Located in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Biglees Waterfall is a breathtaking natural wonder in Derbyshire, England. The waterfall drops approximately 20 feet into a scenic gorge, surrounded by lush greenery and moss-covered rocks. The waterfall's source is a small stream that flows from the nearby moors, creating a picturesque and tranquil atmosphere. On a sunny day, the waterfall's mist creates a beautiful rainbow effect, adding to its natural beauty. The area around the waterfall is perfect for hiking, picnicking, and nature watching, making it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
Lovely once you find them however suspect the landscape has changed somewhat since some of the reviews so here's my directions for what it's worth ... Going through the gate over the cattle grid parking on the left. The field immediately in front of you accessed via a single track that runs alongside the gate you just came through, with the wall now on your left follow it down and to the left. This is a small waterfall with a cave and a lovely spot. Easily accessible. The second much larger and more impressive waterfall is hard to reach with a very steep and muddy final descent down to it. Using tree roots and branches to scramble down. To find it, walk further back down the ride passed the free dog walking field. Enter the farmers field by the double gate, crossing the field and going through the next farmers gate. The track that others have described is now mud tracks from vehicles due to the forestry work going on. Follow that down to the small bridge. DON'T cross the bridge, but locate the single track running alongside the river on your right. Initially hard to see with all the downed trees but it's there. Follow that a short way to the river where you'll come across two man made concrete marker stones. Cross the river, head up the small steep incline to the right, carrying on down to the right following the obvious trodden path. This is where it gets steep, slippery and difficult down to the waterfall. When you reach the bottom and are stood at the pool, you cross to clamber up the rock the other side to get to the larger waterfall and pool. Was it worth the effort? Just about. The kids enjoyed the search and satisfaction of finding it, although after all that they didn't fancy a dip.
Directions not clear in ANY review or guide. We found one waterfall (where the map point is, the one with the split falls with two levels, which I'm assuming is Biglee) but the path to the big one disappears with foliage. I've documented the safest and quickest path to the waterfall (with photos). Not recommended when wet. It was a lot of hassle to only find the less exciting waterfall so I'm giving it three stars. There's better and easier waterfalls about. You'll need: walking boots, walking pole(s), and potentially rope. Not recommended for children or people with physical issues. Directions to Biglee: 1. Go through the large fence after parking in layby, you can unclip the carabiner and reclip it behind you. Potentially cows roaming, be careful. 2. Walk straight through the field with the wall on the right side. Muddy in the rain. 3. Go through another fence on to a forest track and close it behind you. 4. Follow the forest track until you get to the small river with a bridge. 5. Before the bridge, take a right off the main path and follow the river until you get to some trees where you'll be at the top of the waterfall. 6. Cross the river on the left onto a path and then take a right on to another path that goes over a small incline. 7. Follow this path, under some fallen branches until you get to a steep decline. 8. Carefully make your way down the steep path and you'll meet a small furrow where water goes down to the river that becomes very muddy. Follow the water down, using equipment and tree handholds may be necessary, and you'll come to a large fallen tree trunk that you will duck under and the waterfall will be on your right. 9. Follow the path back the way you came to leave.
This is an absolutely stunning waterfall and a must see! We came across this place on our holiday with our children and they absolutely loved it, there is parking at the side of the road (follow the road all the way up and over the cattle grid and parking is to the left) there is a lovely little river for the kids to play in and you can get right under the waterfall, the water wasn't to deep so you can splash about in it
Amazing waterfall. Larger and more difficult to access than its smaller neighbour Glenburn but well worth it if you are happy to take the challenge and respect the terrain. You can do both from the same location. If driving take the Fairlie Moor road at Fencebay Seafood & Crafts, continue up the road until you cross a cattle grid and you will see parking space at the side of the road on the left. Take care to park appropriately for farm access an other visitors. Walk back down the road a little and enter the field on the left taking care to close the gate and respect any livestock following the country walking code. You will see a faint track in the grass and follow it down till you come to a muddy area through open fence posts and you will see a rocky track ahead going downhill. Follow this down till you see a small bridge. Over this bridge leads you on to the quarry which is another walk you can do if you wish. So don't go over the bridge just follow the burn and you will come to the top of Biglees. Be careful as it is super steep here and to go down to the waterfall you must respect the terrain as it's not for the faint of heart and some may decide it's too dangerous to attempt.
