Rowton Beck Waterfall (Holwick)

Looking for a quiet little Teesdale adventure away from the crowds at High Force? This short out and back from Holwick leads to a lovely hidden waterfall on Rowton Beck with wide open views to Holwick Scars. It’s a simple route that feels properly wild once you’re up on the moor. We’ve used the most direct line from the closest parking near Holwick, then followed the beck to the falls. Expect a bit of rough ground, a few wet patches, and that brilliant Teesdale sense of space.

Quick facts

  • Distance: 2.5 miles out and back

  • Time: about 1 hour 15 minutes walking, 1 hour 45 minutes with photo stops

  • Ascent: roughly 440 feet total

  • Route type: out and back from Holwick

  • Start: Holwick, postcode DL12 0JN (very limited space on the lane)

  • Alternative parking: Bowlees Visitor Centre (adds a little extra but is easier for parking)

  • OS map: Explorer OL31 (North Pennines)

  • Terrain: farm lane, rough pasture, moorland, faint trods, short scrambly bits near the beck

  • Dog friendly: yes with care near livestock and steep, wet rocks

  • See the route: Route preview

  • Best after: a bit of recent rain for a livelier waterfall

Rowton Beck Waterfall Gpx
Rowton Beck waterfall cascading in tiered steps below Holwick Scars.
Stone cottages and narrow lane in Holwick at the walk’s starting point.

Parking and respect for the area

Holwick is a tiny hamlet reached by a narrow lane that passes working farms. Please arrive slowly and park with care. Do not block gates. Leave plenty of room for tractors and stock to pass, and keep engine noise and doors closing to a minimum early and late. If it’s busy or you’re unsure about space, use Bowlees Visitor Centre instead and enjoy a slightly longer warm-up to the moor. This simple courtesy keeps access positive for everyone who loves Teesdale.

Dramatic dolerite cliffs of Holwick Scars above the Teesdale gorge.

Open access land — how the route works

Once you’re up by Holwick Scars, you’re on Open Access Land which gives you the freedom to roam on foot beyond public rights of way. There are no waymarks here, so you choose your best line. We’ve shown the most direct and doable route, but on the ground you may need to work around fences, wet ground, and little side streams. Take your time, look ahead, and pick the safest line that suits your group. The reward is a real sense of exploration and some cracking views.
(Open access here is designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. It’s for quiet recreation on foot — always follow local signs for any temporary restrictions.)

Wide moorland view towards Holwick Scars from the Rowton Beck walk.
Dramatic dolerite cliffs of Holwick Scars above the Teesdale gorge.

The walk

From Holwick, head out along the lane then strike up towards the open moor with Holwick Scars to your left. As the land opens out, the sound of water draws you to Rowton Beck. Keep to the easiest ground and hop the drier lines where you can. The beck cuts into a shallow gill, then tightens into a rocky channel where the waterfall drops in tiered steps. It’s a lovely little spot for photos, but the rocks can be slick — keep children and dogs back from the edge. When you’re ready, retrace your steps to Holwick, soaking up the big Teesdale views on the way back.

Waterfall location (for mapping/pin): 54.638288, -2.155703
Start near Holwick (lane): 54.637984, -2.149244

Close view of Rowton Beck waterfall tumbling over mossy rocks.

History and geology

Holwick Scars are part of the famous Great Whin Sill, a thick, near-horizontal sheet of hard igneous rock (dolerite) that forced its way between older rocks around 295 million years ago. The same tough rock forms the lips of High Force and Cauldron Snout, giving Teesdale its dramatic crags and waterfalls. Around Holwick you can see striking columnar jointing in the Whin Sill and patches where the dolerite has undergone deep weathering over time. The area sits within nationally important designations for its geology and habitats. 

Holwick and its surrounding fell have seen centuries of farming, with traces of older field systems and boundaries up on the moor. Historic mapping and records note a long field boundary running from a waterfall on Rowton Beck towards Eel Beck, a hint that people have shaped and navigated this landscape for a very long time.

You’re also walking within the North Pennines National Landscape, which is recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark for its world-class earth heritage — one of the best places in England to see how rock, ice, water, and people have worked together to create this big open country.

Safety and seasonal notes

  • Rocks beside the beck are often slippery. Keep back from edges in wet or icy weather.

  • Expect livestock. Keep dogs close and leave gates as you find them.

  • In mist or snow, open access navigation needs care. Carry a paper OS map and compass even if you’re using GPS.

  • Check for any temporary access restrictions on the fell if you plan to roam more widely.

GPX and map

We’ve uploaded a tidy GPX for the out and back route (2.5 miles). Add it to your phone, or pre-plot it on your favourite app before you go. On the ground, remember this is open access country, so the exact line you take may vary a little as you pick the best ground.

Rowton Beck Waterfall Gpx

Nearby Waterfalls & Walks

Teesdale is full of hidden gems, and if you’ve made the trip to Holwick it’s well worth exploring a few more spectacular spots nearby. Here are some other walks and waterfalls you might enjoy:

Each of these walks is within a short drive and offers a completely different experience of the Teesdale landscape, from ancient geology to peaceful moorland and dramatic river gorges.