Force Burn Waterfall in Teesdale
Tucked away in the wild upper reaches of Upper Teesdale, Force Burn Waterfall is one of those places most people never even realise exists.
There are no signs, no obvious path, and no crowds.
Just a series of powerful cascades cutting down through the moorland before quietly joining the River Tees above Cow Green Reservoir.
This is not a typical waterfall visit. It is something quieter, more remote, and far less documented. The kind of place you only notice when you slow down and really look.
This is one of the least documented waterfalls in Teesdale, and one that is often completely overlooked.
There is no official information, no mapped viewpoint, and very little written about it anywhere.
A Complete Guide to Force Burn Waterfall
Force Burn is not a single drop waterfall.
It is formed by a collection of smaller upland becks that gather across the high moor before joining together into one defined burn. As the land begins to fall away, the water drops in stages, creating a long stepped cascade that runs down towards the River Tees.
After heavy rain, the whole line of the waterfall becomes visible from distance, cutting clearly through the moorland hillside. At other times, it blends quietly into the landscape and is easy to miss entirely.
Where Is Force Burn Waterfall
Force Burn sits in Upper Teesdale above Cow Green Reservoir, just north of Meldon Hill.
Approximate location
54.67602, -2.34199
It flows directly into the River Tees in one of the most remote and open sections of Upper Teesdale, surrounded by high moorland and exposed ground.
Parking and Starting Point
The easiest place to begin is Cow Green Reservoir car park, DL12 0HX.
From here, most people head towards Cauldron Snout.
To find Force Burn, you head the opposite way along the track, passing the old mining remains at West Cow Green.
Finding the Waterfall
This is not a defined walking route.
From Cow Green car park, follow the track towards the old mine workings roughly North west from the car park. After around 1.3 miles you reach the area near Dubbysike Mine.
From here, looking out across the landscape to your left, the waterfall becomes visible, especially after rain when the flow is stronger.
The land between the mine and the River Tees is open access, but it is not easy ground. It can be boggy, uneven and slow going, with long grass and soft patches underfoot.
As you move down towards the river, it becomes clear that the River Tees sits between you and the waterfall. This means that while the waterfall is easy to see from the Cow Green side, getting directly to it is far more difficult.
For most people, the best view is from distance, where the full shape of the stepped cascade can be seen across the landscape.
If you are looking to get closer, it may be possible to approach from the direction of Meldon Hill on the opposite side of the Tees, although this is not a route we have explored and conditions in this area can be challenging.
What Makes Force Burn Special
This is not a place you arrive at by accident.
It is easy to walk straight past without ever noticing it.
There are no signs pointing towards it, no worn path leading you in, and no viewing platform waiting at the end.
What makes Force Burn special is exactly that.
It feels untouched. Quiet. Almost hidden in plain sight.
After rainfall, it becomes something far more powerful than you would expect, a long line of white water stepping down through the dark moorland, completely removed from the busier waterfalls further down the Tees.
A Photographer’s Waterfall
Force Burn is best appreciated from a distance.
The stepped nature of the cascade means it reveals itself fully when viewed across the landscape rather than up close. A zoom lens brings the whole scene together, showing the full drop and the way it cuts through the landscape.
It is one of those places where stepping back gives you a better experience than pushing closer.
A Note on Conditions
This is a remote upland location with no formal paths to the waterfall itself.
Ground conditions can be wet and unpredictable, and the River Tees can be a barrier depending on water levels.
Weather can change quickly in this part of Teesdale, and there are no facilities nearby.
It is a place to approach with awareness rather than expectation.
Is This Right for You
This is not a typical waterfall visit.
There is no clear route, no easy access point and no defined viewpoint.
But if you enjoy exploring quieter places, noticing details others miss and finding locations that are not widely documented, this is exactly that kind of place.
A Moment of Calm
Some places are made to be seen.
Others are only found when you slow down.
Force Burn is easy to overlook, just a line of water on the hillside, until you stop and really take it in.
And when you do, it feels like something you were meant to find rather than something you were told about.
Finding Force Burn Waterfall
Force Burn Waterfall sits in a remote part of Upper Teesdale above the River Tees near Cow Green Reservoir. The pin below shows the approximate location of the waterfall within the wider landscape.
Seeing Force Burn on a Walk
If you would prefer to see Force Burn Waterfall as part of a walk, our Cow Green Mine History Walk links it in naturally, passing the area around Dubbysike Mine where the waterfall can be seen across the landscape.
Are You Part of the Outdoor Exploring Family
The Outdoor Exploring Family is not about ticking off summits or rushing from one place to the next.
It is for anyone who enjoys the walk itself, notices the small details, and finds something in being outside that brings a calmer, clearer mindset.
If that sounds like you, then you are already part of it.
You just might not have realised it yet.