The uplands of the north and west of England enjoy the wettest climate and are home to the majority of waterfalls in the country. In areas such as the Lake District which were formerly glaciated, they are commonly found at the lower ends of hanging valleys. Typical of those in the Pennines, are falls which form at points where the watercourse encounters erosion-resistant rock layers such as Millstone Grit.
Names of falls
The great majority of named falls in England are situated in the Lake District and Pennines. In these regions the terms ‘foss’ and ‘force’ are much the most common ones used for a waterfall though linn is also encountered towards the Scottish border. The term ‘spout’ is another frequently found alternative.
Alphabetical tables of named waterfalls
A
B
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Becky Falls |
Becka Brook |
SX760800 |
near Manaton, Dartmoor |
Beezley Falls |
River Doe |
SD705747 |
north of Ingleton |
Bells Linn |
Bells Burn |
NY612948 |
in Kielder Forest (on Scottish border) |
Biggersdale Hole |
unnamed tributary of East Row Beck |
NZ83951125 |
west of Whitby |
Birker Force |
Low Birker Pool |
SD187999 |
near Boot, Eskdale |
Black Force |
Great Eggleshope Beck |
NY961313 |
north of Middleton-in-Teesdale |
Black Force |
Little Ulgill Beck |
SD645991 |
in Howgill Fells |
Black Foss Waterfall |
West Hall Beck |
SE091508 |
near Addingham, Wharfedale |
Black Lynn |
Linhope Burn |
NT962168 |
near Cheviot Hills |
Black Rock Falls |
River Lyd |
SX574715 |
near Lydford |
Blake Beck Force |
Great Blake Beck |
SD768855 |
upper Dentdale |
Blea Gill Head |
Blea Gill |
NY909178 |
near Balderhead Reservoir, Baldersdale |
Blea Gill Waterfall |
Blea Beck |
SE045660 |
north of Grimwith Reservoir |
Bleabeck Force |
Blea Beck |
NY875278 |
in Teesdale |
Bleaberry Force |
Bleaberry Beck |
NY847078 |
near Kaber |
Brigg Linn |
Brigg Burn |
NY865895 |
near Redesdale |
Broada Falls |
River Avon, Devon |
SX653669 |
near South Brent, Dartmoor |
Brockholes Force |
Brockholes Gill |
NY814008 |
near Birk Dale |
Burnet Force |
Force Beck |
SD942873 |
south of Bainbridge |
Burrator Waterfall |
River Meavy |
SX551675 |
near Burrator Reservoir |
C
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Canonteign Falls (artificial) |
tributary of River Teign |
SX831824 |
near Chudleigh |
Cash Force |
Cash Burn |
NY700388 |
north of Cross Fell |
Catrake Force |
River Swale |
NY892013 |
near Keld, Swaledale |
Catrigg Force |
Stainforth Beck |
SD832671 |
near Stainforth |
Cauldron Snout |
River Tees |
NY814286 |
below Cow Green Reservoir |
Cautley Spout |
Cautley Holme Beck |
SD680975 |
in Howgill Fells |
Chattlehope Spout |
Chattlehope Burn |
NT711010 |
near Castle Crag Forest |
Clampitt Falls |
tributary of the River Teign |
unknown |
north of Chudleigh |
Cliff Force |
Cliff Beck |
SD875960 |
southwest of Thwaite |
Coal Force |
Rowantree Gill |
SD818972 |
near Cotterdale |
Corby Linn |
Hawkhope Burn |
NY713906 |
in Kielder Forest |
Corby Linn |
tributary of Ridlees Burn |
NT852068 |
near Upper Coquet Dale |
Cotter Force |
Cotterdale Beck |
SD848919 |
near Wensleydale |
Currack Force |
Stonesdale Beck |
NY888015 |
near Keld, Swaledale |
D,E
F
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Falling Foss |
