Stock Ghyll Force Walk, Ambleside

The Stock Ghyll Force walk in Ambleside, Lake District, is an easy walk through a wooded ravine to a scenic 70-ft waterfall.

Ambleside, Lake District | England

DISTANCE: 2.2 km/1.3 miles circular
TIME TAKEN: 40-50 min
NEAREST PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO START/FINISH: Buses to Ambleside

Bought a book of walking trails at a wee bookstore in Ambleside and decided to go on this walk because it was so close but then realized we already had our day set out so had to push it to the day after! We had left our bags at the luggage storage at the Windermere railway station, and free of all weights (except all our emotional baggage, of course) set out to see the waterfall. The trailhead can be a bit difficult to find despite the signage. The trail to Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall leads off Stock Ghyll Lane (across the street from Stock Ghyll Brow).

According to Walk Lakes, “Stock Ghyll is a tributary of the River Rothay, draining eventually into Windermere, it has a heavily industrialised past and used to be nicknamed Rattle Ghyll. Many of the old mill buildings whose wheels it used to turn can still be seen in Ambleside. Some are used as shops. They used to produce bobbins for silk and cotton thread, to process wool so it was warm and tough, as well as grinding corn.“

Also read: Planning a car-free trip to the Lake District? Check out our 4 Days in the Lake District (Central Lakes) by Public Transport post to find out more.

The path was anything but dry, so we gingerly walked along the trail. Through woods at the cusp of autumn. Foliage just beginning to turn orange and amber. Not many walkers on the trail though Ambleside was busting with tourists! We welcomed the solitude and the rustling of leaves and soon we could hear the sound of water. It’s a waterfall, yes, but this isn’t the Stock Ghyll Force, so we continue to press on after lingering awhile to watch a puppy play around the edges of the stream. Soon after, there is a fork in the trail. Choose either because both will take you to the waterfall. We took the left fork and walked across a wooden bridge, then up a steep slope, and through the woods. There are a few steps along the way and I was a bit out of breath climbing uphill. After the previous night’s rain, the steps were slippery, and that combined with the sprawling roots of ancient trees can make for an awful fall if you aren’t being careful.

We step across a tree trunk full of pennies– later at a pub in Keswick we learnt that people wedged pennies in the bark of trees to cure illnesses— and soon we can hear and see the Stock Ghyll Force! The waterfall isn’t absolutely breathtaking, to be fair, but the trail is really lovely and even lovelier in autumn when the foliage turns to brilliant shades of red and orange and yellow and amber.

Also read: Check out some of our favourite walks on our Walks page.

The trail goes across a bridge over the waterfall. On the other side, there is an iron railing and a small viewing platform from where you can photograph the gushing stream of water. There were a few folks here, all waiting patiently for a turn to photograph the waterfall and we joined them!

TIP: You can continue to Wansfell Pike from here. Cross the bridge and bear right at the picnic bench. Go through the revolving gate out onto the road, then turn left and carry on up the hill. Cross the cattle grid, then climb up the stone steps on your right to the stile and you will see the signpost “Footpath to Troutbeck via Wansfell Pike”.

The trail goes downhill from the viewing platform. There are a series of steps here and those were very muddy the day we walked the trail. We walked through the woods till we reached the fork. From here we walked back on the trail we started on and passed those mini waterfalls as we headed back down to Ambleside eager to buy some pasties at the Cornish Bakery.

If you are looking for easy walks in the Lake District, we definitely recommend the Stock Ghyll Force walk.