Askrigg Waterfalls Walk: Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force

The stunning Askrigg Waterfalls include both Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force. By doing the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk, you can explore both of these lesser-known yet mightily impressive waterfalls. In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about finding the hidden Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force during the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk.

Askrigg Waterfalls: Mill Gill Force & Whitfield Gill Force

Also known as the Askrigg Falls Walk, the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk is certainly one of the best circular walks from Askrigg. Starting from the charming village of Askrigg, in Wensleydale, you’ll initially reach the serene Mill Gill Force.

After that, you’ll pass Whitfield Gill Lower Falls, which in its own right, is a nice waterfall. But, perhaps, the best drop of them all is the amazing Whitfield Gill Force, which takes a little more effort to reach compared with getting to the other waterfalls.

So, exactly where are Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force located?

Where Are Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force?

Both Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force are located north of the village of Askrigg in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You won’t find either of these Askrigg waterfalls on Google Maps. On the map below, we’ve pointed out where all the waterfalls, along the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk, are located.

Now you know where Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force are located, let’s look at some details regarding the walk itself.

Askrigg Waterfalls Walk: Details

Below, you’ll find the trail specs for the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk – one of the best walks around Askrigg.

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 5.3km (3.3 miles)
• Time: 1.5–2 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 145m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Askrigg

Askrigg Waterfalls postcode (parking): DL8 3HL (Grid Ref: SD 950911)

Askrigg Waterfalls Walk: Directions & Description

In this trail description, we’re going to tell you all about the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk.

Mill Gill Force From Askrigg

From the quaint village of Askrigg, you’ll initially follow Mill Lane, passing numerous cottages. You’ll soon walk along a meadow path, which leads to a woodland trail. Soon enough, you’ll be crossing a bridge that steers you over a stream of the lovely Mill Gill. You’ll then cross another bridge that has you walking alongside Mill Gill, to your right. The trail then ascends away from the stream, following alongside a dry stone wall.

Eventually, you’ll reach a sign that directs you to do an out and back to Mill Gill Force. By following this gradually descending trail, you’ll reach the first of the Askrigg waterfalls. Mill Gill Force is a seriously impressive waterfall. Beck and I were blown away by this multi-tier drop waterfall.

After exploring Mill Gill Force, you’ll retrace your steps to rejoin the circular trail.

Whitfield Gill Force

After seeing Mill Gill Force, the next waterfall along the trail is the lower falls of Whitfield Gill. So, as expected, during your approach, you’ll soon be walking alongside the delightful Whitfield Gill.

Although the Whitfield Gill Lower Falls is the next waterfall along the stream, we actually recommend bypassing the lower falls. Essentially, you’ll pass the lower falls as you exit the ravine to complete the circular walk. So, when you arrive at the turnoff to the lower falls, we recommend that you keep heading north along the trail.

Eventually, you’ll reach a sign directing you to Whitfield Gill Force. But, this trail falsely leads you up and away from Whitefield Gill Force. The track then abruptly ends without even so much as a view of the waterfall. What you need to do is actually ignore this sign and follow the lower track heading alongside the stream. There isn’t a sign directing you this way. But, this is the only way to actually get to the base of Whitfield Gill Force.

Bear in mind, that the trail to get to the base of Whitfield Gill Force is moderately challenging. The terrain is very slippery. Along a fairly well-walked trail, you’ll need to skip along rocks and dodge and weave around fallen trees. But, it’s worth all of the effort when you reach the mesmerising Whitfield Gill Force – one of the most underrated waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales.

Luckily, when we visited, we were treated to a sublime rainbow at the bottom of the waterfall. Beck and I were absolutely thrilled by this!

Whitfield Gill Lower Falls

After you’ve enjoyed Whitfield Gill Force, you’ll retrace your steps and return to the turnoff for the Whitfield Gill Lower Falls. The lower falls are picturesque and pretty. We stopped to admire the waterfall for some time before crossing the nearby bridge and making our way out of the ravine.

There are several exit routes out of the ravine, but the route we took, which ascended the ravine, to the right of the gill, seemed the most logical in order to reach Low Straights Lane. Once you reach the lane, you’ll turn right and head back towards Askrigg. After seeing all of the Askrigg Waterfalls, we have no doubt that you’ll be buzzing! Soon enough, you’ll arrive back in the village of Askrigg.

Helpful Information About Visiting the Askrigg Waterfalls

Now you know all about doing the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk, let’s look at some useful information to help plan your visit.

How to Get to Askrigg

The simplest way to get to Askrigg is to drive there yourself. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, then we recommend hiring a car using DiscoverCars.com. You’ll find a wide variety of cars on Discover Cars for very reasonable prices. Also, the website is user-friendly and booking online is super easy. Have a look at car hire from Manchester.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

When it comes to Askrigg Waterfalls parking, there is no official car park. You’ll simply park in Askrigg. You’ll find donation-based parking in the heart of town opposite St Oswald’s Church. This is where Beck and I parked.

Public Transport

Although it’s possible to use public transport to get to Askrigg, we don’t recommend it as services are very infrequent. Also, depending on where you’re travelling from in the UK, you’ll likely have a slow and tedious journey. If public transport is your only option, we recommend using Google Maps, Traveline or Dales Bus to plan your journey.

