East Gill Force

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The lower part of East Gill Force as the Gill joins the River Swale.
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The lower part of East Gill Force as the Gill joins the River Swale.

East Gill Force is a waterfalls in Swaledale, 300 metres to the west of the hamlet of Keld, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England. The falls are located on East Gill at grid reference NY896012, just before it’s confluence with the River Swale at the point where the Pennine Way and the Coast to Coast Walk intersect. The falls are a popular spot for visitors, not just long distance walkers but also families and picnickers because of the close proximity of the road. East Gill Force has two main torrents, the upper falls has an impressive 4.5 metre drop while the lower section is a series of stepped cascades that fall three metres as East Gill enters the River Swale.

East Gill Force is one of four waterfalls in the Keld area, the others being Kisdon Force, Catrake Force and Wain Wath Force and occur where the river cuts a gorge through the Carboniferous Limestone between the hills of Kisdon and Rogan’s Seat. The falls in this area are called “forces” after the Norse word “Foss” which means waterfall. The falls are surrounded deciduous broad leaved woodland.