Catrigg Force

A multi-drop cascade tumbling through a narrow, steep-sided limestone gorge, with mossy rock walls closing in and a dark pool at the foot of the falls. The best views are from the base, looking straight up the drops. The gorge is wooded and sheltered from the wind, which makes it a decent bad-weather option, and in cold snaps ice can form around the edges. It is a genuinely secluded spot for something so close to a village, and Edward Elgar, who had friends in nearby Settle, is said to have enjoyed the walk out here.

Stainforth Force is a separate waterfall, reached from the same Stainforth car park but in the opposite direction, down on the River Ribble. If you have the time, you can comfortably see both on one outing. Catrigg is the one tucked away in the wooded gorge above the village rather than beside the river.

The woodland descent into the gorge is steep and often slippery, and the last 50 m or so to the pool is rocky and can be muddy. Take care near the edge on the way down. Reaching the very best viewpoint at the base may involve wading or hopping over slick rocks, so decide before you commit whether that is worth it in your footwear. Toilets are only at the Stainforth car park, with none on the walk, and there is a pub in the village. Dogs are allowed, but expect grazing cattle on the farmland sections.

The payoff is short and the walk in is the bulk of the experience, so it suits people who want a modest hill walk rather than a roadside viewpoint. The final scramble rules it out for anyone unsteady on their feet or pushing a buggy. Fallen branches sometimes collect at the base, and in dry weather the spectacle drops off sharply.