A Little Stroll To Whorneyside Force

Decided to have a look at Whorneyside Force (apparently the secret or forgotten waterfall). January 21st and although the air was cold and crisp, I managed to pick a dry day with sunshine and cloud throughout the walk. I parked in the National Trust car park at The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. It was quite a simple route to follow and the ascent was slow and steady with just a few rocks and stones to step over and around. Its approx 4 mile there and back. A nice little walk to while away your morning or an afternoon. The views all around were absolutely stunning and I would recommend this little walk to anyone. On a nice sunny summers day it might even be worth having a quick dip even though the water will still be perishingly cold. A picnic at the falls would be a nice reward and break before heading back down or even onwards and upwards to Crinkle Crags or Bowfell.

National Trust Car Park at The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel

Walk out of the car park the way you drove in and turn right at the main road

Within 50m you will see a gate and kissing gate to go through to Stool End Farm

Follow the path to Stool End Farm

The path goes through Stool End Farm and comes out the other side. Follow this track to the sheepfold.

Go through the sheepfold and follow the path up the fellside

Don't cross the first wooden bridge. Carry on up the fellside on the side you're on.

When you get to the end of the wall, cross over the slate footbridge and immediately turn right up the fellside for about 50m to rejoin a more distict path which follows the beck uphill

This path has plenty of water on it resembling a shallow stream as water filters down the fell towards the beck. In summer it is probably bone dry and resembles a normal path.

The path again taken on the descent

You will soon reach the second wooden bridge. Cross this and immediately turn right following a defined path following the beck.

Some of the sights whilst ascending the path

There is one section to be careful over. Its where landslip and erosion has made it slightly tricky

Very soon after this section you round a corner and the Falls come into view.

Your way back is to simply retrace your steps. Its better to stick to the path as lots of the fellside is very wet and boggy all around. Some people will want to take on a short scramble up to the main path to the summits above but thats best left to the experts and the young. Definitely not for me on both counts. All in all a very pleasant and enjoyable walk that wasn't the big effort of climbing and bagging a summit. Will probably do this again in the summer and bring the 'Boss'. She would like this one.

Jimearl6 and Jandy like this post