Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Galleny Force is what Lake District dreams are made of. The waterfall is located in a beautiful wooded gorge which keeps it slightly hidden from the open fells beyond, giving it a lovely secluded feel. It’s no wonder it’s become known as ‘the fairy glen’.
There are a number of pools to choose from, or you can simply relax on the rocky banks and soak up the gorgeous scenery.
There are pools both up and downstream of Galleny Force (including the much more well known Black Moss Pot), this guide focusses on the pools directly surrounding Galleny Force itself.
The shortest walk to Galleny Force
Distance: 0.8 miles each way (1.4km)
Elevation gain: 30m
Difficulty: Easy
Summary: The walk to Galleny Force is almost entirely flat and has a good gravel/stone path for much of the way.
There is one short rocky/tree rooty patch, but it’s really just a few steps. If there has been significant recent rainfall, sections of the track may become waterlogged, though there is almost always rocks to use as stepping stones (we’ve only seen it like this once and that was after very heavy rain).
The trail
The walk begins from the village of Stonethwaite (parking details below) and heads through the village, past the Langstrath Country Inn and some beautiful little cottages.
You’ll see a gate straight ahead of you. You can now go one of two ways, through the gate or along the path to the right. Both trails will get you there, but we prefer the lower route through the gate, as it’s a bit more direct. Head through the gate and follow the flat path towards the campsite.
Continue through the campsite for 800m (yes it’s that big!) and you’ll soon come to another gate. The little rough patch of track is just beyond this gate and involves walking down a bit of rocky/tree rooty track. It’s not slippery when dry, but can be a little bit slippery when wet.
After this it’s smooth sailing all the way to Galleny Force. Just 200m from the gate (1.2km into the walk) you’ll reach the lower gorge pool.
However, you could easily miss it as it isn’t obvious from the path. Walk to the edge of the grassy area and you’ll see the pool below.
To reach Galleny Force itself, you continue past this lower pool, through one final gate and then you’ll see it on the left.
You can access the falls via the rocky path leading down to a pool just below the waterfall pool, or by following the walking track 50m further, which leads you right to Galleny Force (1.35km from the parking area).
The lower gorge pool at Galleny Force
The lower gorge pool would be a worthy destination in its own right. The same sensational emerald water that flows from Galleny Force makes its way to the lower pools and as you’re further away from the waterfall, the current is also much reduced. Almost to nothing at all, if the water levels are not too high.
The pool is long and shaded by the silver gorge walls and woodland. In fact it’s so secluded that people often miss it altogether, as you can’t really see the water until you’re standing almost on top of the gorge.
Getting into the pool requires walking a few steps down the gorge wall and then there are rocks in the water to allow easy access. The gorge wall is grippy when dry and it’s easy to get down.
The pool itself is not overly deep and there are some rocks inside the water, which stops you going for a long swim (although you can swim further than in Galleny Force) and it’s also nice just to relax inside the water.
There is a rope swing here, but to me the water felt a bit shallow for that, so make sure you do a depth check first.
The water temperature is cool, but not as cold as some pools in the Lakes. If you aren’t used to UK wild swimming you will likely find it very cold though!
Swimming at Galleny Force
Swimming at Galleny Force is a dream. The waterfall, emerald pool and gorge walls all combine to create the perfect ‘fairy glen’. It’s absolutely beautiful.
The only downside is the pool is not overly deep and there are some large rocks in the water which stop you swimming too far. However, that does mean there are plenty of boulders to sit on, so you can relax inside the water too.
The waterfall created endless rainbows on our most recent visit which made it even more magical.
Accessing the water involves walking down the gorge wall, which is tiered and therefore easy when dry (it does get slippery when wet).
The rock platform will drop down into the water, where it’s easy to then walk out onto the rocks inside the edge of the pool. It’s very shallow at first and gets deeper as you near the middle of the pool.
The water is cold, but not freezing if you’re visiting on a warm day.
There is another pool below the main waterfall pool which is also a decent size for swimming, and then one more long gorge pool which is slightly set back and detailed in the section above.
If the waterfall is pumping there is quite a strong current. You don’t want to visit after too much rain or the waterfall and current are too powerful and you can’t swim. If this is the case, the lower gorge pool may be swimmable, but you’d have to check and see how it looks.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean. Sadly we often see litter here as it is so close to a campsite which is a real shame.
Camping by Galleny Force
The campsite mentioned in our trail notes is Stonethwaite Campsite, which is just a five minute walk from the falls. It’s a beautiful location right by the river and surrounded by fells. It’s understandably popular, so it definitely isn’t a secluded camping experience.
Prices at time of writing are £10 per adult and £5 per child. The access road to the campsite is stony and though doable in any car it may not be something everyone is comfortable with.
Parking for and getting to Galleny Force
Parking for Galleny Force is very limited and you must not block access in and out of the village. There is room for a small number of cars to park fully off the road by the phone box at postcode CA12 5XG.
If you don’t get a space here we noticed the school further up the road were advertising parking spaces in the summer holidays and proceeds go towards supporting the school.
I did notice the campsite had a sign up saying parking there was £5 per day and I wasn’t sure if this was for anyone or just campers, but you could always get in touch with them to find out - do this ahead of time if you think you might want this option as there is no phone signal in Stonethwaite.
If driving, Stonethwaite is roughly a 20 minute drive from Keswick, 55 minutes from Ambleside and 40 minutes from Cockermouth.
You could also come by bus, taking the 77A or 78 Borrowdale Bus from Booths in Keswick. It takes about 35 minutes and you’ll need to hop off at the Stonethwaite Road End stop and walk about half a mile to the trailhead.
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