From Waterfall Country in Wales to an underground cave in North Yorkshire, you’ll find stunning and unique waterfalls all over the UK. You can visit a range of different waterfalls, from high, dramatic drops to collections of short, cascading gems. Some are easily reached with a short walk and others involve long hikes through the secluded wilderness. Strap on some hiking boots, pack a swimsuit and get ready to explore the best waterfalls in the UK.
The best waterfalls in the UK: Wales
Wales is home to Waterfall Country, in the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park. Naturally, this area is packed with waterfalls, including some underground ones. Outside the park, you can find amazing waterfalls in the surrounding area of Powys and at Snowdonia National Park.
Henrhyd Falls, Brecon Beacons
You can find Henrhyd Falls in Graig Llech Gorge, around 5.6 kilometres from the National Trust car park. The loop walk to the falls will take you across a few wooden bridges and past an abandoned water mill known as Melin Llech. If you continue onwards after the main waterfall, you’ll come to a smaller waterfall where you can occasionally see trout and other wildlife. This waterfall is at its best after heavy rain (November often has a lot), but that also means you’ll want to be extra careful, as the path to the waterfall and the ground surrounding it can be quite slippery.
Four Waterfalls Walk, Brecon Beacons
This walk takes you to the most well-known waterfalls in the park: Sgwd-yr-Eira, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn. Located in Waterfall Country, you can see each waterfall in roughly 3-4 hours from the Cwm Porth car park. Each waterfall is unique: Clun-Gwyn is short and steep with waters cascading quickly over mossy rock; Isaf Clun-Gwyn is the smaller waterfall, secluded and peaceful; y Pannwr is the higher of the waterfalls and visitors can swim in the pools below it; and finally, yr-Eira is the larger and more dramatic, gushing down the cliffside. Visit May through September for the nicer weather and October through April for quieter walking paths.
Dan yr Ogof, Brecon Beacons
Dan yr Ogof is a cave system at the Showcaves Centre for Wales, open between April and October. It costs around £13.70 to enter the Showcaves Centre, and there are multiple waterfalls throughout the caves. This is an excellent place to visit with children; the centre embraces the area’s history, with dinosaur models, an Iron Age village and plenty of opportunities for education. Pentre Riding Stables offer accommodation very close to the centre, and Abercrave Inn and Hafan Y Coed Haven of Trees are both around 10min away by car.
Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys
Pistyll Rhaeadr is a beautiful waterfall in the Berwyn Mountains, noted for its serene and peaceful atmosphere. It’s 80 metres tall, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Wales, and there are a variety of walking paths surrounding it. Many of the walks are quite short; you can take the public footpath to the top of the falls in around 20min. The falls are open throughout the year, and you can stay close to the waterfall at Tan-y-Pistyll (‘little house under the waterfall’); they offer apartments and caravans.
Twll Du, or Devil’s Kitchen, Snowdonia
Nestled in the Idwal Valley at the northern end of Snowdonia National Park, this waterfall flows from a large crack in the cliffs between two mountain peaks. Its Welsh name translates to ‘black hole’, and its English name is derived from the way steam rises up and makes the crack look like a chimney. You can take a 5-kilometre loop walk through Idwal Valley from the Ogwen Visitor Centre and get a good view of Twll Du just past the Idwal Slabs. If you plan to climb Twll Du, it’s best to visit during the drier months of spring and summer, as the trail can get slippery and difficult after rain.
The best waterfalls in the UK: Scotland
Scotland is home to some of the UK’s tallest and most stunning waterfalls, nestled in the atmospheric highlands. You can stick to the mountains and valleys of the mainland or head to the Isle of Skye for a magical visit.
Falls of Glomach, Ross-shire
One of the highest in Britain, the Falls of Glomach is a breath-taking waterfall situated in Scotland’s spectacular Highlands. To reach the falls, you’ll need to hike for roughly 3 hours (and 3 hours back), but the final view and the landscapes you’ll see along the way are more than worth it. Visit in spring and summer to get better weather and longer daylight hours, giving you plenty of time to explore. A town close to the falls is Kyle of Lochalsh, which has a variety of accommodation options, including Kintail Lodge or Tingle Creek Hotel.
