Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.

Goit Stock Wood and Waterfall

This little gem is on my doorstep and I’m embarrassed to say that this was only the second time I had visited, the first time being about five years ago when Sal introduced me to the area. What has put me off in recent times is it’s sudden popularity, it seems to have grown enormously since lock-down was eased. However a rainy midweek, October morning was never going to be busy and I only saw a handful of people the entire time I was there.

The autumn colours were just beginning to appear but I reckon I was a week or two too early to see them at their best. However the water flow in Harden Beck and over the falls was just about perfect for photography so that more than compensated. The beck and surrounding woods are very enclosed which makes it easy to see why the locals have always know it as The Hidden Valley. It has also been designated an SEGI (Site of Ecological and Geological Importance) by Bradford Council.

During Bradford’s industrial past, there were six mills on Harden Beck; (from upstream down) Hewenden Mill, Bents Mill, Hallas Bridge Mill, Goit Stock Mill, Harden Bridge Mill and Beckfoot Mill. Hewenden, Bents and Beckfoot mills have all since been converted into private accommodation buildings. Hallas Bridge Mill was destroyed by fire. Goit Stock Mill was later utilised as a café and ballroom but it too burnt down (in 1927) with no reports of casualties. Its chimney and flue still exist, with the chimney being built on the northern ridge to aid the dispersal of smoke from the narrow valley. Harden Bridge Mill is still in private use as a printers. As you walk along the narrow wooded valley it is easy to imagine how the place must have been in those times.

With the falls being situated in the botton of an enclosed ravine, they tend to ice over during very cold spells, hopefully that will happen this coming winter. If they do, I'll be there to capture them!

Lower Falls

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Wood

Add caption

Goit Stock Wood

Harden Beck

Goit Stock Waterfall

High and Low Force Waterfalls

High Force is within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and European Geopark. Despite popular belief that it is the highest waterfall in England, at 71 feet (22 m), others have a longer fall: Cautley Spout, in Cumbria's Howgill Fells, is almost 590 feet (180 m) high, and Hardraw Force, in North Yorkshire, has an unbroken drop of 98 feet (30 m).

Low Force by comparison is much smaller but in my opinion a much nicer and more interesting place to visit especially since they have placed restrictions on High Force due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At Low Force you are free to roam, not just in the falls area but the surrounding countryside which has many footpaths, including The Pennine Way.

I luckily timed my visit to witness someone canoeing down the falls and got some smashing photo of him in action so I’ve included them at the end of the blog.

Unfortunately at High Force there is a dedicated route to the falls and then a new path through woodland back to the car park. That wouldn’t be too bad but for two reasons. One is that they have cut off close access to the River Tees and falls so there is really no point in a photographer visiting. Second is that the return path has lots of steep steps, is quite enclosed and I should imagine gets very slippy and muddy after rain. Anyone with health issues would really struggle on it, especially the stepped parts.

Despite that I still had a great day and thankfully the food kiosk was open where I purchased a very nice cappuccino and a locally made sausage roll.

Sadly High Force is yet another victim of this sodding virus!

River Tees at Low Force

Low Force

River Tees

Pennine Way at Low Force

Low Force

River Tees above Low Force

Autumn Colours

Footpath to High Force

High Force


High Force

Kayak, Low Force

A Wet Borrowdale

There are very few place which I like to visit when its wet but the woods down Borrowdale are one of them. For some reason they doesn't seem quite right when they're bathed in sunshine. I had hoped yo get some good autumn colours but unfortunately I was just a week or two too early even though a few were just starting to change.

Firstly I went up to Ashness Bridge which was surprisingly fairly quiet. The conditions for taking the classic view of the bridge backed by Derwentwater and Skiddaw just weren't going to happen as the sky was a blanket grey and the cloud was well down on Skiddaw. So for a change I took some photos of the adjacent woodland and the gill below the bridge which I don't think turned out that bad considering I did them all hand-held.

I then went further down the dale to the Bowder Stone car park with the intention of exploring the Kings How area as a lot of photographers I follow on YouTube rave about it. Unfortunately this came to nothing as I didn't have enough change to pay the extortionate car parking fee plus it was pouring it down.

The last three photos of the blog were taken within close proximity of the car park. I didn't stray far because I was taking a bit of a drenching which wouldn't normally bother me but so was my camera and that was much more important. I'd had a nightmare with the camera whilst on holiday due to sensor dust so I didn't want any more hassle with it.

Nevertheless I saw enough of the area to whet my appetite for a future visit. Hopefully the autumn colours will be out by then.