The track here splits; the left-hand track follows the river Wharfe along its bank. The right-hand track (which is the route I am taking), heads off uphill, it then meets a narrow road, where I went left, still climbing. After a short distance there is a footpath signpost on the right pointing towards a gate next to a cottage (Waterfall Cottage), once through the gate, I just followed the well worn track across the field, then threw a kissing gate, still going uphill. Once you have got to the top of this uphill, there is a little circle of tree trunks laid on their side, around an information board, this board gives information about the Valley of Desolation (although the information board could do with a good clean).

 

The valley was so named after a great storm occurred over Barden Fell in 1836. Strong winds, torrential rain, lightning and flash floods caused great damage leaving many of the original oaks uprooted. Over the past 164 years, the signs of damage have disappeared as natural regeneration in part has taken place. A few decaying oak trees and rotting logs are the most obvious remains of a beautiful wooded valley which once supported oak, rowan, birch and hawthorn with hazel and alder along the wetter parts of the valley floor.

 

From here I continued to followed the track, going past a pond on my right, the most popular route from here is to follow the track, which starts to climb again, but I noticed a not so obvious track to the left, so my natural curiosity took over, and I headed down this track, I came to a narrow footbridge, which takes you across the beck. There is also a track which carries on past this bridge, so yet again, I took this route, where I took some photos of the beck flowing over some rocks (I am still not sure at this point where the waterfall is). A couple appeared behind me on the footbridge, they asked if I knew the way to the waterfall. I said I didn't know, but I had not been across the bridge yet or continued to follow the track I was already on. They thanked me and headed off back the way they had come. I continued a few yards along this track, and there in front of me through the trees, was the waterfall, but the track I was on had come to a dead end, so I returned to the bridge and crossed it.

 

Once across the bridge, the track started to climb again, but then levelled out, it also split in two, the left hand track, as I found out later takes you to the top of the waterfall. I took the right hand track, which took me to the waterfall's base, and I was the only one there, time to take some photos.