High Force Hotel is a small country hotel in Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham, located close to High Force Waterfall. It highlights the hotel’s 10 individually designed rooms, on-site dining, dog-friendly accommodation, and convenient location for exploring Upper Teesdale and the North Pennines.
High Force Hotel at a Glance
High Force Hotel combines the atmosphere of a traditional country inn with updated guest rooms and direct access to one of County Durham’s best-known natural attractions. It is located on Alston Road in Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 0XH.
| Feature | What to expect |
| Location | Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham |
| Accommodation | 10 individually designed en-suite rooms |
| Room choices | Deluxe, double, twin and single options, depending on room |
| Food | Breakfast, light bites, lunch and evening meals |
| Dogs | Dogs are welcome, with designated pet-friendly rooms |
| Parking | 24-hour car park outside the hotel; overnight hotel guests are exempt from the normal parking charge |
| Main attraction | High Force Waterfall |
| Best suited to | Couples, walkers, countryside breaks, dog owners and stargazing trips |
| Hotel opening | Daily |
| Restaurant | Open daily |
The hotel is part of the wider High Force Hotel & Waterfall destination operated by Raby Estates. Its relatively small number of rooms is worth considering when planning weekends, seasonal breaks or stays linked to special events, as availability can be more limited than at a large hotel.
Staying at High Force Hotel
The 10 bedrooms are individually decorated rather than following a uniform chain-hotel design. Traditional features such as antiques and paintings are combined with contemporary comforts including quality bedding, towels and en-suite bathrooms.
Room configurations vary. For example, the hotel’s current room information shows options that can include king or twin beds, en-suite showers and larger deluxe rooms with seating areas and both a bath and shower. Several rooms are designated as dog friendly.
That variation means it is worth looking beyond the headline room category when booking. A couple wanting extra space for a special weekend may prefer one of the larger rooms, while walkers who mainly need a comfortable overnight base may find a classic room sufficient. Guests travelling with a dog should make sure they choose or request one of the appropriate pet-friendly rooms.
Independent guest feedback also provides useful context. Tripadvisor currently lists High Force Hotel at 4.7 out of 5 from more than 650 reviews, with particularly strong ratings for location, cleanliness, service and rooms. Review scores can change, so they are better used as a broad indicator than as a guarantee of an individual stay.
High Force Waterfall Is the Main Reason to Choose the Location
The defining advantage of High Force Hotel is its relationship with High Force Waterfall. The waterfall is only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, making it possible to build a stay around the landscape rather than driving to the attraction for a short visit. Hotel guests can also benefit from out-of-hours waterfall access.
High Force drops approximately 21 metres as the River Tees passes over the area’s distinctive rock formations. The surrounding landscape forms part of the North Pennines, and the rocks exposed around the falls have origins extending back hundreds of millions of years.
Visitors reach the falls along a woodland route. The standard walk to the waterfall takes roughly 20 minutes, while a longer woodland route can take just under an hour depending on pace.
The setting therefore rewards more than a quick photograph. A practical stay could involve arriving in the afternoon, walking to the falls, returning to the hotel for dinner, then exploring another section of Upper Teesdale the following morning.
Visitors should still treat the waterfall as a powerful natural environment. Raby Estates warns that water levels and currents can change quickly and instructs visitors not to enter the water. Children and dogs should be closely supervised, particularly near the water’s edge.
Eating at High Force Hotel
The hotel’s restaurant serves food throughout the day, covering breakfast, lighter dishes, lunch and evening meals. Its menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients and produce sourced from the surrounding area, with British cooking complemented by some wider influences. Even the coffee is locally roasted.
The restaurant is useful even for people who are not staying overnight. Someone visiting High Force Waterfall, for example, can combine the woodland walk with lunch or a meal at the hotel rather than treating the two as separate destinations.
Pre-booking is sensible, particularly for dinner and busy periods. The hotel specifically recommends making a restaurant reservation to avoid disappointment.
