The North York Moors are home to some breathtaking waterfalls. Beck and I have managed to visit every single one of the best waterfalls in the area.
Below, we’ll list our favourite waterfalls in the North York Moors, in order of our favourite ones. Beyond that, we’ll provide concise details about how to visit them, so you can explore them for yourself.
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Waterfalls in the North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors doesn’t have as high a concentration of waterfalls compared with the Yorkshire Dales. But that’s not to say that the waterfalls in the North York Moors are any less impressive.
Most of the best waterfalls in the North York Moors National Park are located in the Goathland area. By doing the Goathland Waterfall Walk, you can see five of these waterfalls.
Near Littlebeck, two more waterfalls can be seen by doing an extended version of the May Beck and Falling Foss Walk.
Additionally, there is one excellent waterfall (Hayburn Wyke Waterfall) found on the coast along the Cleveland Way near Cloughton.
The remaining two waterfalls are located on the western side of the North York Moors in Snilesworth and Kildale.
Sure, the North York Moors aren’t especially renowned for their waterfalls. Yet, Beck and I really enjoyed visiting the waterfalls in this area. Some of these falls are barely known, and so exploring them is an adventurous and fun experience.
North York Moors Waterfalls Map
Below, you’ll find an interactive map showing a rough location of all 10 of the best waterfalls in the area.
Top 10 North York Moors Waterfalls to Visit
Without further ado, we’ll run through the 10 best waterfalls in the North York Moors. As mentioned, we’ve listed the waterfalls in order of our preference based on our personal experience when visiting them. Below, you’ll also find some brief details about how to find these waterfalls.
1. Falling Foss
In our opinion, Falling Foss is the best waterfall in the North York Moors National Park. It’s one of the biggest waterfalls in the area, majestically flowing into a small pool that’s beautifully framed by the forest.
At the Falling Foss Tea Garden, there is a fantastic viewing area to admire the waterfall. Best of all, the car park is conveniently located near the waterfall.
Given it’s one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in the area, we recommend visiting earlier or later in the day to avoid the crowds.
2. Water Arc Foss (Upper Thomason Foss)
Water Arc Foss is essentially the upper falls of Thomason Foss. Truth be told, we think Water Arc Foss is an even better waterfall than the better-known Thomason Foss.
Water Arc Foss is a little off the beaten track and less visible compared with Thomason Foss. That’s probably another reason why we enjoyed visiting this waterfall. You’ll enjoy a real sense of adventure as you discover this sensational hidden cascade waterfall.
There are several ways to access this waterfall. Personally, we visited it while doing the circular Goathland Waterfall Walk. Feel free to read our specific guide about the Goathland Waterfall Walk to learn how we found this waterfall.
The short of it is, you can find Water Arc Foss a little upstream from the well-known Thomason Foss!
Read more: Goathland Waterfall Walk – Discover the 5 Goathland Waterfalls
3. Thomason Foss
Alongside Falling Foss and Mallyan Spout Waterfall, Thomason Foss is among the more well-known waterfalls in the North York Moors.
Thomason Foss provides one of the best and most easily accessible wild swimming spots in the national park. Because of this, it’s one of the most popular waterfalls to visit, especially during the warmer months.
Beck and I saw this waterfall while doing the Goathland Waterfall Walk. However, it’s possible to see this waterfall by doing a simpler out and back walk from Goathland (AllTrails map).
4. Nelly Ayre Foss
Nelly Ayre Foss is a lesser-known waterfall in the national park. Located along West Beck, south of Goathland, you’ll find this well-concealed waterfall.
Again, this waterfall can be found by doing the Goathland Waterfall Walk. Otherwise, it’s possible to park on Hunt House Road and complete a short out and back walk to the waterfall.
To reach the waterfall from the roadside parking, you’ll first head towards West Beck. You’ll then meander around the fenced-off farmland and clamber down the steep slope among the woodland.
Admittedly, negotiating the steep slope is a little dicey, so take caution. Rest assured, your efforts will be rewarded with a hidden waterfall that will likely be all to yourself.
5. Blow Gill Waterfall
Blow Gill Waterfall is another hidden jewel in the North York Moors. Located between Osmotherley and Hawnby in Snilesworth is this roadside waterfall.
By simply parking here and crossing the road, you’ll catch a glimpse of this unassuming yet picturesque waterfall. Similar to Nelly Ayre Foss, you’ll need to descend a steep slope to get to the base of the waterfall. So, again, take care!
Read more: Blow Gill Waterfall, North York Moors – How to Find It
6. Hayburn Wyke Waterfall
Hayburn Wyke Waterfall is another one of the more well-known waterfalls in the North York Moors. What sets this waterfall apart is its sublime location on the coastline.
Found along the Cleveland Way, you can spot the thin waterfall cascading from Hayburn Beck into a shallow pool on the rocky shore of Hayburn Wyke Beach.
It’s possible to reach Hayburn Wyke Waterfall by doing a short walk from the Hayburn Wyke Inn. But if you don’t intend on visiting the pub, you’ll have to pay for parking.
Personally, we parked for free on Hood Lane (map) and then completed the 8km circular Cloughton and Hayburn Wyke Walk to see the waterfall. Other than seeing this unique coastal waterfall, the walk itself is delightful.
