Falling for beauty

Map: OS Explorer OL2 Yorkshire Dales South/WestStart from the well-signposted Falls car park, reached down a steep road by St Mary’s Church.

This walk over private land requires payment at the start, currently £6 for adults, £3 for children and £14 for a family.

Though Ingleton might seem a bit of a run-out for February, the surfeit of recent rain will guarantee the Waterfalls Trail should be at its most impressive.

Although the paths are well maintained, sturdy footwear is still advisable, and care is needed should it be icy underfoot.

Also be aware that for a low-level walk, there is a fair amount of ‘up and down’ work.

The two limestone valleys explored – the Twiss and the Doe – are remarkably alike, each being beautifully wooded and exposing fascinating geological features associated with the Craven Fault.

Few directions are needed as the paths are clear throughout.

From the far end of the car park, the path heads up the valley of the River Twiss – a lovely stroll through Swilla Glen, passing a ‘coin tree’ and mushroom sculptures.

It is some time before the first waterfalls are reached, the river being crossed twice to arrive beneath Pecca Falls, a delectable series of cataracts.

Steeper work leads up past Hollybush Spout, emerging to pass a seasonal refreshment hut and into open country just short of the walk’s highlight at Thornton Force. Few will not pause here to appraise this majestic single fall.

Resuming, the path zigzags up the side and around the glacial moraine of Raven Ray, where another bridge takes you up again to a corner gate onto Twisleton Lane.

Turn right along its green course, this highest point of the walk earning extensive views out to the Bowland moors.

Passing beneath Twisleton Scar End, the way becomes surfaced to drop down to Twisleton Hall. Here, keep left on a track above all the farm buildings, on through a gate/stile at the end.

A path crosses a field and descends to a gate onto a back road, with fine views to the majestic giant of Ingleborough entirely dominate this section of the walk.

Cross straight over to Beezleys Farm, passing beneath the buildings and along to a seasonal refreshment centre. Drop down to Beezley Falls and follow the River Doe back downstream.

Further features along this more gorge-like return leg include Rival Falls, a viewing platform above Baxenghyll Gorge, the easily-missed Snow Falls and, this time, just one crossing of the beck.

Emergence from the trees is high above the river at Cat Leap Fall. The path meanders on through scattered woodland and out onto an open common.

Some old quarry buildings are passed, with the final section enjoying an interesting prospect of the striking tilted rock strata in an old quarry across the beck.

Meeting a narrow road-end, this leads back along to the village centre, with the start point down the steep road to the right immediately after the church.