For overnight guests, having dinner on site also solves a practical problem associated with remote countryside accommodation. You can finish a day’s walking, eat at the hotel and stay there rather than driving elsewhere in search of an evening meal.
Is High Force Hotel Dog Friendly?
High Force Hotel is a particularly practical option for travellers exploring County Durham with a dog. Dogs are welcome at both the hotel and High Force Waterfall, and the hotel has designated pet-friendly bedrooms.
The current room information states a £15 charge per dog per stay and says guests who notify the hotel when booking can have dog treats placed in their room. Because the hotel’s FAQ has previously displayed a different pet fee, confirm the current charge when reserving rather than relying on an older listing.
Dogs must be kept on leads around the waterfall to protect wildlife and sensitive vegetation. Extra care is also required around the car park and nearby livestock.
That combination of dog-friendly rooms, countryside walks and access to the waterfall makes the hotel more suitable for pet owners than accommodation where dogs are merely tolerated inside the bedroom.
Parking at High Force Hotel
A 24-hour car park is located outside High Force Hotel. Day visitors normally pay to park, but the official visitor information states that people staying at the hotel overnight are exempt from the parking charge.
Current published visitor parking rates are £4 for four hours, £6 for six hours and £12 for 24 hours. Parking arrangements and charges can change, so day visitors should check the official information before travelling.
A limited number of motorhome spaces are also available by advance reservation. These are separate from normal hotel-room accommodation.
Stargazing Can Turn an Overnight Stay Into a Different Experience
High Force is not only a daytime walking destination. The North Pennines’ dark skies make the area particularly attractive for stargazing, and the hotel hosts dedicated astronomy experiences during the darker months.
The 2026-27 programme includes stargazing suppers and family sessions. Some experiences combine a three-course meal, an astronomy presentation or guided session and a walk to the illuminated waterfall.
This creates a useful reason to stay outside the traditional summer tourism season. Autumn and winter visitors may trade longer daylight hours for darker skies, open fires and special evening events.
Weather remains an important limitation. Clear-sky observation can never be guaranteed, so travellers booking primarily for astronomy should check what the relevant event includes when cloud or poor weather prevents outdoor observation.
What Can You Do Near High Force Hotel?
The waterfall deserves priority, but it does not have to fill the entire trip. High Force Hotel also works as a base for exploring Upper Teesdale.
One particularly notable option is walking in the surrounding countryside. The hotel highlights the stretch of the Pennine Way between Low Force and High Force, a route that passes through characteristic Teesdale landscapes and wildflower-rich areas.
Other places that can be incorporated into a longer County Durham itinerary include Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, The Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle. The hotel describes these as accessible attractions for guests exploring the wider area.
A simple two-night itinerary could therefore look like this:
| Day | Suggested plan |
| Arrival | Check in, settle into the hotel and have dinner on site |
| Day 1 | Walk to High Force Waterfall and explore Upper Teesdale |
| Evening | Dinner, fireside drinks or a scheduled stargazing experience |
| Day 2 | Explore Low Force/Pennine Way or visit Barnard Castle, The Bowes Museum or Raby Castle |
| Departure | Breakfast followed by a final local walk |
The advantage of staying two or three nights is not simply seeing more attractions. It also reduces the pressure to fit the waterfall, countryside, meals and surrounding sights into a single rushed day.
When Is the Best Time to Stay?
There is no single best season because the experience changes considerably throughout the year.
Spring and summer provide longer daylight hours for walking and exploring Upper Teesdale. Autumn brings changing woodland colours and cooler walking conditions. Winter lends itself to open fires, shorter countryside walks and dark-sky experiences.
Autumn 2026 also provides a good example of why checking seasonal offers before booking can matter. Raby Estates is currently advertising three nights for the price of two on qualifying Dinner, Bed & Breakfast stays between 28 September and 17 December 2026, using promotional code AUT26D. Offers are time-limited and subject to availability, so future readers should check the live terms rather than assuming this promotion still applies.
