High Force
The River Tees plunges 21 metres from a basalt cliff, making it one of England's most spectacular waterfalls.
The waterfall lies on the upper Tees valley, within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The river pours over a basalt cliff about 21 metres high, the Whin Sill, and the flow is most spectacular after rain. A path on the south bank crosses private woodland and reaches the foot of the falls in about 10 minutes. A small entry fee applies. The Pennine Way on the north bank is free, and you can continue about 5 km on foot to Low Force downstream. The falls lie about 50 km from Durham, roughly an hour's drive, and they pair well with the Bowes Museum on a Tees valley day trip.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- The Bowes Museum
- Hamsterley Forest
- Raby Castle
- Kynren – An Epic Tale of England
- Auckland Castle
- Locomotion – National Railway Museum Shildon
- Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
- Oriental Museum