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 · Above Derwent
Moss Force
Moss Force is a waterfall situated within the Lake District National Park in the English county of Cumbria. It is located 10 km SW of the town of Keswick at Newlands Hause, the pass between the Newlands Valley and the Buttermere Valley.
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.
Moss Force drops over a series of steps. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Above Derwent, United Kingdom. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Moss Force itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Above Derwent 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 Above Derwent, United Kingdom
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Above Derwent, British Isles, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Moss Force
United Kingdom
Height—Width—
Most similar
Ófærufoss
Iceland
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall and in Iceland
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
979 m
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Moss 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
54.5458, -3.2488
Quick answers
Where is Moss Force?
Moss Force is in United Kingdom (Above Derwent). The nearest base is Above Derwent, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 54.5458, -3.2488.
When is the best time to visit Moss 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 Moss Force?
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 Moss Force?
The usual base is Above Derwent, United Kingdom. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Moss Force
Lodore Falls
United Kingdom · 30 m · 7 km away
Lodore Falls is a waterfall in Cumbria, England, close to Derwentwater and downstream from Watendlath. The…
UNESCO Aira Force
United Kingdom · 20 m · 20 km away
A Lake District landmark tied to Wordsworth
Cautley Spout
United Kingdom · 198 m · 50 km away
Cautley Spout is England's highest waterfall above ground. . The broken cascade of falls tumbles a total of…
Cauldron Snout
United Kingdom · 60 km away
Cauldron Snout is a cascade on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England, immediately below the…