Catrake Force

Catrake Force is a waterfall on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England.[1] It is not visible from the road but is accessible via a campsite in Keld.[2] It comprises a series of four steps, each its own small waterfall, and each with a very different character – the largest single drop being about 20 feet (6.1 m).[3]

Catrake Force
Catrake Force
Location	Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England
Coordinates	54°24′4″N 2°10′0″W
Type	Step
Total height	10 m / 30 ft
Number of drops	4

It lies just upstream of Keld, downstream from Wain Wath Force. The next waterfall downstream is Kisdon Force.[4] Waterfalls in the north of England are often termed Forces after the Norse word Foss which means waterfall,[5] whilst Catrake derives from the Latin cataracta (waterfall) via Middle English.

East Gill Force

East Gill Force, a nearby waterfall on the tributary of East Gill just above its confluence with the Swale, is more obvious and accessible (being on both the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast Walk) and is often mistaken for Catrake Force.[6]

References

1. "The Complete Guide to the Yorkshire Dales - Top 30 Waterfalls". Walking Englishman. 28 November 2005. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
2. Fellows, Griffith J. (2003). The waterfalls of England: a ... - Google Book Search. ISBN 9781850587675. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
3. "Handy Guide To Swaledale contents". www.gunnerside.info. pp. 57–64. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
4. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (17 February 2006). "Swaledale and Arkengarthdale". Yorkshire Dales National Park. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
5. Skeat, William W. (2005). A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Cosimo Classics. p. 194. ISBN 1-59605-092-6. OCLC 318273. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
6. "Catrake Force". My Yorkshire Dales. Retrieved 23 August 2020.