We decided to take our micro camper out for a test run to the Yorkshire Dales around 50 miles north from where we live in Wakefield, England.
One of the first places we visited during our trip was the small village of Harmby to see Harmby Waterfalls. Harmby Village is located just to the east of the Yorkshire Dales in Lower Wensleydale, 1.2 miles from the market town of Leyburn.
The waterfall is just off the A684, on Curlow Close between Harmby Parish Pinfold and a local’s home.
If you’re driving, then you’ll want to look at parking in one of the laybys just off the A684 next to the Pheasant Inn & Caravan Park.
Alternatively, if they are full, there’s another rather large open hard-standing area between Lower Wensleydale Caravan and Motorhome Club Site and Argill, which goes up to Sunnyridge Bed and Breakfast.
From there, it’s just a short walk over the road to Curlow Close and onto the waterfall. The waterfall benefits from being situated just 100m back from the road down a small passageway and down some steps making it easy to find.
We visited on a sunny day (around 22 degrees) but still found it relatively cold once we got under the large trees covering the waterfall so consider bringing a jacket.
While there are a couple of steps, the pathway is otherwise relatively well kept and restricted by fencing and barbed wire in some areas (I assume to prevent further graffiti on some of the rocks).
After crossing a small bridge, you’ll come to the waterfall area. Unlike some of the other waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, this waterfall is relatively small and not one you could swim in or even eat a picnic near.
There’s no seating and a limited viewing area due to the position of the trees, rocks and the waterfall.
Much like the other groups visiting the waterfall at the same time as us, we walked onwards past the waterfall and round under the trees at the other side of the small beck, believing that we could walk a circular route back the way we came. But, unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
Just after the waterfall, you’ll find a path that goes back up alongside the waterfall (although you can’t see the waterfall from here) and up to the A684.
However, you can follow the tracks further round in a circular route away from the waterfall (this is the way we went believing that it was a circular route back the way we came with additional views of the waterfall etc.).
Alternatively, you can walk down to the bottom of the field and towards the beck. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly steep hill that takes you to the beck, which is a dead-end.
There’s no way to cross and no pathway at the other side to take you back to where you started (hence the circular route).
Sadly, there’s very little in terms of a view here too, the water is much calmer, and the trees obstruct a view of the main waterfall back at the top. In our case, we then turned around and walked back the way we came.
In total, our visit lasted around half an hour, but honestly, it could have been half of that; unless you’re planning on making the visit part of a more extensive walk across the field, I’d probably go down to the main waterfall viewing area and back.
Knowing there isn’t a circular walk back to the waterfall, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit Harmby Waterfall when visiting the Yorkshire Dales. There’s plenty of others nearby that are larger, with a better view, a seating area or even the possibility for a paddle.