Ingleton Waterfalls Trail
Thornton Force
Length8 km (5.0 mi)
LocationIngleton, North Yorkshire, England
TrailheadsIngleton, North Yorkshire (circular)
UseHiking
Highest point285 metres (934 ft)
DifficultyEasy to Moderate
SeasonAll year
Maintained byIngleton Scenery Company Limited

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is a well-known circular trail beginning and ending in the village of Ingleton in the English county of North Yorkshire, now maintained by the Ingleton Scenery Company. It is claimed that the trail, some 8 kilometres (5 mi) long, and with a vertical rise of 169 m (554 feet) has some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the north of England.[1] It is on private land and an entrance fee is charged.

Beginnings

Following a number of articles in the Lancaster Guardian and other newspapers about the scenery in and around Ingleton, public interest led to the creation of the trail in an area which was previously hidden from view. Paths and bridges were built and the trail opened on Good Friday, 11 April 1885.[2] The presence of Ingleton railway station played a major role in the early success of the trail, attracting visitors from Bradford, Manchester and Leeds.[3]

Geology

Cross section of the geology of the River Twiss section of the walk

Ingleton lies on the North and South Craven fault, exposing Carboniferous and Ordovician rocks. The Ingletonian rock has been classified as Ordivician.[4]

The walk

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail symbol

Starting in the Broadwood car park the trail takes walkers along the banks of the River Twiss, through Swilla Glenn with its coin embedded tree[5] and on to Pecca Falls, Pecca Twin Falls, Holly Bush Spout and Thornton Force. A footbridge bridge crosses the Twiss and leads on to Twistleton Lane, which crosses out of the valley of the River Twiss at 285 metres (934 ft).[6] Following Twistleton Lane down past Scar End Farm and Twistleton Hall the walk crosses Oddies Lane to Beezley's Farm.

Beezley Falls.

Past Beezley's the trail starts its descent along the banks of the River Doe. This river emerges near God's Bridge close to the settlement of Chapel-le-Dale and flows gently until it reaches the waterfalls walk at Beezley's Falls Triple Spout (with its three waterfalls side-by side). As the trail continues, you look down 18 metres (59 feet) onto Rival Falls and then onto Baxenghyll Gorge, Snow Falls and finally walk through Twistleton Glen and back to Ingleton.[7][8]

In Ingleton, the Twiss and the Doe meet to form the River Greta, which in turn flows into the River Lune.

English Nature designated the River Twiss and River Doe areas of the Waterfalls Trail as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the interesting plants and animals and the geological structures located there.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "The hidden gem that became a tourist hotspot". Craven Herald. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. ↑ Ingleton Waterfalls Trail. "History of the Trail". Retrieved 9 July 2007.
  3. ↑ Ingleton Waterfalls Trail: History. Retrieved 16 July 2012
  4. ↑ CPGS 2003.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Doug (2017). Yorkshire Landscapes : a photographic tour of England's largest and most varied county. Oxbow: Windgather Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-909686-97-7.
  6. ↑ Bagshaw, Mike (2014). Yorkshire Dales : local, characterful guides to Britain's special places. Chalfont St Peter: Bradt. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-1-84162-549-2.
  7. ↑ "Ingleton Waterfalls Trail" (PDF). woodlandtrust.org.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "Taking the plunge – the story behind a stunning walk". The Yorkshire Post. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  9. ↑ English Nature (1984). "Thornton and Twistleton Glens" (PDF). Retrieved 9 July 2007.
Bibliography

CPGS (2003). "Ingleton Waterfalls trail" (PDF). Craven and Pendle Geological Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2014.

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