In Awe Of Cautley Spout Waterfall- Discovering The Hidden Giant

You’ll never forget the first time you catch sight of Cautley Spout waterfall. As you gaze at it in awe from a distance, you may well wonder how on Earth you failed to know this place even existed until now. That is part of its appeal. If this dramatic waterfall was located in The Lake District for example, then I would have no doubt that tourists would flock to it like ants to a jam jar. It’s a truly awesome and spectacular place, which should be visited by all outdoor enthusiast. Just not all at the same time!

Cautley Spout waterfall
Cautley Spout looms tall in the distance from the road. What a view!

Where Is it Located?

The location of the falls is part of the reason it is so little known. Cautley Spout can be found in a wild region called The Howgill Fells. You may well have driven the M6 between junctions 37 and 38, gazing to eastern side of the motorway. It’s hard not to. The Howgills have a unique appearance to them, which is both alluring and beautiful.

The Howgill Fells are close to The Lake District, yet significantly less visited.

On a sunny day the steep slopes look like they’re carpeted in velvet, while they take on a more intimidating presence when the tops are shrouded in clouds. Either way, they stand out and almost beg to be explored.

What is most unusual about The Howgill Fells is that they’re found within The Yorkshire Dales National Park, while at the same time being located almost all exclusively in Cumbria. Are you slightly confused by that previous sentence? I know I was when I first read about it. For further details about the Howgill Fells, please feel free to click here to discover more about its geology and main highlights.

The distinctive Howgill Fells are just inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary.

How To Get To Cautley Spout Waterfall

Your best bet is to drive the quiet A683 either from the charming town of Sedburgh to the south or Kirkby Stephen in the north. There are several parking bays by The Cross Keys Inn and I’ve never struggled to find a space on the several trips I’ve made to the area. One of these days I’ll actually pop into the inn after a trip into the hills. I’ve heard it’s well worth a visit.

Close to the inn is a narrow bridge which crosses the River Rawthey. The water is deep and turbulent, as it negotiates the many rocks and pools along its course. Try not to do what I did, which was to almost lose a walking pole through one of the cracks between the wooden boards. You’ve been warned!

walk to Cautley Spout

Once across the bridge, the path turns to the left and quickly takes you into a stunning valley. Slopes rise steeply either side of you and Cautley Spout sits at its head. What a fitting home for England’s highest waterfall!

It’s even more impressive in person. That’s a meal with a view for that sheep.

More About The Valley

The valley you find yourself in at this point is quite unusual in the Howgill Fells in that it is craggy and dramatic. Most of the area consists of steep but grassy slopes.

It is hard to believe that this has all been carved by a glacier during the last ice age,but the scree left behind is evidence of this. After the ice retreated, so Cautley Holme Beck was left behind to continue to erode away at the land. I’ll never stop marveling at the effect water and time can have on a landscape.

Cautley Spout waterfall

The valley is beautiful in all conditions, but I have found that it takes on a more wild feel when the clouds lower and hide the tops. Your mind is almost left to imagine how much taller the mountains rise into the sky. Perhaps it is just me, but I always picture them being at least twice as tall as their actual height.

A bit if research shows that the valley also has an interesting history,with an iron age settlement once found here. Click here to read more.

The Path Heads Skywards

You will eventually find yourself at the base of Cautley Spout and you are faced with two options. The first will see you take the right-hand fork, where you’ll climb and eventually venture into Bowderdale. This is a great walk and well worth exploring, as I did on this trip.

Bowderdale Howgill Fells
Yes Bowderdale is a wild and remote valley to explore. Mountain sheep are likely to be your only companions.

The other option is of course to continue straight on and then up beside the falls. It steepens right from the off and only appears to become more severe in this regard as you continue. No matter what your fitness level is like, you’ll soon feel that burn in your legs and lungs. This clearly isn’t a problem though. You can just stop and marvel at where you find yourself. Which ever direction you look, you’re blessed with stunning views. Good’s own country at its finest for sure!

