Falling Foss Waterfall

Overview

About Falling Foss Waterfall

Why stop

Woodland setting makes a short waterfall visit feel like a proper walk

Heads up

Uneven, slippery paths and steep drops near the falls
Flow can be underwhelming after dry weather

A 9 m (about 30 ft) waterfall on Little Beck, dropping into a shaded bowl of old broad-leaved woodland in Sneaton Forest. The appeal is the setting: steep valley sides, mossy trees, the sound of water, and a short woodland walk to reach it. It is most impressive after heavy rain, when the flow is strong; in dry spells it thins out noticeably.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy stop

Map

Where it is

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SightFalling Foss Waterfall54.41871, -0.63268

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Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to go

After a spell of wet weather for the fullest flow.
Early morning, late afternoon, or a weekday for a quieter visit. Both car parks are small and parking gets tight and overflows at busy times, especially weekends and holidays.
Overcast or soft light suits the enclosed woodland better than harsh sun, which blows out the gaps in the canopy.

Getting there and walking options

Falling Foss Car Park is the direct approach, roughly a 5 minute walk from the waterfall and tea garden. There are two accessible parking spaces here.
A popular option is the circular May Beck and Falling Foss walk, around 2 miles, running through the trees past the tea garden and the falls, starting from May Beck Car Park instead.
For a longer day, the Hermitage and May Beck Picnic Place are nearby in the same forest and fold easily into a bigger loop.

8 active North York Moors alerts

ClosureHawnby Bridleway 110 closurePublic Bridleway 25.122/110/1 in Hawnby is closed to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians because its bridge is unsafe. - The closure is between grid references SE 5309 9073 and SE 5335 9097.Official details
ClosureWest Ayton Footpath 1 closurePublic Footpath 1 in West Ayton (Forge Valley) is temporarily closed because its boardwalk is unsafe. - The closure is between SE 9860 8494 and SE 9839 8712.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

North York Moors Tour Guide

Your drive to Falling Foss Waterfall, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for North York Moors National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Falling Foss Waterfall

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“You're approaching the parking area for Falling Foss, a waterfall tucked into a steep wooded valley.”

Plays as you drive up to Falling Foss Waterfall in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.

More about Falling Foss Waterfall

The waterfall and the tea garden are two different thingsThe waterfall is the free, outdoor sight, reached on foot through the woods.

The waterfall is the free, outdoor sight, reached on foot through the woods.
Falling Foss Tea Garden at Midge Hall sits right beside it, an outdoor tea garden with food and toilets that are available only when it is open. It runs seasonally, mainly over the warmer months, so plan as if it may be shut and treat any refreshments as a bonus rather than a certainty.

Practical preparationWear shoes with grip.

Wear shoes with grip. Woodland paths are occasionally uneven and stony, and often muddy or slippery.
There are no toilets on the walking route. Sort that out before you set off.
Bring water and a snack, since food nearby depends on the tea garden being open.

SafetyThere are steep drops near the waterfall, and the ground close to the beck is uneven and can be…

There are steep drops near the waterfall, and the ground close to the beck is uneven and can be slick. Keep back from edges, watch children closely, and take your time on rock and tree roots.
If you bring a dog, keep it on a short lead near the waterfall.

Honest drawbacksThis is a short, modest waterfall visit, not a big attraction with facilities.

This is a short, modest waterfall visit, not a big attraction with facilities. If you arrive in dry weather, expect a trickle rather than a torrent. Add the woodland loop, and it becomes a proper couple of hours; treat it as a quick photo stop and you may feel you drove a long way for very little.

Wildlife

Wildlife in North York Moors

All North York Moors wildlife maps

15 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

10 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

79 sightingsGrey SealMost seen around noonSighting map

26 sightingsWestern Barn OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

33 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

10 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around noonSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across North York Moors. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.