Moss Force on Newlands Hause

This is possibly the most accessible waterfall in the Lakes, being barely more than 200m (220 yards) from the roadside. It is situated on the crest of the pass at Newlands Hause on the narrow direct road between Keswick and Buttermere. Moss Beck drains the expanse of Buttermere Moss high on the side of Robinson falling over crags to the roadside where it joins High Hole Beck to become Keskadale Beck.

In dry weather the force whithers to a trickle but after rain is an impressive sight. Torrents of water thunder over the rocks and the spray whipped upwards by the wind; one way or another you'll not keep dry. The path approaches the middle section. Just above a pool can be clambered up to but beware as the rocks get very slimy and slippery. Below the cataract continues a short way. Overall the force is approximately 100m top to bottom.

The Lakeland poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge visited the falls around 1802 when it was called Buttermere Halse Fall:

I soon arrived at the Halse & climbed up by the waterfall as near as I could, to the very top of the Fell but it was so craggy the Crags covered with spongy soaky Moss, and when bare so jagged as to wound one's hands fearfully...

There is an informal parking place on the Hause which gets quite busy at summer weekends.