High Force

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High Force Waterfall

High Force is a waterfall on the River Tees, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, Tees Valley, England. Despite popular belief, it is not, at 20 metres (70 feet), the highest waterfall in England: Cautley Spout, in Cumbria's Howgill Fells, is almost 180 metres (600 feet) high; and Hardraw Force, in North Yorkshire, has an unbroken drop of 30 metres (100 feet).

Nevertheless, High Force is one of England's most impressive falls, since the river is quite powerful; and it draws many visitors. The northern side of the Tees in this area is owned by the Raby Estate, and visitors must pay a fee to gain access to the falls.

The Pennine Way passes by the southern side of High Force; although the falls are visible from the trail, the connection by foot is indirect, for the nearest bridge over the river is at Holwick Head, about 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) downstream of the falls.

There are two other waterfalls on this stretch of the Tees. Low Force is about 2.5 ;kilometres (1.6 miles) downstream, whilst Cauldron Snout is some 10 kilometres (6 miles) upstream. The Pennine Way passes all three sets of falls.