What’s not to love about the Forest of Bowland?
Crammed full of trails to explore and natural treasures to discover, the celebrated ancient woodland has long remained a haven for ramblers and mountain bikers alike.
One particular spot in the forest we’ve been keen to check out for a while – during our last adventure here we finally managed to track down the stunning and secluded Gisburn Forest Waterfall.
As the name suggests, this elusive gem is nestled deep within Gisburn Forest – well tucked away behind a body of thicket at the bottom of a steep valley on the tranquil waters of Bottoms Beck.
Being shrouded so heavily by the forest landscape, the vast majority of visitors don’t have the slightest idea this waterfall even exists.
It’s not surprising to be fair – there are no footpaths or signposts guiding you to it and the precarious scramble down to the hidden gem is enough to put many off even attempting the descent!
Nevertheless, if you’re feeling confident in your scrambling ability and fancy seeing this secret Forest of Bowland waterfall for yourself, the location isn’t that hard to find provided you know where to look for it.
Interested? Then lace up those hiking shoes and scroll below for our comprehensive step-by-step picture guide 👇👇
Forest Of Bowland Waterfall Walk Route Info (Gisburn Forest)
Route Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5.8 km (3.6 miles)
Route Time: 1-2 hrs
Parking: Stocks Reservoir Car Park, School Ln, Clitheroe BB7 4TS
BBC Weather: Gisburn Forest
Where to park for the Gisburn Forest Waterfall Walk
The most convenient location to park when heading to the Gisburn Forest waterfall is Stocks Reservoir Car Park.
It costs £3 for the day and is only a short walk from the forest trail which guides you to the falls.
If you fancy saving a few quid however, there is free alternate parking by the bridge on Hole House Lane which you’ll cross just before reaching Stocks Reservoir.
It’s only around 500 metres from the reservoir car park, although spots are limited so it’s still worth bringing some change just in case!
Forest Of Bowland Waterfall Walk – Step-by-step guide
- Exit Stock Reservoir Car Park and make your way up School Lane, continuing along the road until you come across a fingerpost signalling you to turn right into the forest.
- Use the steps to clamber over the dry stone wall and follow the trail through the forest.
- Watch out for this sudden drop on the footpath around 300 metres in. Carefully navigate over it and keep to the trail until you pop out at a crossroads.
- Head straight ahead and stick to the main path, taking the first left onto ‘Gisburn Bike Trail (Green)’
- Follow the winding trail until you reach the bridge over Bottoms Beck. Do not cross the bridge – instead take the ‘Gisburn Bike Trail (Blue)’ path to your right just before.
- Keep to the trail, taking the left turning at the fork so you stick beside Bottoms Beck.
- Head along the footpath, keeping a keen eye to your left. Soon you’ll come across this hidden scramble trail.
- Carefully, slowly and safely navigate your way down the hill.
- From the bottom you should see Gisburn Forest Waterfall to your left. Clamber through the thicket and enjoy the magnificent views!
Safety when visiting the Gisburn Forest Waterfall
As previously mentioned, the scramble down to the waterfall can prove quite tricky, so we’d only recommend attempting the scramble if you’re relatively fit and have confidence in descending and ascending the steep valley.
Likewise, the climb is quite slippery – even on a dry day – so you’d be best off not attempting this in wet conditions.
Regardless of weather, the route in general can get pretty boggy in parts, so it’s worth lacing up a good pair of walking boots rain or shine.
How hard is the Forest Of Bowland Waterfall Walk?
The walk is a relaxing 6- kilometre trail with flat and easy-to-follow footpaths throughout, making it suitable for pretty much anyone and everyone.
The actual scramble down to the waterfall is quite hazardous however. PLEASE take great care and only attempt if the weather conditions are suitable and you’re confident in your climbing abilities.
At a leisurely pace, this route shouldn’t take most people much longer than one and a half hours (depending how long you choose to spend at the waterfall).
More waterfalls?
Comparing our snaps of the waterfall with images on the Explore Bowland website, it looks like we may have actually found a different waterfall to the one commonly known as Gisburn Forest Waterfall!
The fall we uncovered was on the same stretch of Bottoms Beck however, so they’re all in close proximity to one another and accessible via the same walking route.
Regardless of whether this is the official Gisburn Forest Waterfall, we still had a cracking time discovering this spot and will surely come again.
The beauty and solitude would make it an amazing picnic spot and on our next visit we can hunt down the other waterfall also!
For more great walks in Lancashire area, be sure to trawl through our blog posts here.
Happy walking 🚶🚶