England has many natural surprises for those with the will to seek them out. The Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District draw many thousands of visitors every year. From Hadrian's Roman Wall to the Cornish Coastal Path there are a multitude of places awaiting discovery by the discerning traveller. Some of these special sites are harder to find than others though and sitting high in the lonely valley of the upper River Tees nestles one of England's most dramatic waterfalls.
High Force is One of Several High Waterfalls in Northern England
There are several high forces (waterfalls) dotted around the north of England. There are some in Cumbria, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales but the one in Teesdale is the most renowned of all. Thundering through a high gorge it is a truly amazing display of the raw force of nature. The Whin Sill took its name from the type of stone and the way it was formed. Whin is a exceptionally resiliant rock found in the Pennines and beyond. The term sill means a flat lying layer of rock.
Molten Rocks Formed a Unique Geology Around High Force
The Whin Sill runs right through the North Pennines, follows parts of Hadrian's Wall and and ends up right out into the eastern sea at the Farne Islands. Whin is the local name for a heat hardened rock called dolerite. It was formed hundreds of millions of years ago from molten rock known as magma. The magma rose up from the bowels of the earth and spread into fissures between local limestone, sandstone and shales. When this molten magma cooled down it became a huge flat band known locally as a sill.
High Force Waterfall Gives a Chance to Watch the Tees Power Its Way Through the Whin Sill
Dolerite is an exceptionally tough rock but at High Force it has to cope with the surge of the mighty River Tees. The waterfall is particularily aptly named as a force in this instance for there is such a thunderous surge of power in waters draining from the North Pennine mountain chain. The drop over the waterfall is only 21 metres and that makes High Force not the highest waterfall in England. What it lacks in height though it more than makes up for in sheer dramatic momentum.
The Majestic Power of This High Waterfall is a Natural Wonder of Raby Estates
High Force waterfall sits in a high valley on the Raby Estates and is part of the family domain of Lord Barnard. Lord Barnard's fantastic family seat of Raby Castle sits in grand deer parks near Staindrop further down the Tees. The wilder grandeur of the High Force is situated just off the B6277 four miles up the valley from Middleton-in-Teesdale. The usual brown tourist attraction signs show the way to this natural wonder of the remote upper Durham Dales.
Access to the Waterfall is Usually Unrestricted for a Nominal Fee
Access to the falls is usually allowed by a woodland walk for a small charge but it is always less problematic to check first with Raby Estates. The thunderous roar of the falls amplifies as you tread down the path to the viewpoint. The viewing platforms at the base can be slippery with spray in times of flood. The water rumbling and tumbling through the gap in the Whin Sill, sandstone and limestone never ceases to amaze visitors to this one of the iconic scenes of Northern England.
Dave McFadzean - Based in southwest Scotland I have been a freelance travel writer and photographer for nearly two decades. Building up a strong market for ...
