Easy and circular walk around High and Low Force Waterfalls.
Calculated time: 2h25[?] 
Distance : 7.45km
Vertical gain : 101m
Vertical drop : 104m
Highest point : 337m
Lowest point : 265m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Forest and Frith
Starting point : N 54.652635° / W 2.178315° 
(D/A) Leave the High Force Hotel crossing the road and bearing left, in 20 meters you will come to a footpath sign directing you down some steps to the right (South-East). Down the step, through a gate, and along the banks of the River Tees until you meet a footbridge.
(1) Cross and turn right (South). Follow the path up some further steps, through a gate, and then through the juniper forest, the largest in England. After 800 meters you will note an unmarked pathway to the right, take this (West) for an excellent view of High Force. Continue for 400 meters until you reach High Force. Please take care as you as looking down at the power of the Falls.
(2) Now return along the path you came from passing the footbridge, going through gates with the River Tees always on your left-hand side. You have views of Holwick Scars to the right on this stretch of about 1 mile. Coming to a sculpture of two sheep you are now nearly at Low Force.
(3) At the next junction, cross the Wynch Bridge, built in 1830, one at a time, and enjoy a closer look at Low Force waterfall. Then continue on the pathway (North-East) up to a gate and a squeeze stile into farmland. Cross two fields straight ahead to reach the road (B627) at Bowlees Farm.
(4) Cross the road turning right (East) for a few meters before turning left (North-North-East) into a lane with Bowlees Visitor Centre in front of you. Here you can find refreshments and toilets. (Alternative starting point for the walk: Bowlees Visitor Centre.)
(5) Leaving the Visitor Centre, turn right (North-West) to a foot gate in the wall next to a farm gate. Stick (North-West) to the well-marked and often a vehicle used trail on the left all the way to Ash Hill Farm. You are now walking on the old carriage way up hill through several fields past Ash Hill Farm.
(6) From the farm, carry on (West-South-West) on a paved surface down to Dirt Pit Farm. Pass through the farm as the road curved left and up the hill still on the track to a minor road.
(7) At the road, you can choose to go over the fields (South-West) back to the High Force Hotel car park OR if the weather conditions are not suitable, follow the minor road back to the main road (B6277); then at the junction turn right (West) and follow the main road back to High Force Hotel car park. (D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 320m - High Force Hotel
1 : km 0.7 - alt. 289m - Footbridge
2 : km 1.73 - alt. 321m - High Force Waterfall
3 : km 4.37 - alt. 267m - Wynch Bridge
4 : km 4.68 - alt. 275m - B6277
5 : km 4.83 - alt. 281m - Bowlees Visitor Centre
6 : km 6.22 - alt. 334m - Ash Hill Farm
7 : km 6.83 - alt. 311m - Dirt Pit Farm - Minor road
D/A : km 7.45 - alt. 321m - High Force Hotel
Parking :
Alternative starting point for the walk : Bowlees Visitor Centre.
Refreshments: High Force Hotel is open all day 7 days a week. For lunch and dinner, there is an ever-changing, selection of bar meals and snacks along with real ales, a selection of wines, and non-alcoholic drinks. Rambling Clubs also have the opportunity to benefit from the function room as they can book it for a private gathering. The hotel also offers a takeaway menu as well as providing packed lunches and picnic boxes. In winter there is an open fire and in summer the beer garden, patio, and courtyard are available to customers. Dogs are welcome.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.75/5
Number of opinions : 4
Description quality : 4.75/5
Routemap quality : 4.75/5
Walk interest : 4.75/5
Hi Gramham,
Thank you for this feedback. I am going to alter the description with what you mentioned.
Enjoy your walks.
Kind regards
Delphine - Community Developer
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 25/04/22
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
The route back over the fields can be confusing. After leaving the Bowlees centre stick to the well marked and often vehicle used trail on the left all the way to the farm and then chose to go over the fields back to the hotal car park OR if weather conditions are not suitable follow the minor road back to the main road; then at the junction turn right and follow the main road back to the hotel. We and others did that on the day we walked the route.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 11/03/22
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Beautiful countryside, Low Force is beautiful with smaller waterfalls then the stunningly powerful High Force waterfall was mesmerising at the end. We did the walk backwards, taking the countryside path first and linking round to the river.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 29/09/21
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Very good walk. Easy with good directions although a bit more clarity on which path to take after Bowlees Visitor Centre would have been useful as two lead off from the same gate (take the left one along a broad track). Superb views of both High and Low Force.
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 28/04/21
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
Didn’t do the full circle due to time constraints. Returned via the riverside path. High Force and Low Force are both worth visiting and we will do the full walk when we return.
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+458m
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