Lonely Planet EnglandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet England
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet England covering Teesdale and Ullswater, the settings of High Force and Aira Force.
United Kingdom · Sedbergh
Cautley Spout
Cautley Spout is England's highest waterfall above ground. . The broken cascade of falls tumbles a total of 650 feet down a cliff face at the head of a wild and bleak glacial valley that comes down from a high plateau called The Calf.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Cautley Spout drops 198 metres (650 ft). It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Sedbergh, United Kingdom. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Cautley Spout is the third-tallest of the 49 we cover in United Kingdom. As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Cautley Spout itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Sedbergh are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
Getting there
- Base town Sedbergh, United Kingdom
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Sedbergh, British Isles, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Cautley Spout
United Kingdom
Height198 mWidth—
Most similar
Cascata delle Marmore
Italy
Height165 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in Italy
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
108 m
165 m
198 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsCascata delle MarmoreCautley SpoutEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 4.9× taller than Cautley Spout. It drops 1.8× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Cautley Spout yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Lonely Planet ScotlandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Scotland
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet Scotland covering Glen Nevis, Kintail and the Moffat area.
The Rough Guide to ScotlandRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Scotland
Rough Guides · 2025
Current Rough Guide with Highland and Borders detail for Steall, Glomach and Grey Mare's Tail trips.
Lonely Planet WalesLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Wales
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet Wales covering the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and its waterfall country.
On the map
54.3725, -2.49167
Quick answers
Where is Cautley Spout?
Cautley Spout is in United Kingdom (Sedbergh). The nearest base is Sedbergh, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 54.3725, -2.4917.
How tall is Cautley Spout?
Cautley Spout drops 198 metres (650 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Cautley Spout?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Cautley Spout?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Cautley Spout?
The usual base is Sedbergh, United Kingdom. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Cautley Spout
Hardraw Force
United Kingdom · 91 m · 20 km away
Hardraw Force is a waterfall on Hardraw Beck in Hardraw Scar, a wooded ravine just outside the hamlet of…
Swimming
Kisdon Force
United Kingdom · 500 m · 20 km away
Kisdon Force is a series of waterfalls on the River Swale in Swaledale, England. The falls are situated…
Cauldron Snout
United Kingdom · 30 km away
Cauldron Snout is a cascade on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England, immediately below the…
Aysgarth Falls
United Kingdom · 30 km away
Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls, surrounded by woodland and farmland, carved out by the…