My friend Liam and I were looking for adventure and decided to drive to Ingleton, located in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
As a child, I had visited Ingleton on numerous occasions; either on school trips, or family outings, so seemed a great place to relive some old nostalgia.
The Ingleton Waterfalls Trail was my fondest memory, so we parked in the centre of Ingleton and set off on our journeys. The town itself is very charming. Quaint little café’s, bakeries, sweet and bric-a-brac shops weave between old cottages and churchyards, so allow yourself plenty of time beforehand to explore what the centre has to offer.
The trail is clearly signposted from the centre of town and takes only a two-minute walk to beginning the trail. The Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is approximately 4.3 miles (7 km) long and is easy enough that most people won’t have any problems completing the route.
Depending on what pace you’re going at, it usually takes a couple hours to complete, so good sturdy footwear is highly recommended. If you’re an avid photographer or just love being in nature and want to go at a leisurely pace, then it could take longer.
The trail takes you through woodlands, along the River Twiss and the River Doe, and features several waterfalls. It includes paths, steps, and bridges.
The English Nature has also designated Ingelton Waterfalls Trail as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the interesting plants and animals and the geological structures located in the area.
Make a wish at the Money Tree
Who says money doesn’t grow on trees?
Along the trail we stumbled across fallen tree that was jam-packed with coins.
It is seen as good luck to put a coin into the money tree. It is tradition for passers-by to hammer in a penny or two in the hope it will bring them good fortune. The act is reminiscent of a wishing well, which you toss in money for good luck.
We stopped and wondered how much money had been wedged into tree over the years. There were thousands of coins, but mainly just pennies so we guessed it would racked up to hundreds of pounds.
Thornton Force
One of the first waterfalls we encountered was Thornton Force, is an impressive 14-meter waterfall on the River Twiss.
Liam had always fantasized about making love to a beautiful, buxom lady behind a waterfall. Unfortunately on this occasion, his fantasy wasn’t fulfilled.
The trail then climbed alongside the First Pecca Falls as it would go beyond the top and then in front of the Pecca Twin Falls shortly after.
And the adventure doesn’t stop here, why not consider visiting the White Scar Cave, the UK’s longest show cave, located nearby?
2 Responses
Looks like a wonderful place to spend a day. I presume the waters are often tamer and clearer but more water certainly makes very dramatic scene. The bark on that tree is amazing.
There are many beautiful places in North Yorkshire, and Ingleton is definitely one of them! Yes, presumably the stronger current carries more sediment, so probably not the best place to gather natural drinking-water hah!
It is tradition to insert a coin into the tree for good luck!