ft). Hardraw Force in the Yorkshire Dales is England's highest single-drop waterfall above ground at roughly 30m (100ft). Scotland has taller falls again, including Steall in Glen Nevis.
Are waterfalls safe to visit with children?
Yes, with care. Many, such as Aira Force, High Force and Hardraw Force, have made paths and railed viewpoints that suit families. Keep children within arm's reach near the water, stay back from wet edges, and keep dogs on a lead around fast water and drops.
Can you swim in UK waterfall pools?
Some plunge pools are popular for wild swimming, but they carry real risks: cold shock, hidden currents and submerged rocks. Never swim below a fall in spate, always check the depth and exit first, and do not let children swim near fast-moving water.
Do you need to pay to see UK waterfalls?
Most are free, though some car parks charge, and a few sites such as Hardraw Force and Pistyll Rhaeadr ask a small entry or parking fee that maintains the paths. National Trust sites like Aira Force are free to walk to, with paid parking for non-members.
The short version
Go after rain, in winter or early spring, when the falls are full and loud. Wear boots, keep well back from wet edges, and never climb on the falls or let children or dogs near fast water. Then find a pitch nearby and make a weekend of it: start with our guide to camping along the UK's national trails, or browse campsites across Britain.
