Harmby Waterfall Walk

0.6 miles (1 km)

This short walk explores the pretty waterfall at Harmby in the Lower Wensleydale area of the Yorkshire Dales. The hidden gem is located just off the A road east of Leyburn....
Walk Report 27th September by Simon Clarkson
I headed to Harmby on a peaceful, bright Sunday in late September. It was a lovely outing for a few hours, with the waterfall tucked away in woodland just off the A684 making it feel much more secluded than I expected. To start I crossed the road near the Pheasant Inn and followed the path down through the trees towards Harmby Waterfall, with the sound of the beck becoming louder as I approached.
The waterfall is reached by a short path and steps into the wooded gorge, where Harmby Beck tumbles over the rocky ledge into the pool below. It is not one of Yorkshire's huge waterfalls, but I really liked the setting, with the surrounding trees and rock making it feel like a hidden spot. The recent rain had also given the waterfall a good flow, making it much more impressive than it would be in a particularly dry spell.
I spent a while exploring around the waterfall before continuing along the footpath. The woodland was particularly peaceful and there was plenty of greenery around the beck, with the rushing water providing most of the background noise. I was thrilled to see a grey wagtail close to the stream, a lovely little splash of colour against the rocks and exactly the sort of wildlife I had hoped to spot around a Yorkshire Dales beck.
After enjoying the waterfall, I wandered back towards Harmby village and took my time looking at the old stone cottages and the little stream running through the centre. It is a very small village, but the combination of the traditional buildings, beck and surrounding countryside gives it plenty of character. I could easily have extended the outing onto some of the public footpaths around the village, but the short waterfall walk made a pleasant trip in its own right.
I finished the walk with a look back towards the waterfall before returning to the road. The Pheasant Inn is directly opposite the entrance, so it is an obvious place to stop for a drink or something to eat after the walk. Harmby is also close to Leyburn, making it easy to combine the waterfall with a visit to the market town or one of the longer walks around Wensleydale.
For me, the appeal of the Harmby Waterfall Walk was that it packs a surprising amount of scenery into less than a mile. The waterfall, wooded gorge, Harmby Beck and attractive village make this a very easy little outing to fit into a day exploring the Yorkshire Dales, particularly if you are looking for somewhere quieter than some of the area's better-known waterfalls.
Postcode: DL8 5PZ
Pubs and More Info
The Pheasant Inn, opposite the falls, is a nice place for some refreshments after your stroll. It's a friendly, cosy pub with a real fire and good selection of ales. The landlord also runs a good campsite behing the pub, if you need to stay over.
If you'd like to extend the walk then you could pick up a public footpath to the south of the falls and follow it towards Spennithorne. Head west and you can follow nice riverside paths along the River Ure around Leyburn and Wensley. Around here there's the fabulous limestone escarpment at Leyburn Shawl which provides fine views over Wensleydale. Just to the south there's a nice circular walk to follow around Middleham as well.
Just to the east is the noteworthy village of Constable Burton where you can enjoy lovely trails around Constable Burton Hall. The grade-I-listed Georgian mansion includes some beautiful grounds with peaceful woodland, pretty becks and delightful gardens to see.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Yorkshire Dales Walks page.