Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk | North Yorkshire

If you’re looking for a walk with some gorgeous waterfalls, this Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk from Samantha Brown of Days Out With the Reluctant Explorers is what you need! Samantha and her family have amazing outdoor adventures and ideas to keep even the most reluctant explorers entertained.

Cray Gill girl watching falls with brother

You know what my two love more than anything? A good old-fashioned paddle.

Yes. The inevitable consequence of said paddle is that one (or more likely both) will become absolutely soaked, but on a hot summer’s day what’s better?

Well, I’ll tell you what’s better. A paddle in a WATERFALL!

And this walk has 11ty billion of them…. Ok, might’ve let the kids count them… But there are loads on the 6.5km waterfall loop from Buckden to Cray. And they are simply stunning.

So let me tantalise your walking inspo taste buds and tell you what’s in store…

The walk takes you from the gorgeous village of Buckden in Upper Wharfedale, skirting around the bottom of Buckden Pike (reyt big Yorkshire Peak, ranked no. 7 in The Dales 30) and down to the stepping-stones at Cray.

It offers you, quite frankly, STONKING views across Upper Wharfedale (not that the kids will care about that in the slightest, but that won’t stop you from soaking it all in!) You will feel like a true adventurer finding the best off-path waterfalls, with natural paddling pools surrounding them. The tallest of the waterfalls is around a 20-foot drop, so it is a sight to be seen!

The meadowlands of Upper Wharfedale are renowned for being absolutely beautiful in the late Spring/ early Summer, because of the swathes of beautiful wildflowers.

And the walk takes in three pubs.

Just saying.

Even better, if you are similarly waterfall obsessed, you can supercharge this walk by adding in Cow Close Waterfall and the falls of Buckden Beck (both routes are also available at www.thereluctantexplorers.com ). If you do that, you’ll turn this walk into an 8.5km walk.

So, I hope that I have whetted your appetite for an immense summer waterfall wander. Find the full details along with the full route description on www.thereluctantexplorers.com/cray-gill The Reluctant Explorers: Yorkshire Walking With Kids — Cray Gill

I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t do a little parental warning…. Please remember that wild water paddling or swimming comes with risks. Always check water depths before allowing children to paddle and supervise them at all times, as depths can drop very quickly (particularly around waterfalls). The photographs accompanying this post were taken after a period of dry weather, so the waterfalls will vary greatly after heavy rainfall. For more excellent advice about enjoying our glorious wild water safely, check out the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s website.

All off-path wandering takes place on Public Access Land, where there is a right to roam.

For more kid-friendly walks paired with walking activities to help waive those walking whinges, find The Reluctant Explorers on Instagram @thereluctantexplorers, Facebook @thereluctantexplorers and their website www.thereluctantexplorers.com.