Low Force Waterfall Walk in Teesdale
This short walk to Low Force from Bowlees Visitor Centre is one of the easiest ways to step straight into the heart of Upper Teesdale.
It is a gentle route that leads from open countryside into woodland, where the sound of the River Tees slowly builds before revealing the wide stepped cascades of Low Force and the historic Wynch Bridge.
If you are searching for a short walk to Low Force, an easy waterfall walk in Teesdale, or a family friendly walk near Middleton in Teesdale, this is a simple route that delivers one of the most iconic views in the area.
Low Force is free to visit and accessed via a public footpath from Bowlees.
Quick Facts
Distance: Around 0.8 miles return
Time: Around 20 minutes
Route type: Out and back
Start point: Bowlees Visitor Centre DL12 0XE
Parking: Large donation pay and display car park
Terrain: Gravel paths, woodland tracks, some steps
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes, on a lead
Child friendly: Yes, with supervision near the river
Toilets and café: Available at Bowlees
OS Map: Explorer OL31 North Pennines
Digital route guide: View on Hiiker
GPX files: Free download here
Interactive route map at the bottom of the page
Accessibility Information
The path from Bowlees to Low Force is short and mostly gentle, though it includes natural surfaces, gates and uneven ground. It is best described as partially accessible.
Visitors can also hire an all terrain mobility scooter from the Outdoor Mobility scheme at Bowlees Visitor Centre, making it easier for those with limited mobility to reach the Low Force area. Booking is required, so check availability before visiting.
Bowlees Visitor Centre has toilets and a small café, making it a convenient and comfortable place to start and finish your visit.
Useful links:
Route Guide Step by Step
Start at the top of the Bowlees Visitor Centre car park.
Right away, you will see a wide wooden bridge crossing Bow Lee Beck. Cross over and pass the children’s mud kitchen, usually full of pots, pans and muddy creativity. It is always a favourite stop if you have little ones with you.
Head up the stone steps and follow the path past the old chapel, now Bowlees Visitor Centre. It is worth a quick glance as you pass, a building with more history than it first lets on.
Continue straight ahead down the lane. This short stretch is quiet and easy, with dry stone walls and open views beginning to appear as you move away from Bowlees.
After a minute or two, you will reach the main road. Cross carefully.
Just to the right on the opposite side, you will see a wooden gate with a sign for Low Force. Go through and follow the well marked gravel path out into the fields, where the walk begins to feel more open.
A few minutes on, you will reach a large wooden gate with two stone pillars beside it. If you can squeeze between the pillars, it saves opening the gate. If not, head through as normal.
Continue forward and you will come to a set of steps leading down.
If you would rather avoid steps, take the path to the right which slopes gently downhill. Both routes meet at the bottom.
As you drop into the trees, the walk changes. The open fields give way to woodland, and the sound of the River Tees starts to build somewhere just out of sight.
Follow the path for a short distance and you will pass an information board explaining the Whin Sill and how Low Force was formed.
Then, almost without warning, the landscape opens.
Low Force appears to your right, spreading across the rock in wide, powerful cascades, while the Wynch Bridge sits just ahead, hanging quietly above the gorge.
There are no fences or fixed viewpoints here. Just open space, the sound of moving water, and the freedom to wander and take it in from wherever feels right.
About Low Force Waterfall
Low Force is shaped by the Whin Sill, a band of hard volcanic rock that runs through Teesdale and creates many of the waterfalls across the North Pennines.
But unlike a single dramatic drop, Low Force does something different.
Here, the River Tees spreads wide across the rock, breaking into a series of stepped cascades that move with the shape of the land. It feels less like a waterfall you stand in front of, and more like one you stand within.
After heavy rain, the sound builds before you even see it, a deep, constant rush echoing through the gorge. The water pushes hard over the rock, filling every channel.
On quieter days, it softens. The flow slows just enough to reveal the patterns beneath, lines and textures carved into the Whin Sill over thousands of years.
This is part of the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark, one of the most geologically important areas in England, where the landscape itself tells the story.
And yet, it never feels like a lesson.
It just feels like space, water, rock and time.
Some scenes from the film 1917 were filmed near Low Force, using this same landscape as a backdrop. Even on a normal day, you can see why. There is something raw and cinematic about it without trying to be.
What You Will See
This short walk may be simple, but it reveals some of the most recognisable features in Teesdale, with each section of the route offering something slightly different as you move from open countryside into woodland and down to the river.
Bowlees Visitor Centre and Chapel
The walk begins beside the historic Bowlees building, once a chapel and now the visitor centre. It provides a welcoming and characterful starting point before you step out into the landscape.
The Lane from Bowlees
A quiet country lane leads you away from Bowlees, lined with dry stone walls and views opening out towards the wider Teesdale valley. It is a simple stretch of the walk, but it helps ease you into the slower pace of the route ahead.
Low Force Waterfall
Low Force is a wide series of stepped cascades flowing over the Whin Sill. Rather than a single drop, the river spreads across the rock, creating a powerful but calming waterfall that changes with the seasons and rainfall.
Wynch Bridge
The narrow suspension bridge stretches across the River Tees, offering a slightly elevated view over the gorge. First built in the 19th century, it remains one of the most recognisable and photographed features in Upper Teesdale.
River Tees and Woodland Gorge
Surrounding Low Force, the River Tees flows through a rocky gorge framed by woodland. The mix of moving water, exposed rock and trees creates a peaceful atmosphere, especially if you take time to stop and listen.
Stone Sheep Sculptures
Just beyond the bridge, two carved stone sheep stand on the wall beside the path. Created by local artist Keith Alexander, they have become a small but memorable feature of the walk, especially for children.
A Small Detail to Look For
Just upstream on the opposite bank, in the open field, there is something easy to miss.
At first glance, it looks like nothing more than uneven ground. But if you take a moment and look closely, you will begin to notice subtle rises, shallow dips, and faint shapes in the grass.
These are the remains of a Roman period native settlement.
There are no signs pointing it out, no clear edges or walls left standing. Time has softened everything back into the land, leaving only quiet traces behind.
It is the kind of detail most people walk straight past.
But once you see it, it changes the place slightly. What feels like open countryside suddenly carries a deeper sense of history, as if the landscape has been lived in far longer than it first appears.
Is This Walk Right for You
This is one of the easiest and most rewarding short walks in Teesdale.
It is ideal for families, first time visitors, and anyone wanting a quick but meaningful experience.
Children should be supervised near the river and the bridge.
Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a lead.
The route is short, but the ground is natural and uneven in places.
Explore More from Bowlees
Bowlees is one of the best starting points in Teesdale.
From here, you can continue upstream along the River Tees towards High Force, following one of the most scenic riverside paths in the area. If you keep going beyond High Force, the route opens out further towards Bleabeck Force, offering a quieter and more remote feel.
Closer to Bowlees, you can follow woodland paths to Summerhill Force and Gibson’s Cave, or explore the former Bowlees Quarry just a few minutes from the car park, where nature has slowly taken back over the landscape.
You can also link this walk with the Bowlees circular route to turn it into a longer and more varied outing.
This short walk to Low Force is often just the beginning.
A Moment of Calm by the River Tees
Low Force is not just about the waterfall.
It is the sound of the river, the openness of the space, and the feeling of being close to something constant and powerful.
There are no barriers here, no fixed viewpoints.
You can stand quietly, move around, cross the bridge, or simply sit and watch the water.
It is one of those places where you naturally slow down without trying.
Watch our short Low Force walk video on TikTok – Outdoor Exploring Family.