In typical upland Britain style, I’ve been battered by rain on two separate occasions climbing the falls, so I feel qualified to comment on how challenging the path is in the wet. My walking boots are notoriously sketchy on wet rock, but I never experienced any issues both climbing and descending. The large stones that make up the path seem to offer excellent traction. I’d still certainly be using crampons in icy conditions though.

Cautley Spout waterfall
The view looking back down the path towards the valley. What a view!
Cautley Spout waterfall
Other than the small grassy section at the start, well placed rocks are used to provide a reliable path.
Cautley Spout waterfall
Your view of Cautley Spout waterfall seems to almost change by the step on the climb. On this occasion I’d also be climbing into the clouds.

Cautley Spout Waterfall

I hope you’ve found the above details helpful. Now that you know how to reach Cautley Spout, it is about time we explored the actual waterfall itself.

Let’s start by dealing with a much debated question at least among waterfall enthusiasts. Is Cautley Spout the tallest waterfall in England?

Finding the answer to this question threw up some interesting questions and answers. Firstly, you need to decide how you’re measuring the height of the falls. Are you just looking for the tallest single drop or are a series of cascades allowed? You’ll end up with a different winner depending on which option you take.

It is believed that the tallest single drop waterfall in England is Hardraw Force. This is also located in The Yorkshire Dales and is well worth a visit.

If looking for waterfalls with more than one drop, then Cautley Spout is without doubt the highest in England. It’s cumulative height from top to bottom is exactly one hundred and ninety eight metres according to many resources. This one supports that figure and even focuses on other waterfalls around Europe. There really is a website for every possible taste isn’t there?

Cautley Spout waterfall
You can see how the falls are made up of many smaller drops.

Only a couple of UK waterfalls are taller than Cautley Spout and they are both located in the Scottish Highlands. They are certainly mighty, but not significantly taller than our star in this article. Cautley Spout more than holds its own against the biggest boys on the list.

Cautley Spout waterfall
There are still some big single drops to be found at Cautley Spout waterfall.
A closer look at a bigger drop at Cautley Spout. It is is possible to get down to enjoy some of the pools in some spots with care. Most is hard to reach and dangerous.

Finally, here is a video I put together to show Cautley Spout waterfall in all its wild beauty:

One For The Thrill Seekers

To add to the caption accompanying the photo above, it is even possible to canyon down the falls as seen in this article. Clearly it’s for the experienced though. Cautley Spout isn’t the sort of waterfall to go and lounge by on a sunny day like other popular spots like The Watkin Pools on the way up Snowdon.

Continuing Beyond The Top of Cautley Spout Waterfall

You’ll get a real sense of accomplishment upon reaching the top of the falls. It’s always interesting looking back and seeing the mountain river just disappear over a sheer rock face. You really do get a sense of just how high it is at this point.

Cautley Spout waterfall

There is a clear path following the beck gradually uphill towards a sheepfold. I have actually wild camped inside it on a previous trip and liked its unusual shape. It was only after a bit of recent bedtime reading that I discovered that it is actually called Corner Cairn Fold and was one of many sheepfolds that the artist Andy Goldsworthy rescued from disrepair. Click here to read more about this.

Once past the sheepfold, you can can stick to the beck to the right and head up past its source until you eventually reach the highest point in the Howgill Fells. Whether you’ll get a view up there or not is another issue!

Cautley Spout waterfall
There are plenty of deep pools to cool off in if it’s a hot day.
Andy Goldsworthy sheepfold
Approaching Andy Goldsworthy’s piece of natural art in the wild Howgill Fells.
The path and beck to the highest part of the Howgill Fells.
The Calf summit
Reaching the foggy summit of The Calf. At over six hundred metres high, it is officially a mountain by British standards.

To Wrap Things Up……

I hope if you’re still reading at this point, you’ve found the article useful. Cautley Spout waterfall really is a natural gem in the north of England and it is well worth a visit, even if it means going a little bit out of your way. It could even be worth exploring a little more of the Howgill Fells at the same time. It’s highly unlikely you’ll regret it.

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