Swaledale Waterfalls & Barns – Yorkshire Dales Photography Workshop

Saturday 19th September 2026
Start: 10:30am • Finish: at sunset (~7:10pm)

Spend an autumn day exploring the wild upper end of Swaledale — a narrow, dramatic valley filled with barns, waterfalls, cascades, stone bridges and steep-sided scenery you don’t find anywhere else in the Dales. September light is softer, the colours are richer, and the crowds have long gone.

We’ll work our way from Keld through a series of classic Swaledale waterfalls and barns before finishing high on Buttertubs Pass for sunset over Wensleydale.
This is a relaxed, steady workshop with lots of hands-on help all the way through.

You’ll need to bring a packed lunch, as facilities are limited in the upper valley.

What You Will Learn On The Day

• How to photograph waterfalls, cascades and rapids using long exposures and ND filters

• How to compose barn scenes and valley views using foregrounds, angles and leading lines

• How to handle midday light in narrow valleys

• How to use a tripod properly for long exposures and steady compositions

• How to create both intimate landscapes (small waterfalls, stone barns) and wider valley scenes

• How to approach steeper terrain safely around East Gill Force and Kisdon Force

• How to shoot mountain passes, skyline layers and autumn light

• How to make the most of sunset colour at high viewpoints

Everything is explained in plain English, with plenty of time for questions and individual guidance.

Where We Will Go

(Order of stops may vary slightly depending on parking, weather and group pace)

Wain Wath Force

We begin at this wide, low waterfall at the head of Swaledale. Plenty of space to work, and perfect for long exposure practice.
Short stroll to the riverbank and a good place for the first briefing.

Stonesdale Lane Bridge – Cascades

A gentle walk brings us to the bridge, with a lovely view up the river full of small cascades and textures.

Barn & Keld Yurts Waterfall

Across the bridge, we pass a stone barn and reach a taller waterfall beside the Keld Yurts area — around 10–15 feet high and excellent for composition practice.

(Optional for the more adventurous: a short detour up Stonesdale Beck for a woodland waterfall.)

Rukins Campsite & the Keld Waterfalls

We drive to Keld and park at Rukins (toilets available). Behind the campsite is another wide, low waterfall — very photogenic and easy to access.

From there we follow the path:

East Gill Force

A classic Dales waterfall with multiple levels — upper fall, lower fall and cascades where the gill meets the River Swale.
There is a steep hill involved here, but it’s short and manageable.

Kisdon Force

Further down the path lies a series of deeper, dramatic waterfalls among trees and rocks — a highlight of the day.

Roadside Barn Stops (Keld → Thwaite)

We drive slowly down the valley and stop two or three times at scenic barns and open views.
These are the iconic Swaledale scenes with dry-stone walls, meadows and steep valley sides — perfect for September colours.

Thwaite Area – Buttertubs Beck

If parking allows, a quick stop at the small waterfalls near Scar House Farm where the water from Buttertubs Pass meets the valley.

Buttertubs Pass

We drive up this famous, steep, winding road.
Optional look at the Buttertubs chasms — deep limestone potholes.
Then we continue to the high viewpoints looking down over both Swaledale and Wensleydale.

Sunset View — Wensleydale from the Pass

Swaledale’s steep sides block the sun early, so we finish on the Wensleydale side where sunset colour lasts longer.
Expect sweeping views, hill layers and (on a clear day) Ingleborough on the skyline.

After sunset, you can head home — or join the group in Hawes for fish and chips.

How The Day Works

• Start: 10:30am at Wain Wath Force

• Finish: Around sunset at Buttertubs Pass

• Walking: Generally short and steady (Keld section around 1 mile; one steep hill at East Gill Force)

• Pace: Relaxed, lots of time for setup and help

• Lunch: Bring a packed lunch (not many shops in upper Swaledale – maybe one in Keld for a coffee)

• Facilities: Toilets at Rukins Campsite and in Hawes

• Group Size: Small, friendly and informal

• Travel: Self-drive — optional car sharing for tight parking areas

What To Bring

• Camera (DSLR or mirrorless)

• Tripod (essential for waterfalls)

• ND filter and polariser (very useful for water)

• Spare batteries and cards

• Waterproof boots and waterproof jacket

• Warm layers — it can be breezy at Buttertubs

• Snacks and a packed lunch

• Something to sit on if eating outdoors

If you want kit advice before the day, just ask.

Who This Workshop Is For

• Beginners wanting patient help

• Enthusiasts wanting classic Dales scenes

• Anyone who loves waterfalls, barns and moorland views

• People wanting a mixture of accessible stops and short scenic walks

• Photographers wanting autumn light and interesting textures

• People aged 40–75 who prefer steady, non-strenuous days out

After The Workshop

You’re welcome to send some of your images afterwards for feedback.
Happy to suggest editing tweaks or ideas for improving your technique.