The best approach is to choose the season around the activity you value most. Walkers may prioritize daylight and trail conditions, photographers may prefer seasonal colour, and astronomy enthusiasts will usually benefit from the darker months.
Accessibility Requires Some Advance Planning
Visitors with reduced mobility should distinguish between access to the hotel and conditions on the waterfall trail.
The main waterfall route follows a gravel path on a gradual slope. Visitors who cannot comfortably complete the full circular route can return along the original path because the longer circuit includes uneven terrain and a substantial flight of steps.
High Force is also part of the North Pennines Outdoor Mobility Tramper network. The Tramper route begins at the hotel and provides another option for people who require mobility assistance.
Anyone with specific mobility requirements should contact the hotel before booking. That allows staff to confirm the suitability of a particular bedroom as well as current trail and accessibility arrangements.
Is High Force Hotel Worth Staying At?
High Force Hotel makes the most sense for travellers who consider the location part of the accommodation experience. It is not simply somewhere to sleep near Barnard Castle. Its appeal comes from combining a small country hotel, restaurant, walking country, dark skies and immediate access to High Force Waterfall.
It is especially well suited to couples planning a countryside break, walkers exploring Upper Teesdale, dog owners, visitors attending a stargazing experience and travellers who want to spend more time around High Force rather than visiting the waterfall during a short stop.
Travellers who mainly want nightlife, extensive resort facilities or a large selection of restaurants within walking distance may prefer a more urban base. High Force is intentionally rural, and that relative seclusion is a major part of its character.
Before Booking High Force Hotel
Check live room availability and rates rather than relying on old prices from travel websites. With only 10 bedrooms, specific room types can naturally have limited availability.
Also check which benefits are included in the rate you select. Packages and seasonal promotions can differ, particularly when stays are combined with dinner, Raby Castle admission, waterfall access or special events. For example, a Christmas 2026 package currently includes an overnight stay, breakfast, three-course evening meal and complimentary access to both High Force Waterfall and Raby Castle, Park & Gardens.
For current accommodation, packages and booking information, use the official High Force Hotel website.
Conclusion
High Force Hotel stands out because the accommodation and destination are closely connected. Staying here puts High Force Waterfall within a short walk while giving you time to explore Upper Teesdale, eat on site, walk sections of the surrounding countryside and, during the right season, experience the area’s dark skies.
For most visitors, the decision comes down to what they want from the trip. If the goal is a quiet countryside stay built around walking, scenery, local food and High Force Waterfall, the hotel’s 10-room scale and remote setting are advantages rather than limitations. Check current room types, packages, pet arrangements and seasonal events before booking, particularly if your dates are fixed.
Read Also: Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa: Rooms, Spa Facilities, Dining and Booking Guide
FAQ’s
High Force Hotel is on Alston Road in Forest-in-Teesdale, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 0XH. It sits just moments from High Force Waterfall in Upper Teesdale.
The hotel currently has 10 individually designed en-suite bedrooms, with accommodation ranging from larger deluxe rooms to classic doubles and single options.
Yes. High Force Waterfall is only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. The woodland route to the base of the falls takes around 20 minutes, depending on walking pace.
Yes. High Force Hotel has dog-friendly rooms, and dogs are also welcome around High Force Waterfall when kept on a lead. The hotel currently publishes a pet charge for designated dog-friendly accommodation, so confirm the latest fee when booking.
Yes. The hotel has an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lighter food, lunch and evening meals, with an emphasis on seasonal and locally sourced produce. Restaurant reservations are recommended.
Its small number of individually decorated rooms, rural Upper Teesdale location, restaurant, waterfall walks and seasonal stargazing experiences make it particularly suitable for couples looking for a quiet countryside break. Larger deluxe rooms may be worth considering for special occasions.
