# Catrake Force

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Waterfall in North Yorkshire, England

Catrake Force Interactive map of Catrake Force Location Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England Type Step Total height 10 m / 30 ft Number of drops 4

**Catrake Force** is a [waterfall](/source/Waterfall) on the [River Swale](/source/River_Swale) in [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), England.[1] It is not visible from the road but is accessible via a campsite in [Keld](/source/Keld%2C_North_Yorkshire).[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]

It lies just upstream of Keld, downstream from [Wain Wath Force](/source/Wain_Wath_Force). The next waterfall downstream is [Kisdon Force](/source/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.[6]

## East Gill Force

[East Gill Force](/source/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](/source/Pennine_Way) and [Coast to Coast Walk](/source/Coast_to_Coast_Walk)) and is often mistaken for Catrake Force.[7]

## See also

- [List of waterfalls](/source/List_of_waterfalls)

- [List of waterfalls in England](/source/List_of_waterfalls_in_England)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-walkingenglishman_1-0)** ["The Complete Guide to the Yorkshire Dales - Top 30 Waterfalls"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130709070504/http://www.walkingenglishman.com/dalesguide/waterfalls/master.htm). *Walking Englishman*. 28 November 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.walkingenglishman.com/dalesguide/waterfalls/master.htm) on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-google_2-0)** Fellows, Griffith J. (2003). [*The waterfalls of England: a ... - Google Book Search*](https://books.google.com/books?id=9aXViqDsmOUC&q=Catrake+Force&pg=PA126). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781850587675](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781850587675). Retrieved 8 May 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-gunnerside_3-0)** ["Handy Guide To Swaledale contents"](http://www.gunnerside.info/Archives/HGTS_Content_p57-64.html). www.gunnerside.info. pp. 57–64. Retrieved 8 May 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-yorkshiredales_4-0)** Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (17 February 2006). ["Swaledale and Arkengarthdale"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071028013759/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/index/learning_about/landscape_character/dales_character_areas/swaledale_and_arkengarthdale_character_areas.htm). *Yorkshire Dales National Park*. Archived from [the original](http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/index/learning_about/landscape_character/dales_character_areas/swaledale_and_arkengarthdale_character_areas.htm) on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cosimo_5-0)** Skeat, William W. (2005). *A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language*. New York: Cosimo Classics. p. 194. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-59605-092-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-59605-092-6). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [318273](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/318273).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Smith, A. H. (1969). *The place-names of the North Riding of Yorkshire*. Nottingham: English Press Name Society. pp. 242–243. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-07502-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-07502-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-eastgill_7-0)** ["Catrake Force"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210421141026/http://myyorkshiredales.co.uk/water/waterfalls/catrake-force/). My Yorkshire Dales. Archived from [the original](http://myyorkshiredales.co.uk/water/waterfalls/catrake-force/) on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2020.

v t e Waterfalls of Yorkshire North Yorkshire Aysgarth Beezeley Falls Catrake Cauldron Falls Cotter East Gill Falling Foss Gordale Scar Hardraw Janet's Foss Kisdon Mallyan Spout Richmond Scaleber Force Stainforth Thornton Wain Wath West Yorkshire Brontë Goit Stock

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