County Durham is blessed with some of England’s most impressive waterfalls, many of them linked by well-marked riverside paths in the Durham Dales and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Tourism officials highlight High Force as “one of England’s most spectacular waterfalls”, with Low Force, Cauldron Snout, Summerhill Force and Bleabeck Force all popular walking spots.
Whether you want a ten‑minute leg stretch from a car park or a full day’s hike along the River Tees, there is a waterfall walk for every level this summer.
High Force: the Teesdale classic
High Force, near Forest-in-Teesdale, is the big one: a 21‑metre waterfall where the River Tees plunges over the Whin Sill in the heart of the Durham Dales.
It is regularly described as “one of the most spectacular waterfalls in England” and sits within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The main path runs from the High Force Hotel car park through woodland down to the viewing point at the base of the falls.
It is a wide, gently sloping, lightly gravelled path that family‑friendly guides say is suitable for most all‑terrain pushchairs and many wheelchairs, taking around 30 to 60 minutes for a simple out‑and‑back visit.
Admission costs £4 for adults and £2.50 for children aged 4 to 15, with under-4s free. Couples and family tickets are available online at a discounted rate. Tickets can be purchased at the kiosk in the car park or inside the hotel.
It was also recently visited by North East comedy legend Bob Mortimer while filming a with his 'Gone Fishing' screen partner Paul Whitehouse.
Getting there: Start at the High Force Hotel car park (DL12 0XH), which is paid parking and located directly beside the hotel entrance on the B6277.
Parking costs £4 for four hours, £6 for six hours or £12 for 24 hours, payable at the ticket machine or inside the hotel.
Walk distance: To the falls and back is approximately 0.6 miles (1km), taking 30 to 60 minutes.
High Force and Low Force circular from Bowlees
For a fuller day out, the High Force and Bowlees Geo Trail offers a four- to five-mile circular walk linking High Force and Low Force via riverside paths on both sides of the Tees.
Starting from either Bowlees Visitor Centre or the High Force Hotel car park, the route follows the Pennine Way past Low Force, crosses a historic suspension bridge and climbs through pasture and woodland to viewpoints above High Force before looping back.
This is Durham describes the geo trail as a way to discover “some of the special features of the landscape around High Force and Low Force waterfalls”, with waymarked sections and interpretation boards along the way.
Hiking guides rate it as an easy-to-moderate walk of around four miles, taking roughly two hours with time built in for photos at both waterfalls.
Getting there: The best starting point for this circular is Bowlees Visitor Centre (DL12 0XE), which has a donate-and-display car park with a suggested donation of £2 to £3 for a half day (up to three hours) or £3 to £4 for a full day.
Payment is by cash at the machine on site or by digital donation inside the visitor centre.
All routes are well signposted from the car park and the visitor centre stocks maps.
Walk distance: approximately four miles (6.4km), two hours.
Low Force: easy family‑friendly falls
Low Force is a more modest but beautifully layered waterfall on the River Tees, where the river tumbles over the same Whin Sill rock that forms High Force.
It lies just across the road from Bowlees Visitor Centre, four miles north‑west of Middleton‑in‑Teesdale on the B6277, and is described by county tourism as “part of the River Tees in beautiful Upper Teesdale” with the Pennine Way running right by it.
The official waymarked path from Bowlees crosses the road and a field to reach the waterfall in about ten to fifteen minutes, on a well‑maintained track suitable for children and most casual walkers.
The walkway is open all year round, with gates currently open 9am to 5pm.
One recent TripAdvisor reviewer called it “an easy walk from the laybys nearby… well maintained and signed”, adding that while the falls are smaller than High Force they are “beautiful in their own way”.
Getting there: Park at Bowlees Visitor Centre (DL12 0XE). Parking is donate-and-display: suggested donation £2 to £3 for a half day, £3 to £4 for a full day, payable by cash on site.
There are also small free laybys on the B6277 just outside the visitor centre if those spaces are full.
Walk distance: approximately half a mile (0.8km) return, ten to fifteen minutes on flat ground.