Where to Stay in Askrigg

If you’re looking for accommodation near Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force, it makes sense to stay in Askrigg, where the waterfall walk begins. The beautiful village has some quaint and cosy accommodation options. Below, we’ve handpicked the best options in Askrigg.

• The White Rose: located in the heart of Askrigg, the country inn offers an exceptional value-for-money stay.
• Thornsgill House Bed & Breakfast: by far, this is the best B&B in Askrigg.
• Skeldale House ‘All Creatures Great & Small’ by Maison Parfaite: if you’re a fan of All Creatures Great and Small, you’ll definitely want to stay here!

Other Wensleydale Waterfalls

Other than the Askrigg Waterfalls, there are plenty of other superb waterfalls in Wensleydale. Below, we’ll look at the other best waterfalls in Wensleydale.

• Hardraw Force: a famous waterfall located in Hardraw just north of Hawes.
• Cotter Force: a stunning multi-tier cascade waterfall that’s also located in Hardraw.
• Aysgill Force: a gorgeous waterfall that you can walk to from Hawes.
• Aysgarth Falls: another well-known set of waterfalls in the Dales.
• West Burton Falls (AKA Cauldron Falls): an impressive waterfall located near Aysgarth Falls.
• Hawes Falls: you’ll find these quaint falls thundering through the town of Hawes.

Other Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales

Other than Wensleydale waterfalls, the Yorkshire Dales as a whole, has plenty of awesome waterfalls to see. Below, we’ve listed other waterfall walks worth doing in the Dales.

• Ingleton Waterfalls Trail: some of the most famous waterfalls in Yorkshire are seen along the Ingleton Falls Trail.
• Keld Waterfalls Walk: another exceptional waterfall walk that takes in seven waterfalls!
• Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk: a lesser-known waterfall walk that explores many stunning cascades along Cray Gill near Buckden.
• Settle Caves and Waterfalls Walk: you’ll visit a couple of waterfalls and caves during this circular walk from Settle.
• Bolton Abbey Waterfall: an epic waterfall located in the Valley of Desolation near Bolton Abbey.
• Malham Cove Walk: after seeing Malham Cove, explore Gordale Scar Waterfall and Janet’s Foss.
• Cautley Spout: as mentioned, this is England’s highest broken waterfall above ground. It can be seen on a walk around Howgill Fell.
• Hull Pot: an amazing waterfall located next to Pen-y-ghent.
• Force Gill Waterfall: a superb waterfall found near Whernside – the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
• Rat Hole Waterfall: see the highest underground waterfall in England during a visit to Gaping Gill.

Other lesser-known but impressive waterfalls worth visiting in the Yorkshire Dales include Buckden Beck Waterfalls, Cow Close Gill Waterfall and Gastack Beck Waterfall.

Read more: The Top 48 Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales

What to Wear and Take

These are our five walking gear essentials for the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

FAQs About the Askrigg Waterfalls

Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about the Askrigg Waterfalls.

What Waterfalls Are Above Askrigg?

The waterfalls north of Askrigg include Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force.

Is the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk Kid-Friendly?

Most of the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk is child-friendly. But, the out and back to the base of Whitfield Gill Force is moderately challenging given the slippery and uneven terrain. At the end of the day, you’ll know your child’s ability the best. Certainly, this section of the walk can be skipped if you have any doubts or think the trail is a bit too sketchy for the little ones.

What Is in Askrigg?

Askrigg is a small village but it has plenty in the way of gorgeous cottages, a beautiful church, nice cafes and traditional pubs. When it comes to things to do near Askrigg, you’ll have to visit the charming village of Hawes, where you’ll find plenty to do. Otherwise, if you’re chasing waterfalls, you’ll have to visit the nearby Aysgarth Falls.

Read more: Hawes – The 16 Best Things To Do In Hawes, Yorkshire

How Many Waterfalls Are in Yorkshire?

There are literally hundreds of waterfalls in the Dales!

Best Villages to See in the Yorkshire Dales

• Grassington: Everything You Need to Know About Grassington
• Ingleton: 10 Awesome Things To Do In Ingleton
• Masham: Everything You Need to Know About Masham
• Buckden: The 5 Best Things To Do In Buckden, Yorkshire
• Keld: The 5 Best Things To Do in Keld, North Yorkshire
• Clapham: The Top 13 Things To Do During A Visit to Clapham, Yorkshire
• Ribblehead: 15 Awesome Things To Do In Ribblehead

Bonus Tips

• The walk is dog-friendly: you’re welcome to take pooch on the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk.
• Visit after heavy rainfall: the waterfalls are much more impressive after a decent bout of rain – this is especially true for Whitfield Gill Force.
• Explore other nearby national parks in the northwest of England: don’t just stop at the Yorkshire Dales. Head to the beautiful Lake District (guides coming soon), Peak District, Forest of Bowland and North York Moors National Park.

Surely, the Askrigg Waterfalls Walk is one of the best short walks from Askrigg. Do you prefer any other Askrigg walks? Please let us know in the comments below.