We found two waterfalls here, although not quite where Google says, slightly more east along the river. See street view images for a guide of where they both are. First Waterfall: 5 out 5. Absolutely beautiful and well worth the climb down to it. A must see, plunge waterfall with a cave so you can get behind the water. Basically a bigger version of the Glenburn Waterfall slightly higher up the river but not as accessible. You can also look down the second waterfall from here. Second Waterfall: 3 out 5. A double horsetail waterfall. Nowhere near as impressive as the other waterfall. There are also a couple of pools below the waterfall. Really steep climb down, that was muddy and slippery. Probably not really worth it. Also saw a couple who accessed it from other side of the river. Access: Turned up Fairlie Moor Road from Irvine Road. Not much parking space. We parked in the passing place right by the farmers gate on the right. There is also a space opposite that looks like a drive others parked in. You could also park slightly further up the road just after the cattle grid on the left where you would for Glenburn waterfall and walk down. Climb over the farmers gate or the fence and access the field. Walk directly across the field, keeping the wall on your right, until you reach another gate. Go through the gate to access the forest track. Walk down the track until you reach the river bridge. Access for first waterfall - take the path on the right just before the bridge and follow it towards the top of the waterfall. Then head up until you get to a fence corner. Follow the fence along a narrow path, keeping the fence on your right. Then you'll need to take a left down towards the waterfall. It is steep and muddy and can be slippery in places, but manageable. We managed it with a 2 and 3 year old in carriers on our backs. Certainly worth the effort when you see it. The paths are overgrown and not well trotten when heading off the forest track. Access for second waterfall - go across the river bridge and head up the forest track. You'll see a metal fence on the right and just before that on the right is the path heading down to the waterfall. It is very steep and slippery. I have added pictures to try and aid people to find both waterfalls. Took us several attempts to find the first waterfall, but so glad we persevered. A review on TripAdvisor helped us eventually find the right path.
Tricky to find although Google maps and following my nose helped. You can park at the metal gate on Fairlie Moor Road (off the main Irvine Road) and clamber through the field (it would be very muddy if not during a dry period). You then go through a gap at the end of the wall and onto a forest path which leads to the Waterfall. It's a lovely spot, I looked down from above but didn't want to follow the narrow path down when by myself in case I slipped. I'd advise wear boots with a good grip and go with someone else.
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Good for kids
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Lovely once you find them however suspect the landscape has changed somewhat since some of the reviews so here's my directions for what it's worth ... Going through the gate over the cattle grid parking on the left. The field immediately in front of you accessed via a single track that runs alongside the gate you just came through, with the wall now on your left follow it down and to the left. This is a small waterfall with a cave and a lovely spot. Easily accessible. The second much larger and more impressive waterfall is hard to reach with a very steep and muddy final descent down to it. Using tree roots and branches to scramble down. To find it, walk further back down the ride passed the free dog walking field. Enter the farmers field by the double gate, crossing the field and going through the next farmers gate. The track that others have described is now mud tracks from vehicles due to the forestry work going on. Follow that down to the small bridge. DON'T cross the bridge, but locate the single track running alongside the river on your right. Initially hard to see with all the downed trees but it's there. Follow that a short way to the river where you'll come across two man made concrete marker stones. Cross the river, head up the small steep incline to the right, carrying on down to the right following the obvious trodden path. This is where it gets steep, slippery and difficult down to the waterfall. When you reach the bottom and are stood at the pool, you cross to clamber up the rock the other side to get to the larger waterfall and pool. Was it worth the effort? Just about. The kids enjoyed the search and satisfaction of finding it, although after all that they didn't fancy a dip.
