Hareshaw Linn is a stunning bridal veil falls that cascades into a small swimming hole at the base. However, it’s the setting that really took my breath away. The surrounding gorge walls tower above the falls and long strands of ivy creep down the cliffs creating a wild and mysterious vibe. The walk to reach the falls takes you through ancient woodland and if you’re lucky you might spot one of the resident red deer.
The paths are generally in excellent condition and though there are a few ups and downs, it’s a relatively easy walk, making it a great option for a relaxing morning or afternoon stroll.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting.
The walk to Hareshaw Linn
The stats
Distance: 3.3 miles (5.3km) return
Elevation gain: 140m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Hareshaw Linn Car Park
Summary: The walk to Hareshaw Linn is well signposted (unlike the majority of Northumberland’s waterfalls!) and the paths are in good condition.
Much of the walk is a gravel track, though there are some rocky bits inbetween. There are various ups and downs but no long climbs and the good paths mean you don’t have to worry about mud or slippery terrain.
Starting the trail
You can easily walk to the start of the trail from anywhere in Bellingham town, but there is a dedicated car park right beside the trailhead which is free of charge (full parking details below).
From the car park you head right, up a road lined with colourful painted stones. After 90m you’ll reach a gate which you pass through to get onto the footpath.
The wide gravel path heads gently uphill for around 350m before it flattens. A brief descent takes you to a little picnic area with benches, 675m into the walk.
You can make a very short (55m) detour down the uneven stairs to the left of the benches to reach the river. Watch out for the wet rocks here as they are slippery.
You can walk a few metres to the right along the narrow muddy ‘track’, it’s not really a path, to reach a small cascade. You then head back up to the picnic area to continue the walk.
Through the woodland
Once back on the main track you follow the stone steps uphill for 40m. The path then flattens or descends ever so gently and it’s a mix of gravel track and cobblestones.
As you walk through this next section you are completely shaded by the dense forest canopy and the woodland is simply beautiful.
This is also the stretch where we were lucky enough to see three red deer, sadly all were skittish and far too quick to catch a photo. Seeing them bound up such steep terrain to hide in the undergrowth was a real highlight of the walk.
The are a few little ups and downs along the track and some minor patches of cobblestones, but for the most part the path is gravelled and very leisurely.
You will see frequent social trails leading left towards the river. We explored a few which led to small cascades, all were pretty, though none particularly noteworthy. The side trails tend to be quite muddy so they aren’t a must do.
To the first waterfall
After you’ve been walking for 0.9 miles (1.5km) you’ll reach a long stone seat, just at the top of a short climb. From here you’ll briefly descend and then reach the first of many little wooden bridges which crisscross the creek. The forest feels more lush as you get closer to the falls.
Roughly 250m from the stone seat you’ll come to a bench just above the first waterfall. You can walk down to the falls which are only 20m away, but the descent is a bit rough and muddy, not difficult, but it’s not manicured like the rest of the trail.
You can see it well from above so descending is only necessary if you want a closer look or to take a little dip in the plunge pool. The waterfall is small but pretty, surrounded by trees and in its own mini gorge-like setting.
The final stretch to Hareshaw Linn
The final stretch to Hareshaw Linn is only 0.6 miles (900m) and it was my favourite bit of the whole walk. The scenery gets even lovelier and more dramatic with further waterfalls along the way.
Past the first waterfall there’s a short narrow section of track as you follow the river before it widens again. You’ll cross a series of picturesque wooden bridges on flat track before you come to the final climb.
The stairs begin at the 1.5 mile (2.4km) mark and one of the staircases is a really picturesque set of stone steps. The shape and cut of the steps looks like something from a children’s storybook.
As you reach the top there’s another gorgeous waterfall, though you can’t descend to this one. You’ll cross another bridge before reaching a narrow fern-lined path.
You’re now just moments away from the staggering gorge walls. There’s a bench seat at the top if you want to stop and admire them.
And you probably should because the size and grandeur of the walls are pretty hard to beat. The final stairs leading to the ledge above the waterfall are so atmospheric and really took me by surprise.
Swimming at Harehsaw Linn
The final staircase leads down to a rocky ledge above the falls. There’s a small overhang to the right and fab views of the gorge walls and waterfall up close.
Delicate curtains of water weep over the dark rock and the gorge walls create a semi amphitheatre. There wasn’t that much water in the falls but that didn’t really matter, it was still gorgeous. What wasn’t gorgeous was the water colour in the pool.
There’s no two ways about it, a dark pool is never going to be the most enticing water to swim in. It’s not that it’s dirty but the muddy rocks inside the water create a brown hue.
However, I still couldn’t resist a swim because the setting was so good. Was it my favourite swim in Northumberland? No, but it was still invigorating!
To enter the water you climb down the tiered rock slope. I did it from the overhang which was my makeshift changing room, but it was slightly less steep to the left. There are good footholds and ledges as you go down but take care if the rock is wet as it can become a little slippery.
There are a couple of rocks/ledges inside the water you can climb down onto and then swim off. The pool is very deep in the middle and though small, you can swim a few strokes. I’ve heard people come to jump in but as that’s definitely not for me I can’t comment much on that!
The water is quite cold, colder than most of the other waterfall swims I did that week in Northumberland, but not freezing by my standards (it was August after all).
When it comes to the busyness factor, Hareshaw Linn is one of the most popular waterfalls in the area. We were visiting in the school summer holidays so chose to arrive at 5pm.
We did have it to ourselves for our whole stay but around ten sets of people were walking back to the car park as we were walking to the falls, so it would have been very busy earlier in the afternoon.
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 area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Parking for Hareshaw Linn
There is a dedicated car park for Hareshaw Linn in Bellingham, postcode NE48 2DA, you can see it here on Google maps. The car park is currently free of charge and has no time limit. There are plenty of spaces, as well as an overflow car park if it gets really busy. You could also walk from anywhere else in town as it’s just minutes from the centre.
There are no toilets at the car park, but there is one in the nearby visitor centre (by the Tea on the Train cafe).
Bellingham is located around a 30 minute drive from Hexham, 40 minutes from Rothbury and 50 minutes from Newcastle.
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