Steall Waterfall, Glen Nevis
Steall Waterfall is a 120-metre tall waterfall that flows down the mountains of the Nevis Gorge and into the valley below. The hike to the falls is operated by the John Muir Trust, which aims to keep the area in an undisturbed state, and it takes roughly 2 hours to complete. Fort William is a nearby town, and you’ll find plenty of accommodation options here. Visit in summer to see the glen teeming with wildlife or in winter and early spring for a chance to see the stunning sight of the falls frozen over.
Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye live up to their magical name, with brilliantly clear, blue ponds and flowing waterfalls that are especially beautiful in summer. They sit at the base of the Black Cuillins, along the River Brittle, and visitors are welcome to swim in them (if you can withstand the cold). It takes around 40min to walk to the pools, but this leaves plenty of time to explore each one. Taigh Ailean Hotel is a great accommodation option just a few kilometres from the pools.
Grey Mare’s Tail, Dumfriesshire
Grey Mare’s Tail is one of the best places to visit for wildlife enthusiasts, with rare plants dotting the landscape and peregrine falcons nesting in the area (visit in late summer/autumn to get the best chance of seeing them). The water falls 60 metres from Loch Skeen into the Moffat Water Valley. Guided walks of the area are available, including fossil hunting tours led by rangers. Moffat is a nearby city, and it has plenty of hotels, cottages and other accommodation options available.
Eas a’ Chual Aluinn, Sutherland
With a 200-metre drop, Eas a’ Chual Aluinn is one of the highest waterfalls in the UK. The name roughly translates to ‘waterfall of the beautiful tresses’. There is a 10-kilometre walk to the waterfall from the small fishing hamlet of Kylesku. The falls only freeze over in exceptionally cold weather, so you can generally see the water flowing all year round. You can stay in Kylesku at Kylesku Hotel, which sometimes operates boat trips to Loch Beag, giving you a good view of Eas a’ Chual Aluinn.
The best waterfalls in the UK: England and Northern Ireland
Wales and Scotland may make up most of this list, but there are some truly special waterfalls to be found in England and Northern Ireland. The best attractions here are often just out of sight, with falls tucked away in forests or hidden underground.
Fell Beck and Gaping Gill, North Yorkshire
This waterfall is formed by the Fell Beck Stream, which flows into the Gaping Gill underground cave chamber from a 98-metre deep pothole, making it one of the highest unbroken waterfalls in England. An easy way to reach the cave’s main entrance is by following the walking path from the nearby village of Clapham. From here, you can be lowered into the cave by a seat attached to a winch. Unfortunately, to see the inside of the cave system, you need to visit in May, as the caves are only accessible to cavers during the rest of the year.
Hardraw Force, North Yorkshire
Hardraw Force is a dramatic waterfall in Hawes, North Yorkshire, that’s definitely best viewed after rain, when it rushes down the cliffside (visit between April and August for a better chance of rain). It’s on private land, so there is a small fee of around £4 per person to access the fall, and it’s best to have cash on hand. You can reach the entrance from behind the Green Dragon Inn, and then take either a fairly direct, roughly 10-min walk to the Force or a longer walk that takes around 40min. Hawes has a few hotels close to Hardraw Force, such as The White Hart Inn and Stone House Hotel.
Glenoe Waterfall, Antrim
Something of a hidden gem in Northern Ireland, Glenoe Waterfall is a picturesque waterfall, just under 10 metres tall, tucked away in the Glens of Antrim forest. There is parking quite close to the waterfall, so you can reach it with a short walk, but remember to bring good walking shoes, as the terrain can be muddy and difficult after rain.
This waterfall is excellent to visit in summer, particularly if you bring your bathing suit, as swimming is allowed in the Glenoe Water at the waterfall’s base. Glenoe is roughly halfway between Larne and Carrickfergus, and you can find a variety of accommodations in both towns to give you an easy drive to the falls; you can also take the 158 Bus from Larne to Glenoe.
