Waterfall Walks

In and around the Yorkshire Dales

Looking for the Yorkshire Dales’ BEST waterfall walks?

Then you need to check out OUR Yorkshire Dales waterfall walks! Take a scroll down to find all of our waterfall walks, categorised into three areas. That’s right, there are SO many waterfall walks on our website that we have had to split them into three separate categories!

Are you looking for the Yorkshire Dales’ biggest waterfall? Then check out our Hardraw Force waterfall walk. If you’re looking for hidden waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, then check out our Yordas Cave walk. Are you looking for secret waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales? Then check out our Buckden Beck waterfalls walk.

Whatever you’re looking for, you will find some of the Yorkshire Dales best waterfalls right here! Scroll down, take a look!

And that’s not all! This website is constantly being updated with new walks, so keep checking back for more as new walks are being added regularly so I can guarantee you need to bookmark this page!

Each walk has its own dedicated page, so tap the button to find out more.

Child walking along the side of a waterfall surrounded by green summer foliage

The Star Guides

Each of our has been walked by our own 6 feet (in the sense of us being three actual humans, not in a kind of weird monster-like way!) Often, they have been walked several times and sometimes, they have been walked so often that they have been added to. This website has been growing alongside the OG Reluctant Explorers and now they can handle a little bit more - maybe yours can too.

I will say. As parents we know our kids better than anybody. I have done my best to include as much information as I can in each individual walk, so you can make your own judgement as a family. So the star ratings are just a guide to get you started.

⭐ Little Monkeys:

Walks suitable for younger children up to preschool (and beyond!) Shorter length walks with occasional pushchair access, no technical or tricky terrain. Perfect for those who are just getting out of the pushchair (and then back in again… and then back out…. and then… you know how it goes!)

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers:

Walks suitable for pre-schoolers and younger kids. Medium length/ difficulty walks. In these walks, there may be some more challenging terrain, but they are still fairly short.

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers:

Walks suitable for older children. Not necessary longer length, but they are more technically challenging in the terrain, and on occasion the distance as well.

Child walking up a waterfall which is in full force

The Walk Emojis

I’m renowned for a heavy used of emojis in my regular life, so why on EARTH should my website be any different?! Here is a guide as to what they all stand for.

Essentially, it’s a brief look at what you can expect from the walk, but in emoji form. (I’m campaigning for a pram emoji. It would make my pushchair friendly walk life MUCH easier.)

👶 Suitable for Pushchairs (see? no pram emoji)

🎒 Suitable for Carriers (that’s a rucksack, not a weird satchel. Closest thing to a kid carrier I could find!)

🚘 Car Park/ On Street Parking (plain sailing there - all of our walks have places to park, although if possible try….

🚌 Public Transport (PLEASE! To try and alleviate parking problems and to just in general be an excellent egg.)

🐶 Dog Friendly (plenty of those!)

🥾 Sturdy Footwear or Wellies (I’d say for most, walking shoes/ boots, for some, wellies)

🛝 A park or play area (I try my hardest to find one, or at least tell you where the nearest one is!)

🦆 Ducks to Feed (bring your duck food!)

🍦 Ice Cream! For Ice cream is truly a WONDERFUL addition to a family walk!

☕ As is coffee (for the adults obviously - I’m not going to subject you to a caffeine fuelled reluctant explorer THE HORROR!) This one means you can find coffee, tea or hot chocolate (ok - that one’s for the WHOLE family!)

🍻 Because I know how a family walk can go, you’ll be relieved to know that I’ll also tell you if there’s a pub at the end!

💦 Water play/ paddle/ swim (Check out our advice on Wild Swimming with Kids and the RLSS Water Safety info)

✨📚 Cool history, geology, something blummin’ awesome to talk about.

👻 Legendary Story. Ghosts, horrible history, witches and trolls!

🌳 Walking Games - they all have these!

Waterfall Walks:

North and Eastern Yorkshire Dales

Are you looking for waterfalls in the Wensleydale and Swaledale areas of the Yorkshire Dales?

You’ll find them all right here! Our Wensleydale and Swaledale waterfall walks will take you to secret waterfalls, the tallest waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales, a super accessible, wheelchair friendly waterfall, waterfalls which were Hollywood filming locations, waterfalls set amongst scheduled historic monuments….

Which movie was filmed at TWO Wensleydale waterfalls?

Answers on a postcard (hint…. it was Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Yup. Kevin Costner wallowed in a Wensleydale waterfall. FACT.)

Just trust me. There are a lot of famous waterfalls in Wensleydale and Swaledale!

Tap here to head to our Waterfall Walks in the Northern Yorkshire Dales
Swimming in Buckden Beck waterfalls in Wharfedale

Waterfall Walks:

Southern Yorkshire Dales

Are you looking for waterfalls in Wharfedale, Nidderdale or Malham?

You’ll find them all right here! Our waterfall walks in the Southern Dales will take you to waterfalls that are a little bit off the beaten track, waterfalls that are great for paddling and you’ll find walks that feature waterfall after waterfall….. after WATERFALL!

Want to find a waterfall that has its very own fairy queen?

You’ll need to head to Janet’s Foss!

Tap here to head to our Waterfall Walks in the Southern Yorkshire Dales
Scaelber Force in Settle in the Summer

Waterfall Walks

in the Western Yorkshire Dales

Are you looking for waterfalls in Settle, Ingleton, Dentdale, Garsdale, Sedbergh and more?!

You’ll find them right here! Our Western Yorkshire Dales waterfall walks will take you to secret waterfall picnic spots, epically named waterfalls, waterfalls hidden in caves and super swimmable waterfalls too!

Do you know where you can find a waterfall hidden inside a cave?

Our walk to Yordas Cave in Kingsdale takes you to the super secret Chapter House waterfall, which is hidden inside the ex-Victorian show cave.

Oh…. and you need to know that this part of the website is EVOLVING! So you need to check back to see what’s been added!

Tap here to head to our Waterfall Walks in the Western Yorkshire Dales

Something in mind? Search our full site!

(e.g. search: Gaping Gill Winch, Kettlewell etc.)

All our Family Friendly Walks on One Map!

What’s that I see? A MAP!?

Yes, that’s right, you guys asked, and here it is. The map of ALL the Reluctant Explorers family walks!

The one you can see is embedded so you can use it straight from the website, or if you’d prefer, you can view it straight in Google Maps, simple tap the link on the button below.

The benefit of using it directly from the website is that when you tap on each individual walk, you will find the page link to each walk, allowing you to jump straight to the walk information!

The map can be filtered as follows:

Family Walks (purple) | Pushchair Walks (pram) | Waterfall Walks (blue) | Walks Under Two Miles (yellow)

For more types of walks (pub walks, woodland walks etc. Head to the menus above where they are all categorised, depending on what you fancy!)

TAP to head straight to the Reluctant Explorers Map!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

Follow us for up to date Outdoors Adventures!

We live and BREATHE the Yorkshire Dales outdoors life!

BEEN INSPIRED? Tag us @reluctantexplorers

Come follow our journey over on Instagram and Facebook where you’ll find up to date walk info, breaking news on Yorkshire Events, new Yorkshire Dales wild swim spots, climbing, caves and more!

Follow us on Social Media for all the up to date info: @thereluctantexplorers

Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.