High Force and Low Force

We are lucky to have numerous waterfalls in the north of England and High and Low Force are arguably two of the most spectacular and best loved. Located on the River Tees in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) these two waterfalls have been thousands of years in the making.

High Force is the larger, more spectacular of the two, and cascades over our old friend the Whin Sill. This layer of hard, igneous rock, which also appears along Hadrian's Wall and on the Northumberland Coast at Dunstanburgh Castle, is over 295 million years old and wears away far slower than other areas of softer rock that sit beneath it. As the River Tees wore those softer layers away and reached the harder Whin Sill the waterfall was formed.

High Force is actually a series of cascades which drop around 21m in two main stages into the 700m long gorge at its base. If there has been particularly heavy rainfall it also flows over a normally dry channel to its right-hand side creating an even more exciting spectacle.

Visitors can walk down from the nearby High Force Hotel to a spot near the plunge pool where they can get wonderful views from the bottom of the waterfall, or alternatively they can head in the opposite direction and cross the river before heading along the Juniper lined Pennine Way to the top of the waterfall, providing incredible views over the edge.

While High Force is the better-known waterfall, its nearby neighbour Low Force is no less deserving of a visit. Located around 1.5 miles downstream it is a gentler affair that drops down a number of smaller cascades.

It is also formed by the softer limestone and sandstone rocks being eroded more rapidly than the harder Whin Sill, meaning in places it drops over an edge while in others it flows around the harder intrusions of rock.

One of the best places to view Low Force is from the Wynch Bridge at its bottom end. The original Wynch Bridge, built in 1741 by local lead miners was thought to be the first suspension bridge in Britain. The one that you cross today was built in 1830 and underwent further repairs in 2019.

There are a number of woodland walks around the area where you can take in views of both High and Low Force and if you pass through the “Magical Waterfall Woods” on the northern bank of the river near High Force you can find a sculpture trail for kids and adults alike.

Whether you are after witnessing the raw power of nature at High Force or the more tranquil sounds of Low Force, this area has something for everyone including the all-important public toilets and somewhere to grab a bite to eat or refreshments after a long walk.