The list below captures some of the most beautiful waterfalls captured in various trips and hikes across Europe; it is by no means exhaustive and no doubt many more cascades and waterfalls will be added to this list. For the most spectacular waterfalls, it’s hard to go past Iceland, which generally dominates the list of Most Spectacular European Waterfalls. But the European alps also serve as a dramatic backdrop (or the source of considerable water) for many waterfalls across a number of countries including France, Italy Germany and Switzerland.
Three Shires Head is a popular swimming spot at the meeting point of Derbyshire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. A picturesque waterfall is situated below a historical packhorse bridge.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Segmented
- Total drop: 4
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Parking along Dovehead and Three Shires Road / Clough House, Buxton
Padley Gorge in the Peak District combines a charming wooded gorge with a series of picturesque swimming holes and cascades. It accessed by both formal and informal trails from Grindleford Station.
- Peak District National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 1
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Gindleford Station carpark, Upper Padley
Kinder Downfall is the Peak District's tallest waterfall at 30 metres, and is most impressive after heavy rain.
- Peak District National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 32
- Rating: 2
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Bowden Bridge Car Park, Kinder Road
As well as being a picturesque series of cascades. Lumsdale Waterfall is one of the best examples of a water-powered industrial archaeological site in Britain.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Chute, Plunge
- Total drop: 30
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Bottom carpark / Upper carpark (Lumsdale Road)
The picturesque Middle Black Clough Waterfall in the Peak District is accessible via a short and interesting hike, with a few scrambles, and river crossings.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 10
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Trail from Layby on A628
Torc Waterfall, a major attraction in Killarney National Park, can be reached by a very short trail and three longer loop trails. It's formed by the Owengarriff River dropping down Mangerton Mountain.
- Killarney National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cascade, Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 20
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Torc Waterfall carpark / alternate carpark / upper carpark
Sneem Falls, a popular but modest waterfall in Ireland, derives its name from “An tSnaidhm” meaning “the knot.”
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 3
- Rating: 2
- Ease of access: Easy
- Sneem village, Kerry
Derrycunnihy Falls in the Killarney National Park is a picturesque cascade reached via a short hike from the N71 (Ring of Kerry) road.
- Killarney National Park
- Type of waterfall: Block or Ledge
- Total drop: 2
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- N71 (Ring of Kerry) - layby / Derrycunihy Church
Located right next R560 Conor Pass Road, the Conor Pass Waterfall is a small but picturesque cascade; a short hike up to Lough Doon provides more panoramic views on a clear day.
- Type of waterfall: Chute
- Total drop: 5
- Rating: 3.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Parking area along R560 Conors Pass
Aasleagh Falls, near Killary Harbour along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, is best seen from a viewing platform accessible via a walking trail.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 3.5
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Walk across bridge from parking area along R335
Saut du Day (or Cascade du Day) is a waterfall on the River L'Orbe near Vallorbe, which is accessed by a short hiking trail.
Rheinfall is the most powerful waterfall in Europe and one of the world famous natural features in Switzerland. The 23m falls can be viewed from both sides of the Rhine river.
- Type of waterfall: Block or Ledge, Segmented
- Total drop: 23
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Multiple viewpoints accessed from Neuhausen am Rheinfall (3km walk or bus)
A series of almost subterranean cascades along Les Gorges Mystérieuses in the Trient Valley.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 20
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Trail from carpark and bus stop along Le Plan, Trient
A small cascade along the Allt Daraich on the Isle of Skye; this small stream flows into the River Sligachan.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 15
- Rating: 1.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Walk from Sligachan Old Bridge Car Park to trail along river
Mealt Falls is a spectacular waterfall on the Isle of Skye, where the water plunges off steep sea cliffs into the ocean. Behind the waterfall is Kilt Rock.
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 55
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Carpark and viewing area just off A855
The Salanfe River cascades down the narrow Gorges du Dailley (Dailley Gorge), beside a hiking trail with timber steps.
- Type of waterfall: Cascade
- Total drop: 150
- Rating: 3
- Ease of access: Easy
- Trail from Salvan, in the district of Saint-Maurice (Valais)
Goðafoss or "waterfall of the goð (pagan idols)" is a spectacular waterfall in Iceland's north. The river Skjálfandafljót falls in a wide arc into a foaming pool.
- Type of waterfall: Plunge, Segmented
- Total drop: 12
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Short trails from east carpark or west carpark, just off Ring Road 1
Dettifoss is one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe and the largest in terms of volume discharge It's fed by meltwater from the massive Vatnajökull glacier.
- Vatnajökull National Park
- Type of waterfall: Cataract
- Total drop: 44
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Trail from Detrifoss carpark off Route 862 eastern side.
A long and thin waterfall, Foss a Sidu (or Foss á Siðu) drops 30m down a sheer basalt cliff. It's located along the Ring Road in southern Iceland.
- Type of waterfall: Horsetail
- Total drop: 30
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Parking alongside Ring Road, between Vík í Mýrdal and Glacial Lagoon
Rjúkandifoss is a large spring-fed waterfall with a 135m total drop. It can be seen from the Ring Road in the northern part of of Iceland.
- Type of waterfall: Segmented, Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 135
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Trail from parking area next to Ring Road 1
Created by the Berufjarðará (river) being squeezed through a narrow gap in a cliff, Folaldafoss is a picturesque that can be seen from Route 939
- Type of waterfall: Punchbowl
- Total drop: 18
- Rating: 4
- Ease of access: Easy
- Trail from Folaldafoss Parking and Rest area along Route 939
Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of 25m and a drop of 60m. A walking path takes you to the base and the top of this picturesque waterfall.
- Type of waterfall: Block or Ledge
- Total drop: 60
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Carpark just off Ring Road 1 (150km from Reykjavík)
One of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss plunges 60m into a shallow pool. A path takes you behind the waterfall.
- Type of waterfall: Plunge
- Total drop: 60
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Carpark is on Route 249 (1.3km from Ring Road)
Gluggafoss (also called Merkjárfoss) is an interesting waterfall, where the Merkjá River has carved a channel and three natural arches through a hill.
- Type of waterfall: Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 53
- Rating: 4.5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Parking area just off Route 261
Gullfoss is a spectacular waterfall, which is regarded as one of the top ten in the world. A huge volume of water cascades over a wide "staircase" before plunging into a 32-metre deep crevice.
- Type of waterfall: Tiered or multi-step
- Total drop: 32
- Rating: 5
- Ease of access: Easy
- Walking trail from Gullfoss Lower Carpark off Route 334.
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