Directions to Cray Gill Waterfalls

Directions to be used alongside a map.

1. Beginning at Buckden Car Park, take that gate out of the car park, which leads in the direction of Cray. The path is a wide stony bridleway, which heads gradually upwards towards Buckden Rake. Keep on this path after it levels out, passing through several gates, until after approximately 2km from the car park, you reach a gate in the wall to your left, leading downhill in the direction of the hamlet of Cray. The signpost says ‘public footpath Cray’.

2. Go through this gate, which heads steeply downwards through the field, roughly heading to the wall, then following that down. It can get a little bit boggy here after wet weather. Towards the bottom of the field bear right and head through a gate to the stepping stones.

3. Cross these and then on the other side, carefully cross the road. Head up the track to the right hand side of the White Lion, it bears left, going behind the pub building. Sadly, the White Lion pub is currently closed - 2026 update.

4. Keep right on this track as it continues to pass several properties to your left. There is a yellow way marker pointing you in the direction of the path so you don’t inadvertently end up in a farmyard! Continue until the path forks into two.

5. Here, there is a footpath sign. You need to bear left heading on the lower left hand fork, it looks like you are going to head into the driveway of one of the properties, but there is a sign pointing towards a narrow path through the wall that leads between the edge of the garden to the property and a dry stone wall. This then heads through a wooden gate into a open hillside. The path is clear here and you need to follow it round and down.

6. For those not keen on cows, we’ve encountered some very friendly ones in this field. In general Belted Galloways do regularly graze the area.

7. Continue along the path as it heads down the hill and then towards a small amount of woodland. Ahead, there is a gate with a National Trust sign on it, go through this. You will soon hear the sound of the first waterfall down a gorge to your left, but you cannot access it from here.

8. If you walk a bit further along to where the beck is at the same level as you, there is a small path that offshoots through the grass to your left. Double back on yourself and walk along the edge of the beck heading upstream (much easier after dryer weather!) We’ve been after varying levels of rain, and you can only get close to the falls when there hasn’t been heavy rain. On our most recent visit in January 2026, there were fallen trees blocking the waterfall plunge pool (pictured below).

9. Once you have taken in the beauty of the first falls, head back to the path. Almost immediately after re-joining the main path, there is another offshoot to the right, just before you reach the little packhorse bridge. This will take you to another waterfall, again hidden just off the path. This is the waterfall with the biggest drop at around 10 feet and is best seen when there has been a decent amount of rain. Head back to the path, once you have visited it.

10. Now cross the bridge, keeping the beck to your left. There’s a lovely spot to get down to the water’s edge at the bridge to have a splash and paddle if you fancy it and there hasn’t been too much rain!

11. Continue along the path keeping the beck to your left side. You will encounter lots of small drop waterfalls along the route, some of which are accessible from the path, some less so. It all depends on how wet it’s been and how confident you are at clambering down the bank. Luckily, you can see them all from the path anyway without getting down to them if you are at all in any doubt!

12. The rushing beck, soon broadens out, and you will exit the little woodland to wide open fields and soon thereafter reach a gate in the wall to the road. Turn right and follow it along until you reach the bridge at Hubberholme. It is a quiet lane, but on occasion you will encounter cars, so be aware.

13. Cross the bridge towards the George Inn (stop if you fancy, it’s a beautiful traditional Dales pub!) then turn left along the other country lane leading out of Hubberholme (you have now joined the Dales Way path)

14. The path continues for a short distance along the road, until you see a brand new (as of 2025) Permissive Footpath sign on your left. This is the newly diverted Dales Way footpath, which removes a large chunk of what was road walking. Head through the gate (which has a National Trust sign on it) and follow it. It will head straight on until you reach the river, then turn right. Follow this footpath alongside the river until you reach Buckden Old Bridge. Here, turn left and head back into the village!

Last walked January 2026.