Scale Haw Force, Hebden Beck

Scale Haw Force waterfall is an absolute gem of a family walk!

It’s a short walk from the village of Hebden, where you’ll find a small play area, a cafe and a pub and with a little bit of adventure in a gloriously secluded secret spot, what’s not to love?

Where is the waterfall on Hebden Beck?

Well it’s located just a little bit upstream of the stepping stones that cross the water!

This walk is a short wander from the stunning village of Hebden, and can be a stand alone walk, or you could add it onto either our Grassington Lead Mining walk or our Burnsall to Hebden loop as an extra! We love that this walk can be short and sweet or more challenging and when it starts and ends in such a beautiful part of the Yorkshire Dales, what’s not to love?

Walking through the village of Hebden

The village of Hebden

Hebden waterfall walk details

Distance: less than 2 miles

Terrain: Uneven underfoot. Some minor very quiet country road walking. Ascent approx. 150m. To access the waterfall, there is a bit of a hop along the bank, or a shallow paddle upstream (in Summer, low water levels)

Parking: Hebden. This is on street parking and so please, please ensure you are respectful to the residents and adhere to any parking restrictions in place. Do not block access to fields or properties and remember that emergency vehicles require access to all roads at all times. We find parking outside or near the OId School Tea Room on Main Street is best. What 3 Words limo.corporate.coughed.

Dog Friendly? Yes

Public Transport: There are buses to Hebden, check out the Dales Bus website for timetable information.

Location: Hebden. Nr. Grassington, Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Map: OL2 Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western.

Toilets/ Baby Change: No

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Hebden has a cafe and pub.

Climbing a stile in a dry stone wall

One of the gates in the wall on the return to Hebden

Directions to Scale Haw Force

  1. Beginning at the Old School Tearoom, pass the little play area on your right, heading to the main (B6265) road Bridge that crosses Hebden Beck. Cross the road and continue northwards on the narrow road that is directly opposite (the narrow single track road, which leads to Hole Bottom, a Hamlet, just north of Hebden.) You will pass buildings to your left and a stone bridge to your right which provides access to residential properties and is your return route. The water of the beck is to your right at this point. Continue straight on along this extremely quiet road for around half a mile. Until you see a signpost to your right, which is signposted Edge Top 1/2 mile.

  2. Continue through the wooden gate and across the grassy field, until you see the path which zigzags down the steep bank to the stepping stones across the beck. Here, you can turn left and walk upstream a little along the edge of the beck to see the waterfall a little bit closer up.

  3. Head back to the stepping stones and cross them. The path leads up the bank and in a leftwards direction and then climbs up the bank. In Spring there are loads of bluebells, and in Summer, ferns. The line of the path roughly follows the side of the wall to your right, but there are several tracks here leading upwards.

  4. You will reach a larger track that heads round to the right. Turn right on that and head through the gap in the dry stone wall. Here you are faced with a fork in the grassy path. One forks round to the right and heads towards the corner of a dry stone wall. Take this until it reaches the wall.

  5. When you reach the wall, continue, keeping that wall to your left. Head through the gate over the stile in the dry stone wall.

  6. Continue straight on towards a further gate in the wall up ahead, and head through this. The path begins to head downwards and away from the dry stone wall (that’s on your left) You will be headed closer and closer to the beck and reach another gate in the wall near the edge of the beck (there is a metal bridge up ahead)

  7. Head through the gate, ignoring the bridge and heading straight on, keeping the beck on your right hand side. This will lead you back into the village of Hebden, where you need to cross the stone bridge and you will end up back where you started!

Last walked May 2023

The bridge over the beck in Hebden

The access road over the bridge in the village of Hebden at the start of the walk, this is your return route.

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

⭐ If you choose to paddle, be aware of bio security. Always wear clean dry water shoes (if worn) to avoid cross contamination of species between watercourses, this is a particular issue in the Yorkshire Dales, to help protect the white clawed crayfish.

⭐ If you decide to paddle, be aware that wild water can be dangerous, and water levels will vary season to season. Always supervise children around water. Check out the safety information on the Royal Life Saving Society website.

swinging on the swing at hebden park

What’s cool for kids (and grown ups!) on this walk?

💦 Such a fabulous and secret waterfall to be found! To get a little closer, some walking along the side of the beck is required. This gets trickier the closer you get to the falls.

🧒 There is a teeny tiny play area next to the tea rooms with swings, a slide and a see saw.

🍺/☕ There is the Old School Tea Rooms in Hebden, which does anything from afternoon tea, a light lunch to a G&T, and The Clarendon Hotel, who does great beer and pub grub.

🌳 Ahhhhhh you won’t need much in the way of a distraction here! At less than 2 miles it’s a lovely short walk, with the possibility of a splash half way and a play area at the end, even maybe a cake from the cafe! But. if you do need a bit more ‘persuasion’…. then why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

Paddling in the water at Kettlewell

Want to find more Yorkshire Dales walks?

All of our family friendly walks are arranged in loads of different categories including, waterfall walks, short walks and walks with play parks. So you can find exactly the kind of walk you are looking for!

But if you want to find all the kid friendly Yorkshire Dales walks in one place?

Then why not head to our Yorkshire Dales walks section!

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