Don’t be disappointed that there isn’t any dramatic waterfall in Birmingham.
While you’re unlikely to find the next Niagara Falls, you can still explore some picturesque waterfalls in the West Midlands region!
Let’s take a tour of the 10 most beautiful waterfalls within driving distance of Birmingham.
| Read More: Visiting Birmingham with your kids? Check out these 19 fun things to do with Kids in Birmingham. Also, explore these famous Birmingham canals. |
This Article Contains:
10 Must-Visit Waterfalls Around Birmingham
- Carding Mill Valley
- Lumsdale Valley
- Pecca Falls
- Thornton Force Waterfalls
- Aira Force Waterfall
- Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfalls
- Aysgarth Falls
- Waterfall Swallet
- Beezley Falls
- Kinder Downfall
10 Must-Visit Waterfalls Around Birmingham
Here are 10 impressive waterfalls around Birmingham that every traveller must visit:
1. Carding Mill Valley
The Carding Mill Valley is at the centre of the Long Mynd moorland plateau in Shropshire Hills. Travellers can set out on a walk across Long Mynd for about 1.5 miles before reaching the four-metre cascade of the Lightspout Waterfall.
The Lightspout Waterfall is stunning and is fed by a small stream which flows down from the nearby hills in the Carding Mill Valley.
Address: Church Stretton, Shropshire, United Kingdom (1 hr 15 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: 01694725000
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carding-mill-valley-and-the-long-mynd
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees:
Coach parking charge minimum fee: £25.00
Main season car park charge: £5.00
Minibus parking charge minimum fee: £25.00
Oversize vehicle car park charge: £10.00
Summer holiday car park charge: £7.00
Summer holiday oversize vehicle car park charge: £14.00
Opening times: Dawn to dusk, seven days a week
Activities to try: Mountain biking, wildlife spotting, etc.
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Carding Mill Jct (15 min walk)
Train: Church Stretton (24 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Stretton Antiques Market, Little Stretton Church
2. Lumsdale Valley
Lumsdale Valley is a hidden gem outside Matlock and on the edge of the Peak District National Park. This natural beauty has overgrown ruins beside gorgeous cascading waterfalls.
The waterfalls are formed by the Lumsdale River, which flows through a series of limestone cliffs. There are several hiking trails along the river where visitors can get a good view of the falls.
Address: Upper Lumsdale, Matlock DE4 5NA, England, United Kingdom (1 hr 30 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: 01629 823256
Website: https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/lumsdale/
Entrance Fees: Free
Parking fees: Free
Opening times: 9 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday
Activities to try: Hiking, cycling, etc.
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Highfields Upper School, Matlock (2 min walk)
Train: Matlock Station (36 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Heights of Abraham, Matlock Farm Park.
3. Pecca Falls
Pecca Falls is the first waterfall you spot on the Ingleton Waterfalls trail (a circular trail of waterfalls in Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales). It’s a mesmerising collection of 5 different waterfalls.
Hike to witness River Twiss drop an incredible 30 metres into plunge pools at the main viewing point. These pools are estimated to be as deep as the falls themselves.
Address: Broadwood Entrance, Ingleton, Carnforth LA6 3ET, United Kingdom (3 hr 45 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: +44 (0)15242 41930
Website: https://www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk/
Entrance fees (includes parking fees):
Adult (16 years & over): £8.00
Child (under 16 years): £4.00
Opening times:
March 1st to March 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
April 1st to August 31st: 9 am to 7 pm
September 1st to October 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
November 1st to February 28th/29th: 9 am to 2:30 pm
Activities to try: Hiking
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Community Centre, Ingleton (7 min walk)
Train: N/A
Nearby attractions: White Scar Cave, Yordas Cave.
4. Thornton Force Waterfalls
Thornton Force is one of the finest of several waterfalls seen on the Ingleton Waterfall Trail.
It’s also the most popular waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales.
This stunning waterfall drops 14 metres (46ft) over a limestone cliff, creating a memorable sight for spectators.
Address: Thornton Ln, Carnforth LA6 3JH, United Kingdom (3 hr 45 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: +44 (0)15242 41930
Website: https://www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk/
Entrance fees (includes parking fees):
Adult (16 years & over): £8.00
Child (under 16 years): £4.00
Opening times:
March 1st to March 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
April 1st to August 31st: 9 am to 7 pm
September 1st to October 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
November 1st to February 28th/29th: 9 am to 2:30 pm
Activities to try: Hiking
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Community Centre, Ingleton (7 min walk)
Train: N/A
Nearby attractions: Ribblehead Viaduct, St Mary the Virgin Church.
5. Aira Force Waterfalls
Aira Force is a key waterfall in the Lake District and Cumbria county. The National Trust, United Kingdom, owns the site of the fall.
The waterfalls leap down for about 20 metres (66 ft) over a rocky, steep ravine. Visitors can set out on waterfall walks of varying lengths from 0.5 miles to 2 miles.
Aira Force is one of the most popular waterfalls in the Lake District and welcomes around 300,000 visitors every year.
