Of all the Lake District waterfalls, the Moss Force Waterfall is the shortest walk from the road. Cascading down over 100m (330 feet) high it never fails to impress as you approach from the Keswick direction.
How To Get To Moss Force Waterfall
Moss Force Waterfall is approximately 8 miles from Keswick in the north lakes.
From Keswick:
From the A66 towards Cockermouth you will be turning left through the village of Braithwaite. This is signposted to the Newlands Valley. There are various possible routes to the Newlands Hause – keep following signs to the Newlands Valley and then signs to Buttermere.
The waterfall can be seen as you drive along the narrow road up the Newlands Valley signposted towards Buttermere from the Portinscale side of Keswick. It is located right next to Newlands Pass.
From Buttermere:
From Buttermere village itself, take the narrow road that climbs steeply to Newlands Hause. This is simply signposted to Keswick.
There is space to park at the side of the road here – enough for about 15 cars. This isn’t an official car park, but it is spacious enough.
This is not an organised visitor attraction, so there it is accessible at all times and is totally free.
- LOCATION:
- Distance from Ambleside: 25.9 miles
- Distance from Keswick: 8.3 miles
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What To Expect At Moss Force Waterfall
This is a wild Lake District beauty spot, different to the busy visitor attractions that are gated off and serviced by expensive cafes. If you’re looking for a more raw and natural place to visit then Moss Force Waterfall would be far more suitable than Aira Force, for example.
You will only need to walk 500m from your car to reach the waterfall. Some of the best views are actually just from the car itself. You don’t even need to walk all the way along these paths to take in some of the breathtaking beauty. Sitting outside your vehicle is also enough to find some peace and quiet.
This waterfall is a series of short cascades, three distinct sections, rather than one continuous waterfall. When seen from the valley, and in full force, it has the appearance of a long white streak painted down the hillside at the head of the Newlands Valley. If measured from top to bottom, Moss Force is the tallest waterfall in the Lake District National Park.
The top section of the waterfall is split into two flows by a rocky outcrop. The middle section falls into a large pool, popular with wild swimmers. The final section cascades down into Moss Beck, the stream which continues down the valley.
The parking area for Moss Force Waterfall makes a great picnic spot. It is also level, so you will find people using it to sleep over in their motorhome or campervan. There will probably be some wild campers around too in the summer months.
Walking to Moss Force Waterfall
The waterfall can easily be accessed from the Newlands Hause parking area. You will need strong footwear that is designed for walking as it is easy to slip.
Take the obvious footpath towards the falls. This is narrow and rough underfoot with boggy and rocky sections. It’s not difficult to find and if you’re happy to explore for yourself then you don’t really need directions, but here are a few tips.
The path splits in to two, with the main path heading to the upper part of the waterfalls, and the lower path heading for the larger pool at the bottom of the middle section.
Whichever path you pick, you might find yourself scrambling over rocks and even crossing the stream. Take extreme care in wet conditions or when the stream is in full force. If in doubt, don’t risk scrambling around – it might look easy but one slip could lead to a mountain rescue call out as there are sheer drops around!
If you decide to stick to the main paths you can enjoy the view of the waterfall, and also the views down the stunning Newlands Valley.
Whether you visit the top section, or the middle section of Moss Force waterfall first, why not retrace your steps and visit the other section too?
When you return to the car park, take your time to enjoy the views in other directions too. The view to the south west is equally lovely:
When to Visit Moss Force Waterfall
This parking area fills up quickly during the busy summer holiday periods, although the Newlands Valley is not anywhere near as busy as Borrowdale.
As the waterfall is accessible at all times of say, I suggest visiting early morning or late in the afternoon. Your visit won’t take long and it’s quite possible to find the place deserted. Solitude and silence are rare in the business of the Lake District – why not grab the chance?
If you are a regular visitor to waterfalls, you’ll know they are best visited when there has been a lot of rain. Late October would be a great time to visit Moss Force waterfall.
Keep away if it’s foggy and wet – the drive here will be difficult, you won’t see much and the rocks will be slippy.
Little Known Facts About Moss Force Waterfall
- A few quirky facts about the waterfall
- As the waterfall is north facing and 350m above sea level, it is popular with ice climbers at the rare times when it freezes. It’s actually a grade III winter climb, so quite serious. It would involve ropes, and plenty of mountaineering experience.
- Look out for the rare juniper bushes that can be seen here. These are a member of the cypress family and one of only three native species of conifer in the UK.
- The falls have been visited by Samuel Coleridge in 1802. He commented “What a sight it is to look down on such a Cataract!” in a private letter.
Where next?
If you are in the area, why not visit Surprise View by car. If you fancy a longer walk then there are plenty around Buttermere and Keswick.