May Beck |
NZ888035 |
south of Sleights |
Flinter Gill High Spout |
Flinter Gill |
SD700853 |
south side of Dentdale |
Fordingdale Force |
Measand Beck |
NY470158 |
west of Haweswater Reservoir |
G
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Galleny Force |
Stonethwaite Beck |
NY273131 |
near Stonethwaite, Borrowdale |
Gaping Gill (entrance shaft of cave) |
Fell Beck |
SD751727 |
southern slopes of Ingleborough |
Gibson's Spout |
Crookley Beck or River Annas |
SD121884 |
near Bootle |
Gill Force |
River Esk |
NY178001 |
near Boot, Eskdale |
Goat Linn |
Eals Cleugh |
NY747834 |
in Kielder Forest |
Gordale Scar |
Gordale Beck |
SD915640 |
near Malham |
Golitha Falls |
Fowey |
|
2 km west of the village of St Cleer Cornwall |
Great Force |
Lead Up Gill |
SE073825 |
near West Scrafton, Coverdale |
H
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Hard Level Force |
Mill Gill or Old Gang Beck |
NY968008 |
near Healaugh, Swaledale |
Hardraw Force |
Hardraw Beck |
SD869916 |
near Hardraw, Wensleydale |
Hareshaw Linn |
Hareshaw Burn |
NY842853 |
north of Bellingham |
Harthope Linn |
Harthope Burn |
NT927203 |
east of The Cheviot |
Hellgill Force |
River Eden |
SD780966 |
south of Mallerstang |
Hetherpool Linn |
College Burn |
NT902285 |
in Cheviot Hills |
High Ash Gill Scar |
Ash Gill |
SD895865 |
near Marsett, Raydale |
High Force |
River Tees |
NY880283 |
near Bowlees, Teesdale |
High Force |
Hacker Gill |
SD751855 |
south side of Dentdale |
High Force |
Hoods Bottom Beck |
NY863036 |
near Muker, Swaledale |
High Force |
Aira Beck |
NY400209 |
near Dockray, north of Ullswater |
High Force (Aysgarth Falls) |
River Ure |
SE010886 |
near Aysgarth, Wensleydale |
High Park Scar |
Cragdale Water |
SD913853 |
near Stalling Busk, Raydale |
Holme Force |
Holme Beck |
NY118213 |
near Loweswater |
Horseshoe Falls |
River Dart |
SX710704 |
west of Ashburton |
Horton Gill Force |
Horton Gill |
SD904884 |
east of Hawes, Wensleydale |
Huggill Force |
Hug Gill |
NY977125 |
near Bowes |
I,J
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Intake Force |
Bleaberry Beck |
NY853086 |
near Kaber |
Janet's Foss |
Gordale Beck |
SD911633 |
near Malham |
Jenny Whalley Force |
Hoods Bottom Beck |
NY863034 |
near Muker, Swaledale |
Jerry's Linn |
Chirdon Burn |
NY744812 |
in Kielder Forest |
K
L
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Ladies Linn |
Hesleyside Burn |
NY815833 |
west of Bellingham |
Lady Exmouth Falls |
tributary of River Teign |
SX8382 |
near Chudleigh, Devon |
Leehouse Linn |
Whiskershiel Burn |
NY965929 |
near Elsdon and Harwood Forest |
Light Spout |
Cardingmill Brook |
SO430950 |
Long Mynd |
Lindhope Linn |
Lindhope Burn |
NT911130 |
near Kidland Forest |
Linhope Spout |
Linhope Burn |
NT958171 |
near Linhope, west of Ingram |
Linton Falls |
River Wharfe |
SE001633 |
near Grassington |
Lodore Falls |
Watendlath Beck |
NY265187 |
south of Derwent Water |
Low Ash Gill Scar |
Ash Gill |
SD894863 |
near Marsett, Raydale |
Low Force |
River Tees |
NY908280 |
near Forest-in-Teesdale, Teesdale |
Low Force |
Pudding Beck |
NY196214 |
south of Whinlatter Pass |
Lower Force (Aysgarth Falls) |
River Ure |
SE018888 |
near Aysgarth, Wensleydale |
Lumb Hole Waterfall |
