![]() Most rivers seem to have acquired magical or mythical occupants and the upper Tees is no exception. High Force Waterfall Legends and Folklore ![]() Summer and autumn are popular times to visit allowing the woodlands to be fully appreciated and the river to be seen at its most tranquil. This area is noted for its winter weather and, in some years, the falls freeze giving the whole scene a cathedral-like splendour. Some old photographs of High Force show two waterfalls but the smaller flow now only rarely occurs. After heavy rainfall, the river may be running in full spate giving a spectacular display but the volume of water is now more controlled than in years gone by since the construction of the Cow Green Reservoir further upstream, just above Cauldron Snout which is another impressive Tees waterfall being more of a long cataract and, with a length of 180 metres, England’s longest waterfall. High Force is worth visiting at any time of the year its character changing with the seasons. High Force is situated in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The surrounding lands form part of the Raby Estate. A small charge is made for using this path. The deep plunge pool is also extremely dangerous and the waters are not suitable for swimming. Access to the top of the fall is not always available. For the more intrepid, it is also possible to visit the top of the waterfall but great care is needed and in the past there have been fatalities at this site. Although the sound of the river is always present, the falls remain largely out of sight until the last turn of the path where the the true size and power of the waterfall can be experienced. ![]() The most popular way to visit high force is from the north side of the river and, just a few miles from the small market town of Middleton in Teesdale, close to the High Force Hotel, a well-maintained scenic path leads down to the waterfall. High Force Waterfall In Full Flow High Force Waterfall Location The gorge through which the river runs below the falls, was mainly sculpted by the torrential melt-waters following the end of the last ice age. The lower, sedimentary, rocks were formed around 330 million years ago during the carboniferous period but the upper rocks are of igneous origin formed around 295 million years ago. Three different types of rock are present at the waterfall with the hardest, dolerite (or whinstone) at the top and softer sandstone and limestone beneath. It does however have the largest volume of water in a single drop. Hardraw Force in North Yorkshire has a single uninterrupted drop of 30 metres and Cautley Spout in Cumbria has a total drop of 180 metres. Although sometimes described as England’s largest waterfall, it is not the highest. The name is derived from the Nordic word “foss” meaning waterfall. High Force Map High Force Waterfall Facts As the river traverses Whin Sill, it drops by around 22 metres (71 feet) as one of England’s most spectacular waterfalls, High Force. ![]() This runs across northern England from east to west and much of Hadrian’s Wall was built along the top of this natural escarpment. On its descent, the Tees encounters a large outcrop of volcanic rock known as Whin Sill. In the area known as Upper Teesdale, the river is at its most scenic varying from a fast-flowing mountain watercourse to a meandering river. For many, the river Tees is a symbol of the industrial north-east but the river rises high up in the North Pennines following a course of around 85 miles before reaching the North Sea.
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