Scale Force

Scale Force is a waterfall that drops about 52 meters (170 feet) through a narrow gorge on Scale Beck. The water cascades down between steep rock walls, forming a dramatic vertical stream within the chasm.

The name comes from the Old Norse word 'force' for waterfall, which Norse settlers brought to northern England in medieval times. This term became common for many similar waterfalls throughout the region.

Romantic poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge visited this place and wrote about its striking form. Their writings helped bring attention to the power of waterfalls in the natural landscape.

The trail to this waterfall starts from the Buttermere Court Hotel car park and leads through hilly terrain with steady climbs. The path can be muddy and wet, so sturdy footwear is essential and extra care is needed after rainfall.

This is the tallest waterfall in the entire Lake District region, plunging into a deep gorge where moss covers the rocks and sunlight rarely reaches the bottom. The thick moss on the cliffs gives the space a primeval, damp quality.