Directions not clear in ANY review or guide. We found one waterfall (where the map point is, the one with the split falls with two levels, which I'm assuming is Biglee) but the path to the big one disappears with foliage. I've documented the safest and quickest path to the waterfall (with photos). Not recommended when wet. It was a lot of hassle to only find the less exciting waterfall so I'm giving it three stars. There's better and easier waterfalls about. You'll need: walking boots, walking pole(s), and potentially rope. Not recommended for children or people with physical issues. Directions to Biglee: 1. Go through the large fence after parking in layby, you can unclip the carabiner and reclip it behind you. Potentially cows roaming, be careful. 2. Walk straight through the field with the wall on the right side. Muddy in the rain. 3. Go through another fence on to a forest track and close it behind you. 4. Follow the forest track until you get to the small river with a bridge. 5. Before the bridge, take a right off the main path and follow the river until you get to some trees where you'll be at the top of the waterfall. 6. Cross the river on the left onto a path and then take a right on to another path that goes over a small incline. 7. Follow this path, under some fallen branches until you get to a steep decline. 8. Carefully make your way down the steep path and you'll meet a small furrow where water goes down to the river that becomes very muddy. Follow the water down, using equipment and tree handholds may be necessary, and you'll come to a large fallen tree trunk that you will duck under and the waterfall will be on your right. 9. Follow the path back the way you came to leave.
This is an absolutely stunning waterfall and a must see! We came across this place on our holiday with our children and they absolutely loved it, there is parking at the side of the road (follow the road all the way up and over the cattle grid and parking is to the left) there is a lovely little river for the kids to play in and you can get right under the waterfall, the water wasn't to deep so you can splash about in it
Amazing waterfall. Larger and more difficult to access than its smaller neighbour Glenburn but well worth it if you are happy to take the challenge and respect the terrain. You can do both from the same location. If driving take the Fairlie Moor road at Fencebay Seafood & Crafts, continue up the road until you cross a cattle grid and you will see parking space at the side of the road on the left. Take care to park appropriately for farm access an other visitors. Walk back down the road a little and enter the field on the left taking care to close the gate and respect any livestock following the country walking code. You will see a faint track in the grass and follow it down till you come to a muddy area through open fence posts and you will see a rocky track ahead going downhill. Follow this down till you see a small bridge. Over this bridge leads you on to the quarry which is another walk you can do if you wish. So don't go over the bridge just follow the burn and you will come to the top of Biglees. Be careful as it is super steep here and to go down to the waterfall you must respect the terrain as it's not for the faint of heart and some may decide it's too dangerous to attempt.
We found two waterfalls here, although not quite where Google says, slightly more east along the river. See street view images for a guide of where they both are. First Waterfall: 5 out 5. Absolutely beautiful and well worth the climb down to it. A must see, plunge waterfall with a cave so you can get behind the water. Basically a bigger version of the Glenburn Waterfall slightly higher up the river but not as accessible. You can also look down the second waterfall from here. Second Waterfall: 3 out 5. A double horsetail waterfall. Nowhere near as impressive as the other waterfall. There are also a couple of pools below the waterfall. Really steep climb down, that was muddy and slippery. Probably not really worth it. Also saw a couple who accessed it from other side of the river. Access: Turned up Fairlie Moor Road from Irvine Road. Not much parking space. We parked in the passing place right by the farmers gate on the right. There is also a space opposite that looks like a drive others parked in. You could also park slightly further up the road just after the cattle grid on the left where you would for Glenburn waterfall and walk down. Climb over the farmers gate or the fence and access the field. Walk directly across the field, keeping the wall on your right, until you reach another gate. Go through the gate to access the forest track. Walk down the track until you reach the river bridge. Access for first waterfall - take the path on the right just before the bridge and follow it towards the top of the waterfall. Then head up until you get to a fence corner. Follow the fence along a narrow path, keeping the fence on your right. Then you'll need to take a left down towards the waterfall. It is steep and muddy and can be slippery in places, but manageable. We managed it with a 2 and 3 year old in carriers on our backs. Certainly worth the effort when you see it. The paths are overgrown and not well trotten when heading off the forest track. Access for second waterfall - go across the river bridge and head up the forest track. You'll see a metal fence on the right and just before that on the right is the path heading down to the waterfall. It is very steep and slippery. I have added pictures to try and aid people to find both waterfalls. Took us several attempts to find the first waterfall, but so glad we persevered. A review on TripAdvisor helped us eventually find the right path.
Tricky to find although Google maps and following my nose helped. You can park at the metal gate on Fairlie Moor Road (off the main Irvine Road) and clamber through the field (it would be very muddy if not during a dry period). You then go through a gap at the end of the wall and onto a forest path which leads to the Waterfall. It's a lovely spot, I looked down from above but didn't want to follow the narrow path down when by myself in case I slipped. I'd advise wear boots with a good grip and go with someone else.