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Colwith Force Walk

3.1 miles (5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Visit this lovely waterfall on this short walk in Langdale in the Lake District. The walk makes use of the Cumbria Way long distance footpath to take you from Skelwith Bridge to the falls. You can park at the car park by the River Brathay at Skelwith Bridge to start your walk. You then cross the bridge and pick up the footpath to the falls. It's a nice footpath climbing through Eltwerwater Park with great views of Elterwater Lake and Little Langdale below. The final section takes you through thick woodland to Colwith Force. It drops 40 feet over several stages and is a spectacular sight when in full spate. You can return to the car park the same way and then enjoy refreshments at the cafe right next to Skelwith Bridge.
The falls can also be reached from nearby Elterwater by heading south past Fletcher's Wood.
To extend your walk you can continue along the Cumbria Way south and visit the lovely Tarn Hows. Loughrigg Tarn is also a short walk from the Skelwith Bridge car park.

Colwith Force OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Colwith Force Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Back at Skelwith Bridge you can enjoy refreshments at the lovely Chesters by the River cafe. There's a nice riverside deck where you can sit outside and enjoy lunch on finer days. There's delicious salads, specials, cakes and a shop where you can buy souvenirs. You can find it right at the start of the walk at postcode LA22 9NW for your sat navs.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Colwith Force - geograph.org.uk - 1124469

Colwith Force

Colwith Force - geograph.org.uk - 986883

This waterfall on the Brathay is upstream of the better-known Skelwith Force. The building looks like a small-scale hydroelectric plant, with access ladders for maintenance work.

Colwith Force - geograph.org.uk - 1577120

Taken after heavy rainfall the previous night

River Brathay near Colwith Force - geograph.org.uk - 3465099

River Brathay near Colwith Force

River Brathay - geograph.org.uk - 4497345

River Brathay west of the falls

Springtime leaves, High Park - geograph.org.uk - 4509009

Springtime leaves, High Park

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Colwith Force.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Colwith Force.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)