7. Mallyan Spout Waterfall
At around 21 metres in height, Mallyan Spout Waterfall is the highest waterfall in the North York Moors. Because of this, the waterfall is one of the most well-known in the area.
Despite this, Beck and I weren’t overly impressed by this waterfall. When we visited, the waterfall lacked a powerful flow, which can be common, especially in times of reduced rainfall.
Also, given its popularity, it’s one of the most crowded waterfalls in the national park. The waterfall is easy to reach from Goathland, only requiring a short out and back walk.
A fairly narrow path leads to and away from the base of the waterfall. So, especially during the weekend, during the middle of the day, there can be significant traffic along this narrow track, which can bottleneck at the base of the falls.
Perhaps, after a period of heavy rainfall, visiting during non-peak times would result in a more enjoyable visit to this waterfall.
We visited this waterfall in the late morning during the Goathland Waterfall Walk on a public holiday long weekend. So, we encountered too many people for our liking at the waterfall, which definitely took away some of the joy of visiting!
8. Blea Hill Waterfall
As opposed to Mallyan Spout Waterfall, Blea Hill Waterfall is a barely-known waterfall in the North York Moors. Located near the May Beck Car Park, you’ll find this hidden waterfall tucked away in the woodlands flowing along Blea Hill Beck.
Of course, you can do a short out and back walk from the car park to find the waterfall. But, personally, Beck and I did the circular May Beck and Falling Foss Walk, starting from the car park near Falling Foss.
During this walk, you’ll arrive at the car park at May Beck. From there, you can add on the small out and back walk to find this extra waterfall.
9. Walk Mill Foss
Walk Mill Foss is one of the least-known waterfalls in the national park. Truth be told, Beck and I only eyed this waterfall from a distance during the Goathland Waterfall Walk. However, it is possible to reach the base of the waterfall by extending the Goathland Waterfall Walk.
To do this, you’ll have to walk along Eller Beck. There is no defined path, so it appears to be a tricky and slippery walk along the beck to reach the base of Walk Mill Foss.
10. Kildale Falls (Old Meggison Falls)
There is no doubt that Kildale Falls (AKA Old Meggison Falls) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the North York Moors. Located in Kildale, the waterfall majestically cascades along the River Leven.
Unfortunately, in recent times, the waterfall has been fenced off to visitors. The property owners have also taken steps to prevent people from parking along the road to access the falls by using bollards and chains to block the roadside parking area.
Because of this, you’ll need to find parking along the Cleveland Way road towards the village of Kildale. We parked here and then walked roughly 750 metres to reach Kildale Falls.
Yes, Kildale Falls are quaint and pretty, but the whole experience is ruined by the landowner’s attempt to stop people from visiting it.
Other Waterfalls in the North York Moors
Rest assured, we have covered all of the best waterfalls in the North York Moors above. However, some people online have claimed that there are other “waterfalls” in the area. We’ll quickly touch upon these below and briefly explain why they’re probably not worth your time visiting.
Hutton-le-Hole Waterfall
In the small village of Hutton-le-Hole, you’ll find a small human-made cascade. Sure, the village looks lovely, but the cascade shouldn’t be classified as a waterfall.
Darnholme Stepping Stones
Similar to the small cascade in Hutton-le-Hole, you’ll find a nice cascading stream in Darnholme at some stepping stones that cross Middle Grain Beck. You’ll actually walk along these stepping stones during the Goathland Waterfall Walk.
Again, this isn’t truly a waterfall. Rather, a nice flowing stream along a beck, which creates a somewhat cascading effect.
How to Visit North York Moors Waterfalls
By far, the easiest way to chase waterfalls in the area is by driving. Many of the trailheads to lesser-known waterfalls aren’t accessible by public transport. Even the most popular waterfalls are difficult to reach by public transport.
Having a car allows you to access all the relevant trailheads, car parks, and roadside parking spots to reach the waterfalls.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
Where to Stay in the North York Moors
Having spent quite a bit of time chasing waterfalls in the North York Moors, we’ve experienced both camping and staying in a traditional pub hotel in the area.
We have camped at Middlewood Farm Holiday Park in Fylingthorpe, located just outside Robin Hood’s Bay. It’s undoubtedly one of the best campgrounds in the North York Moors.
We also stayed at The George & Dragon Hotel in Kirkbymoorside, near Helmsley. If you’re looking for one of the best value pub hotel stays in the North York Moors, we recommend staying there.
Great North York Moors Budget Accommodation
- The pub and hotel are separate, so you’ll get a good night’s sleep
- Fantastic pub food and local ales on your doorstep
- Conveniently located near the charming village of Helmsley
The Best Walks in the North York Moors
Not all of the best walks in the North York Moors involve waterfall chasing. Some of our favourite non-waterfall walks in the area include the combined Wainstones and Lord Stones Walk, the Hawny Hill Walk, the Hole of Horcum Circular Walk and the Roseberry Topping Walk.
Regarding coastal walks, the Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby Walk is the standout option.
The Best Waterfalls in Yorkshire
Yorkshire is easily home to over 200 waterfalls. Most of the waterfalls in Yorkshire are dotted across the Yorkshire Dales National Park. To explore all of the best waterfalls in Yorkshire, you’ll definitely need to go waterfall chasing in the Yorkshire Dales.
Read more: The Top 48 Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales
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