Goit Stock Waterfall (or Goit Stock Falls) is the jewel in the crown of Goit Stock Wood, a 70-acre ancient woodland located near to Bingley in West Yorkshire. It is around 6 metres (20 feet) high.
Goit Stock Wood, which contains the Goit Stock Waterfall, is up for sale. We are a community group working to raise the money needed to buy the wood, so that it can be owned by the local community and protected for generations to come. We only have until 12 September to raise £195,000 - can you help us?
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*the equivalent of one acre of Goit Stock Wood!
The waterfall is on a stream that is known as Hallas Beck, which flows from the Hewenden Reservoir near the picturesque Cullingworth Viaduct. (Although the name of the beck at Goit Stock Waterfall is disputed - some maps label the whole beck as Harden Beck, while others show that the beck is Hallas Beck until it joins with Cow House Beck and then becomes Harden Beck downstream of there). Downstream of Goit Stock, Harden Beck travels past the Malt Shovel pub and then down towards Bingley, where it joins the River Aire at Beckfoot. Harden Beck is home to a wide variety of aquatic life including trout and grayling.
The waterfall is pretty at any time of year, but particularly after a few days of heavy rainfall. If you are brave enough visit in the winter after several days of sub-zero temperatures, you'll get to enjoy the sight of huge icicles beside the falls!
Goit Stock Waterfall is very pretty, but above the main falls is another waterfall we call the Upper Falls, which is equally picturesque.
If you walk upstream from Harden you will reach the main waterfall first. To reach the upper falls, carefully continue up the metal steps to the side of the main waterfall and follow the path. If you walk downstream from Cullingworth, you'll see the upper fall on the left of the path shortly before you reach the top of the main waterfall.
The waterfall sits within Goit Stock Wood. It is only accessible on foot. You can walk along the beck in either direction to reach the waterfall. Most visitors walk upstream, starting in the village of Harden near the Malt Shovel pub, but it is also possible to walk downstream starting in Cullingworth, or make a circular walk. Find out more about visiting Goit Stock Waterfall and Goit Stock Wood here.
If you visit Goit Stock Waterfall, please do your bit to look after the beautiful nature here. Please don't damage the trees, plants or rocks in or around the beck, and take any litter away with you. There are no toilets or other facilities in the wood or near the waterfall. Please note that the pool below the waterfall is very dangerous and therefore swimming is not allowed. Sadly, a boy died while trying to swim here in 2021.
Help ensure that visitors can enjoy Goit Stock Waterfall for generations to come. Please donate today!