Scaleber Force

The falls sit on the South Craven Fault, where uplifted limestone gave the beck something hard to work at. Over time the stream has cut the drop back into a steep-sided, tree-shaded ravine, so you get rugged pale-to-dark limestone walls, moss, and the sudden edge of the Craven uplands all in one small place. The water comes down in multiple drops with lower cascades rather than a single clean plunge.

• A quick upper viewpoint just inside the wood, looking down onto the main fall from the limestone outcrop above it.
• An unsurfaced upper path running along the top of the gorge, passing an old lime kiln.
• A narrow lower descent to the pool and cascades for those confident on rough, steep ground.
• Photography in a dark, mossy, enclosed setting where the water is the brightest thing in frame.

The lower route is narrow, steep, rough and frequently slippery, with eroded roots, uneven steps and some unguarded drops above the gorge. Wear proper footwear with grip and keep children and dogs close. Stay back from wet rock and the pool edge; the falls are best appreciated from the paths, and the view from above is a genuine alternative if the descent looks beyond you. Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, and there are no toilets, cafe or facilities at the site. Nearest amenities are in Settle.

Visitors consistently praise how hidden and beautiful it feels and how close it is to the road, and just as consistently warn about the slippery, rocky descent and the extremely limited parking. It is a short stop rather than a day out; if you want more, a longer circular walk from Settle can link the wood with Sugar Loaf Hill and Jubilee Cave, but that walk is a choice, not a requirement for seeing the falls.