A Walk in the Yorkshire Dales: Ingleton Waterfalls Trail

Pecca Twin Falls
One of many stunning waterfalls in North Yorkshire, the Pecca Twin Falls on the River Twiss is a feature on the 7 kilometre-long Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.

Flowers on the Wall
The flowers on an old stone wall welcome us to the entrance of the trail. (iPhone6)

“Welcome to the Waterfalls Walk”
At the trailhead, a sign marks out the route and highlights some of the walk’s features.

Foamy Waters
The waters of the River Twiss are rich with organic materials they have collected along their trip through the Carboniferous Great Scar limestone. When they race through Swilla Glen, natural surfactants create foam at the base of the waterfalls and over the rocks.

The Money Tree
It is good luck to ‘plant’ a coin in the fallen tree in Swilla Glen.

The Money Tree
Over the years, the tree – and bits of fallen wood around it – has become completely embedded with coin.

Steps in Swilla Glen
The trail, although steep in sections with an overall vertical rise of 169 m (554 feet), is beautifully maintained throughout.

Delicate Purple Flower

First Pecca Falls
Before long, we can see the first of the Pecca Waterfalls on the River Twiss. Grasses, ferns, and a forest of oak, ash, birch and hazel trees cover the top of the gorge.

Sharp Rocks and Delicate Plants
Our climb up to the vantage-point over the falls takes us past exposed slate and sandstone, and the plants that thrive in the moist shadows.

The First Pecca Falls
The five Pecca Falls together drop about 30 metres – although the pools at the bases of the falls are said to be as deep again. The waters are a distinctive yellow from the rich, peaty soils upstream.

Wild Roses

Hollybush Spout
Our next waterfall is the 8 metre (30 foot) Hollybush Spout. I couldn’t help but wish I had a tripod with me! (ISO200 16mm f/10 1/15 sec)

Ivy on the Post
There is something very ‘English’ about ivy.

Pathway Repairs
Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is maintained by the Ingleton Scenery Company. The ongoing improvements clearly keep people busy.

Thornton Force
The 14-metre high Thornton Force drops over a 330 million-year-old limestone cliff.

River Twiss above Thornton Force
The flat areas above Thornton Force make it a popular picnic area.

Raven Ray Bridge over the River Twiss
A bit further upstream, walkers cross the River Twiss before climbing up the hillside on the other bank …

Twisleton Lane
… to the old Roman road, now known as Twisleton Lane, where an ice-cream truck sits with refreshments for walkers.

Swaledale Sheep
The green Yorkshire hills and dales are dotted with off-white, black-faced Swaledale sheep.

Swaledale Tup
This hardy local breed is named for the nearby Yorkshire valley of Swaledale.

The Ingleton Coalfield
As we round the hill, we have views over one of the smallest coalfields in Great Britain: the Ingleton Coalfield, …

Ingleborough
… and across to Ingleborough (723m, 2372ft), one of the “Three Peaks” of the Yorkshire Dales, which are, in turn, part of Britain’s Pennines range.

Signposting
Walking paths criss-cross the Dales, and circuit the mountains.

Into the Woods
Our trail leads into the ancient oak woodlands along the River Doe.

Triple Spout
Before long, the River Doe goes over Beezley Falls and then divides into the Triple Spout.

Clouds in a Puddle

Rival Falls on the River Doe

Ingleton and the Viaduct
The trail takes us past more magnificent waterfalls before leading back into the village of Ingleton, where the Grade II listed 80-foot arches of the railway viaduct – remains of the Ingleton Branch Line built between 1858 and 1861 – stand over the village and Swilla Glen.

St Mary the Virgin
We pass the Ingleton parish church – built in 1886 and dedicated to St Mary – before heading back to our car.