Skelwith Force
Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Skelwith Force.
Summit forecast
Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) summit, verdict for 27 October: Save it for another day · Too windy for the tops
12°C at the summit, gusts 58 mph
Weather on the tops, not whether a route suits you. One summit, the highest within 5 km, not the valley · scored for 27 October by the site’s own scorer · all 214 ranked · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab)First light
The sun reaches the Elterwater Village start about 08:08 in October · sunrise 07:41
From the terrain around the start (Copernicus GLO-30), mid-month · how we work it outThe bus
The 516 stops at Skelwith Bridge, at Foulstep crossroads
Times on bustimes.org, which is better than ours for live boards · the bus mapSkelwith Force at a glance
Skelwith Force is a waterfall famous for power, not height: it's only a low drop, but it carries the whole River Brathay draining Great Langdale and Elter Water, so after rain it's a genuinely thunderous rush of white water — one of the biggest volumes of any fall in the Lakes. It sits just below Skelwith Bridge, reached by a short, near-level riverside path, which makes it one of the most accessible waterfalls in the District and a favourite easy walk from Elterwater.
Quick facts
| What it is | A low but very powerful waterfall on the River Brathay, below Skelwith Bridge |
|---|---|
| The walk | A short, fairly level riverside stroll from Skelwith Bridge (~½ mile) — part of the classic Elterwater loop |
| Can you swim? | Not at the force — it's powerful and rocky; the quiet Elter Water just upstream is the place |
| Dogs | Welcome — an easy, popular dog walk (lead near the road and the fall) |
| Pushchair / family | Part-buggy — the riverside path is mostly level, with a rougher, rockier stretch at the fall itself |
| Getting there | Silverthwaite car park (Lowther Estates, pay on exit) on the B5343, about 300 m away; or walk in from Elterwater |
| Best time | After heavy rain, when the volume is astonishing; any season for the easy walk |
| The fell above | Loughrigg Fell — the low, view-rich fell between here and Grasmere |
Where is Skelwith Force?
Skelwith Force near Skelwith Bridge, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see every Lake District waterfall on one map.
The walk to the falls
This is one of the easiest waterfalls to reach in the Lakes. From Skelwith Bridge — where there's a café and the Kirkstone slate gallery — a broad, near-level path follows the River Brathay downstream for about half a mile to the force; only the last short stretch, out onto the rocks by the fall, is rougher underfoot. Most people make it part of the classic loop from Elterwater: along Elter Water, down to Skelwith Force, and back — a gentle few miles with a café at each end. For a bigger day, Colwith Force lies a little further up the Brathay, and Loughrigg Fell rises just to the north.
Routes that start near Skelwith Force
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elterwater riverside loopStart 1.9 km away (straight line) · not yet walked | 4.25 km | 91 m | ~1–1½ h |
| Elterwater & Skelwith ForceStart 1.9 km away (straight line) · not yet walked | 7.6 km | 164 m | ~1¾–2½ h |
| Lingmoor Fell from ElterwaterStart 1.9 km away (straight line) · not yet walked | 11.51 km | 489 m | ~3–4¼ h |
| Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg FellStart 1.9 km away (straight line) · not yet walked | 9.75 km | 382 m | ~2½–3½ h |
Routes starting within about 2 km of Skelwith Force, or on its doorstep at one of its car parks. Each time is the whole route’s, from a fast to a steady pace, and takes no account of stops, conditions or daylight — a guide, not a schedule.
Fells & walks near Skelwith Force
Straight-line distances from the centre of Skelwith Force — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.
Places nearby: Loughrigg Tarn · Elterwater, the lake · Colwith Force · Elterwater
All walks by Elterwater, the lake → — the routes we have mapped and every Wainwright and Outlying fell within about 5 km of Elterwater, the lake, ranked, with today’s conditions.
Swimming
Skelwith Force itself is not a swimming spot — it's a low, ferociously powerful chute over rock, and the volume of water pouring through makes it genuinely dangerous to enter, especially after rain. Admire it from the bank. If you want a dip nearby, Elter Water just upstream is calm and lovely. As anywhere, open water is cold all year — get in slowly and know the signs of cold-water shock.
When to go
Skelwith Force is all about volume, so it's at its jaw-dropping best after heavy rain, when the whole of Langdale's water funnels through in a roaring surge you can feel as much as see. In a dry spell it's gentler but still worth the easy stroll. Because the walk is so accessible it can be busy on fine weekends; an early or off-season visit gives you the riverside more to yourself, and autumn lights up the woods along the Brathay.