Crimsworth Dean Brook |
SD992314 |
north of Hebden Bridge |
Lumsdale Waterfall |
Bentley Brook |
SK3160 |
north east of Matlock |
M
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Maizebeck Force |
Maize Beck |
NY802272 |
near Cow Green Reservoir |
Mallyan Spout |
West Beck |
NZ824009 |
near Goathland |
Middle Force (Aysgarth Falls) |
River Ure |
SE012887 |
near Aysgarth, Wensleydale |
Mill Force |
River Greta |
NY991132 |
near Bowes |
Mill Scar Lash |
River Wharfe |
SD979664 |
south of Conistone |
Moss Force |
Moss Beck |
NY193174 |
east of Buttermere |
N,O
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Nelly Ayre Foss |
West Beck |
SE813996 |
near Goathland |
Nelly Force |
Apedale Beck? |
SE0491 |
near Castle Bolton |
Oakleymill Waterfall |
Callow Hollow Brook? |
SO429913 |
Long Mynd |
Orgate Force |
Marske Beck |
NZ090018 |
near Marske |
P,Q
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Park Scar |
Cragdale Water |
SD912854 |
near Stalling Busk, Raydale |
Pecca Falls |
River Twiss |
SD695749 |
north of Ingleton |
R
S
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Scale Force |
Scale Beck |
NY150171 |
west of Buttermere |
Scaleber Force |
Scaleber Beck |
SD840625 |
east of Settle |
Scaleclose Force |
Scaleclose Gill |
NY246147 |
near Rosthwaite, Borrowdale |
Scalehow Force |
Scalehow Beck |
NY414190 |
west side of Ullswater |
Scow Force |
River Dee |
SD774852 |
upper Dentdale |
Seavy Sike Force |
West Gill |
SD821959 |
near Cotterdale |
Shavercombe Falls |
River Plym |
unknown |
north of Ivybridge |
Short Gill Waterfall |
Short Gill |
SD673846 |
east side of Barbondale |
Smales Leap |
Smales Burn |
NY717845 |
near Falstone, Kielder Forest |
Smiddy Linn |
Bellion Sike |
NY966927 |
near Elsdon and Harwood Forest |
Snow Falls (Waterfall) |
River Doe |
SD704743 |
north of Ingleton |
Spout Force |
Aiken Beck |
NY181260 |
near Whinlatter Pass |
Spout Linn |
Spout Sike |
NY610947 |
in Kielder Forest |
Stainforth Force |
River Ribble |
SD818672 |
near Stainforth |
Stanley Force |
tributary of River Esk |
SD174995 |
south side of Eskdale |
Startling Fall |
New Close Gill |
SD897849 |
near Raydale |
Stevenson's Piece |
Kirk Moor Beck or Ramsdale Beck |
NZ923032 |
west of Robin Hood's Bay |
Stock Ghyll Force |
Stock Ghyll |
NY385045 |
near Ambleside |
T
Waterfall name |
River or stream |
OS Grid ref. |
general location |
Taylorgill Force |
Styhead Gill |
NY229109 |
near Seathwaite, Borrowdale |
The Cascades |
River Dart |
unknown |
near Holne |
The Force |
Force Beck |
NY798226 |
near Mickle Fell |
The Forces |
Measand Beck |
NY485155 |
west of Haweswater Reservoir |
The Forces |
tributary of Deepdale Beck |
NY373122 |
east of Fairfield |
The Linn |
Lisles Burn |
NY934863 |
near Redesdale |
The Waterfall |
East Dart River |
unknown |
near Postbridge |
Thomason Foss |
Eller Beck |
S825022 |
near Goathland |
Thornthwaite Force |
Haweswater Beck |
NY511160 |
below dam of Haweswater Reservoir |
Thornton Force |
River Twiss |
SD694753 |
north of Ingleton |
Tonguegill Force |
Tongue Gill |
NY338096 |
north of Ambleside |
Turn Wheel |
Rookhope Burn |
NY948398 |
near Eastgate, Weardale |
U,V,W,X,Y,Z
See also
Waterfalls of the UK
Waterfalls of Scotland
Waterfalls of Wales