Stainforth Force

Stainforth Force (also known as Stainforth Foss and Ribble Falls), is a 2.5-metre (8 ft 2 in) high cascade waterfall on the River Ribble at Stainforth, 3 miles (5 km) north of Settle in North Yorkshire, England. The waterfall is a popular tourist attraction in autumn when salmon are migrating up the river.

Stainforth Force
Stainforth Foss
Ribble Falls
Stainforth Force
LocationStainforth, North Yorkshire, England
Coordinates54.100°N 2.279°W / 54.100; -2.279
TypeCascade
Total height2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
WatercourseRiver Ribble

Description

Stainforth Force is a small cascade waterfall located near to the village of Stainforth, about 50 yards (46 m) south of Stainforth Bridge,[1] and some 3 miles (5 km) north of Settle, in North Yorkshire.[2] The partially eroded rock that the water travels over here is the Chapel House Limestone, which has been exposed by a small anticline.[3] However, to make the way for migrating salmon easier, the Yorkshire Dales National Park carved the rock "..in an inconspicuous way.."[4]

In autumn the spot is a popular tourist attraction on account of the salmon leaping up the falls to reach the spawning grounds upriver.[5][6] The plunge pool below the last fall, described as being "..a dark, [and] sinister-looking pool..", is popular with wild swimmers, and the site is also a popular stopping point on the Ribble Way.[7][8][9] The site was also said to have been a favoured location of Edward Elgar, who visited his friend Dr Buck who was living in Settle at the time.[10][11] A picture of Elgar stood on the bridge is said to have been up on Elgar's wall at his house.[4]

References
  1. Johnson, Thomas; Haworth, Charles (1882). A pictorial handbook to the valley of the Ribble. Blackburn: Haworth & Johnson. p. 148. OCLC 25351581.
  2. Himelfield, David (16 August 2020). "10 beautiful Yorkshire walks which are better when it's raining - Wet weather doesn't always spoil a good ramble as these White Rose belters demonstrate". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. Murray, D. W. (1983). The limestone and dolomite resources of the country around Settle and Malham, North Yorkshire : with notes on the hard rock resources of the Horton-in-Ribblesdale area : description of parts of 1:50,000 geological sheets 50 and 60. London: Institute of Geological Sciences, Natural Environment Research Council. p. 7. ISBN 0118843265.
  4. Mitchell, W. R. (1999). The story of the Yorkshire Dales. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 71. ISBN 1860770886.
  5. "Stainforth Force". yorkshiredales.org.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  6. Newton, Grace (14 October 2020). "Crowds gather at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales to catch sight of incredible salmon migration spectacle". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  7. Scholes, Ron (2006). Yorkshire Dales (3 ed.). Ashbourne: Landmark. p. 66. ISBN 1843062097.
  8. "Stainforth Foss". settle.org.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  9. Turner, Janice (8 May 2021). "Wild Swimming". The Times. No. 73466. Weekend. p. 8. ISSN 0140-0460.
  10. Quantrill, Tim (10 October 2014). "A walk in spectacular scenery". Craven Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. "Tumbling waters of Yorkshire Dales fall inspired composer Elgar". The Yorkshire Post. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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