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 · Muker
Kisdon Force
Kisdon Force is a series of waterfalls on the River Swale in Swaledale, England. The falls are situated within the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the county of North Yorkshire, 500 metres downstream from the small hamlet of Keld at grid reference NY898010.
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.
Kisdon Force drops 500 metres (1,640 ft). It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Muker, United Kingdom. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kisdon Force is the tallest of the 49 waterfalls 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 Kisdon Force itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Muker 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 Muker, United Kingdom
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Muker, British Isles, Europe
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Kisdon Force
United Kingdom
Height500 mWidth—
Most similar
Myra Falls
Austria
Height600 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in Austria
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
330 m
500 m
600 m
979 m
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerKisdon ForceMyra FallsAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 2.0× taller than Kisdon Force. It drops 4.6× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Kisdon Force 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
54.40399, -2.15729
Quick answers
Where is Kisdon Force?
Kisdon Force is in United Kingdom (Muker). The nearest base is Muker, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 54.4040, -2.1573.
How tall is Kisdon Force?
Kisdon Force drops 500 metres (1,640 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Kisdon Force?
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 Kisdon Force?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Kisdon Force?
The usual base is Muker, United Kingdom. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there.
Nearby
Closest to Kisdon Force
Hardraw Force
United Kingdom · 91 m · 10 km away
Hardraw Force is a waterfall on Hardraw Beck in Hardraw Scar, a wooded ravine just outside the hamlet of…
Swimming
Aysgarth Falls
United Kingdom · 17 km away
Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls, surrounded by woodland and farmland, carved out by the…
Cautley Spout
United Kingdom · 198 m · 20 km away
Cautley Spout is England's highest waterfall above ground. . The broken cascade of falls tumbles a total of…
High Force
United Kingdom · 21 m · 30 km away
England's largest waterfall by volume