Summerhill Force and Gibson Cave: a short “secret” walk
Just up the lane from Bowlees Visitor Centre is one of Teesdale’s quieter gems: the short walk to Summerhill Force and Gibson Cave.
A signed path leads from the visitor centre car park through woodland to the falls, which are tucked away in a rocky cleft and often missed by people heading straight for High Force.
North Pennines AONB staff describe it as “a walk of 1.3km (0.8 miles) to Gibson’s Cave and Summerhill Force from Bowlees taking approximately 30 minutes”, making it ideal for younger families or anyone looking for a quick stop.
Behind the veil of water is the dramatic overhanging rock known as Gibson’s Cave, a favourite photography spot in almost every guide.
Visitors on TripAdvisor praise the route as “a nice walk along the river to two waterfalls and the overhanging rock called Gibson's Cave. Good paths and easy access from the car park.”
Getting there: Start directly from Bowlees Visitor Centre car park (DL12 0XE). Parking is donate-and-display: suggested donation £2 to £3 for a half day, £3 to £4 for a full day, cash only at the site machine.
The path to Summerhill Force is signed from the visitor centre itself.
Walk distance: 1.3km (0.8 miles) one way, approximately 30 minutes return.
Cauldron Snout: big cascade, bigger walk
If you are happy with something more rugged, Cauldron Snout on the Upper Tees is a serious waterfall walk.
Set beneath Cow Green Reservoir at the head of Teesdale, it is described by outdoor writers as “unmistakably the star attraction” of local routes and “at nearly 200m long, one of the longest waterfalls in England”.
Rather than a single drop, it is a long cataract of churning white water tumbling over dolerite steps of the Whin Sill.
Walks typically start from the free car park at Cow Green Reservoir before dropping down to the River Tees and picking up the Pennine Way to reach the base of the falls.
Hiking guides say this is a must‑do Teesdale walk, but flag a short scramble section on rocks beside the cascade and road walking on the return leg, rating it as suitable for confident walkers rather than a casual family pushchair outing.
A TripAdvisor reviewer summed it up neatly: “A spectacular 180m long cascade on the Upper Tees. Easy to get to from the car park but a tricky walk/scramble from top to bottom.”
Getting there: Start from Cow Green Reservoir car park (DL12 0HX). Parking is managed by an honesty box system. Note that mobile signal is very poor in this area, so do not rely on phone payment.
Walk distance: approximately three miles (4.8km) return, allowing around one-and-a-half to two hours.
Bleabeck Force: a quieter waterfall beyond High Force
For those who want to go beyond the obvious stops, Bleabeck Force offers a quieter waterfall further up the Tees valley.
A peaceful route from Bowlees Visitor Centre takes you past Low Force and High Force to this hidden, crowd‑free fall on a 5.1‑mile there‑and‑back walk.
Outdoor guides describe it as a chance to “discover Bleabeck Force in Teesdale” with a mix of riverside paths and open moorland.
AllTrails lists a Forest‑in‑Teesdale, Bleabeck Force and High Force circular as a moderately challenging route of around 2 hours 45 minutes, popular with hikers and trail runners who want to link several waterfalls in one go.
Because it is further from the road and beyond the biggest honey‑pots, it is a good option if you prefer your waterfalls with more solitude.
Getting there: Start from Bowlees Visitor Centre (DL12 0XE) for the longer there-and-back route, or from the High Force Hotel car park (DL12 0XH) if you want to take in Bleabeck Force as an extension of a High Force visit.
Parking charges as above: donate-and-display at Bowlees (£2 to £4 depending on length of stay) or £4 to £6 at the High Force Hotel car park.
Walk distance: 5.1 miles (8.2km) there-and-back from Bowlees, approximately two hours 45 minutes.
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Staying safe around Durham waterfalls this summer
County tourism officers remind visitors that paths, rocks and riverbanks can be slippery even in summer, and that water levels in the Tees can rise quickly after heavy rain.
High Force’s main access path may close in adverse weather “in the interest of safety”, so it is always worth checking conditions before travelling, taking proper footwear and keeping dogs and children back from the edge.
Plan sensibly, pack for changeable weather, and County Durham’s waterfall walks will deliver some of the most memorable days out you can have in the North East this summer.
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