The setting
The force sits in gentle, wooded country where Great Langdale's river slows towards Elter Water and Windermere — a soft, green landscape of riverside meadow and slate, very different from the high fell ravines. Skelwith Bridge itself has long been a working slate place (the Kirkstone Galleries continue the tradition), and the easy path, the café and the flat going have made this a beloved family and dog walk for generations. It's the low-level Lakeland of Elter Water and Loughrigg, all within an easy stroll.
The name & its story
"Skelwith" is Old Norse and means, appropriately, the "resounding ford" — from skjallr (loud, resounding) and vath (a ford) — a name earned by the roar of the very falls beside the old crossing. "Force", as ever in the Lakes, is the Norse fors, a waterfall. So the name is a thousand-year-old description of exactly what you come to see and hear: the loud water by the ford.
Family, dogs & accessibility
Skelwith Force is about as family- and dog-friendly as a Lakeland waterfall gets: a short, mostly level riverside path from Skelwith Bridge, with cafes and toilets at hand. It's part-buggy — the main path is easy, but the final stretch out onto the rocks by the fall is uneven, so you may go the last few metres on foot. Dogs love it; keep them on a lead near the A593 at the bridge and near the powerful water. It's an ideal easy outing for little legs and a gentle introduction to the Lakes' waterfalls.
The fell above
Rising just to the north is Loughrigg Fell, a low, rambling fell packed with views over Windermere, Elter Water and the Langdale Pikes — a natural extension if you want to turn the easy waterfall walk into a proper half-day. The gentle circuit of Elter Water and the walk on to Colwith Force are the other obvious add-ons.
Getting there & parking
Without a car: The nearest stations as the crow flies are Windermere (9 km away) and Staveley (14 km away); the 516 stops at Skelwith Bridge, at Foulstep crossroads, 0.4 km from here in a straight line (times on bustimes.org). The bus map has every stop we hold.
The nearest public car park is Silverthwaite (Lowther Estates, pay on exit) on the B5343, about 300 m from the falls. The car parks at Skelwith Bridge on the A593, by the Chesters café and Kirkstone Galleries, are for their customers. You can also use the Elterwater car parks and walk in along the river, about 2 km. It's an easy car-free trip too: the Langdale Rambler (516) bus runs up the valley from Ambleside and stops nearby, so you can reach this gentle waterfall without a car.
Parking near Skelwith Force
All the car parks around Skelwith Force on the parking map →
Straight-line distances from the centre of Skelwith Force. We publish whether a car park charges, and who runs it, but never the price — tariffs change and a stale one is worse than none, so check the sign or the operator’s own site on the day.
Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Frequently asked questions about Skelwith Force
Where do you park for Skelwith Force?
The nearest public car park is Silverthwaite (Lowther Estates, pay on exit) on the B5343, about 300 m from the falls. The car parks at Skelwith Bridge on the A593, by the Chesters cafe and the Kirkstone Galleries slate shop, are for their customers. Many people instead use the Elterwater car parks and walk in along the river — a lovely, near-level stroll of about 2 km to the force. The Langdale Rambler (516) bus also stops nearby.
What makes Skelwith Force special?
Not its height — it's a low fall — but its power. Skelwith Force carries the whole River Brathay draining Great Langdale and Elter Water, so after rain it's a genuinely thunderous rush, with one of the largest volumes of water of any Lakeland waterfall. Add an easy, near-level riverside walk and cafes at Skelwith Bridge, and it's an accessible, rewarding short waterfall outing.
How long is the Skelwith Force walk?
It's very short from Skelwith Bridge — about half a mile of mostly level riverside path to the fall, so 15–20 minutes at a gentle pace. Most people make it part of the classic Elterwater loop (along Elter Water, down to the force and back), a gentle few-mile circuit with a cafe at each end.
Is Skelwith Force suitable for kids and pushchairs?
It's excellent for families — short, easy and dramatic. The riverside path is mostly level, so it's part-buggy: you can push most of the way, though the final stretch out onto the rocks by the fall is uneven, so you may do the last few metres on foot. Keep children (and dogs) close to the powerful water.
Can you swim at Skelwith Force?
Not at the force itself — it's a low but ferociously powerful chute over rock, and the volume makes it dangerous to enter, especially after rain. For a swim nearby, the calm Elter Water just upstream is far better. As anywhere, open water is cold all year — get in slowly and know the signs of cold-water shock.
Events across the Lake District
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Skelwith Force — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.