Address: Matterdale, Lake District, Penrith CA11 0JY, United Kingdom (4 hr 10 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: 07917517767
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees:
2 hours: £5.00
4 hours: £7.00
All-day: £9.00
Opening times: Dawn to dusk, seven days a week.
Activities to try: Hiking and paddling.
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Aira Force (12 min walk)
Train: NA
Nearby attractions: Puzzling Place, Mirehouse & Gardens
6. Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfalls
Pistyll Rhaeadr is one of the tallest waterfalls in the West Midlands region, standing at a staggering 240ft (80m) high. It’s also referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.
Hike the waterfall trail to get a great view of the Berwyn Mountains and other surrounding hills.
Address: Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Oswestry, United Kingdom (2 hr 10 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: +44-1691 780392
Website: https://www.pistyllrhaeadr.co.uk/
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees:
Weekdays: £5.00
Weekends: £10.00
Opening times: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, seven days a week.
Activities to try: Hiking and camping.
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Car Park, Llangynog (78 min walk)
Train: NA
Nearby attractions: Shropshire Sculpture Park, Lake Vyrnwy Dam.
7. Aysgarth Falls
This triple flight of waterfalls is carved out by the River Ure near the Aysgarth village in Yorkshire Dales.
The Aysgarth Falls are spectacular, especially after heavy rainfall as thousands of gallons of water cascade over its limestone steps.
These majestic falls and their hiking trails have attracted visitors for over 200 years. The falls are even featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves!
Address: Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre, National Park Centre, Aysgarth Falls, Church Bank, Aysgarth, Leyburn DL8 3TH, United Kingdom (3 hr 15 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: 0300 456 0030
Website: info@yorkshiredales.org.uk
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees: NA
Opening times:
April to October (daily): 10 am to 5 pm
November to March (weekends only): 10 am to 4 pm.
Closed throughout January.
Additional openings: 22nd and 23rd December, 27th to 31st December.
Activities to try: Hiking and camping.
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Palmer Flatt Hotel (4 min walk)
Train: NA
Nearby attractions: The Forbidden Corner, Kilnsey Park.
8. Waterfall Swallet
This lesser-known fall is located near the Eyam village in Peak District and is similar to the Glenoe Waterfall in Northern Ireland. This secret falls is a delightful surprise for visitors as it’s hidden from view by a small copse of trees.
You can access the bottom of the secret falls during summers, but the hiking trails can be slippery because of the overflowing water during wetter months.
Address: Hope Valley S32 5QA, UK, Eyam, United Kingdom (2 hr drive from Birmingham)
Phone: NA
Website: https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees: Parking is unavailable.
Opening times: Dusk to dawn, seven days a week.
Activities to try: Hiking
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: Bulls Head, Foolowl (4 min walk)
Train: NA
Nearby attractions: Eyam Museum, St Hugh’s Church.
9. Beezley Falls
Beezley Falls is a stunning waterfall located in the picturesque Ingleton village and part of the Ingleton waterfall trail.
Beezley Falls are approximately 30 feet high and flow over a series of ledges into a pool below. Visitors can hike to enjoy views of the falls from above and below. There are also several picnic spots along the water trail.
Address: Ingleton, Carnforth LA6 3JH, United Kingdom (4 hr drive from Birmingham)
Phone: +44 (0)15242 41930
Website: https://www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk/
Entrance fees (includes parking fees):
Adult (16 years & over): £8.00
Child (under 16 years): £4.00
Opening times:
March 1st to March 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
April 1st to August 31st: 9 am to 7 pm
September 1st to October 31st: 9 am to 4 pm
November 1st to February 28th/29th: 9 am to 2:30 pm
Activities to try: Hiking
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: White Scar Caves, Ingleton (25 min walk)
Train: N/A
Nearby attractions: Hobby Cottage, Ingleton Climbing Wall.
10. Kinder Downfall
Kinder Downfall is a popular destination for hikers and climbers as it offers a challenging hiking trail. This fall is located in the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire Dales.
The stunning waterfall is formed by the River Kinder and is approximately 30 metres (98 feet) high.
Address: Kinder Downfall, Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom (2 hr 30 min drive from Birmingham)
Phone: 01629 816 200
Website: https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/
Entrance fees: Free
Parking fees: 45 car parks are available throughout the National Park. 27 of these are free to use.
Opening times: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Activities to try: Hiking
Nearest bus/train stations:
Bus: NA
Train: Edale (42 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Tissington Trail, Longshaw Estate.
Note: Waterfalls and preserves can sometimes be shut down for maintenance reasons, so it’s best to check the latest news and related websites before visiting.
(Fun Fact: If you’re looking up a waterfall in Birmingham, related articles on the internet may confuse you. These waterfalls are not in Birmingham, UK, but are actually in Alabama, USA!
- Peavine Falls
- High Falls
- Moss Rock Preserve Waterfalls
- Caney Creek Falls
- Upper Caney Creek Falls
- Noccalula Falls
- Little River Falls
- Black Creek
- Cheaha Falls
- Desoto Falls
- Rainbow Falls
- Fort Payne Waterfalls
- Falling Rock Falls)