Turner Trails: Hardraw Force

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Hardraw Force

Turner visited Hardraw Force on 27 July, as part of his 1816 grand tour, and spent the night in the village at the Green Dragon Inn.

Hardraw Force is at the head of a short gorge behind the Green Dragon Inn and, at 100 feet, has the reputation of being one of the highest single-drop waterfalls in England.  It was already a well-known attraction in Turner’s time, with fellow contemporaries such as Wordsworth also visiting.

Turner’s Viewpoint

Turner made two large sketches of the falls and developed first a fine watercolour study (Colour Studies for Three Yorkshire Subjects, Tate Gallery, Finberg number: CCLXIII 369 – Hardraw Force is the bottom image), before making his final finished watercolour ‘Hardraw Fall’ (The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Wilton number: 574)

Turner’s watercolour shows that the site has changed quite markedly in character since 1816.  When Turner visited, the valley was entirely bare of trees. For more than 20 years before his visit, England had been at war with France and native timber had been in severe demand.  It is arguable that there was more open scenery at that time than any other period in England’s history. 

Discover The Landscape

The Turner Trails bench is located in the grounds of The Green Dragon Inn.

Download our themed leaflet and let the rivers and waterfalls guide you around Turner’s Yorkshire as water literally flows through many of his sketches and paintings.

Download our themed leaflet and see how the innkeepers and hoteliers played their part in ensuring Turner made the most of his Yorkshire sketching tours.

Download our walking trail and explore thia waterfalls on this 4 mile easy going trail.

The Venue

Address:

The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw, Hawes, DL8 3LZ

Map reference: SD867912 View on map

Directions to Hardraw Force:

Follow the A684 Hawes-Garsdale road. The minor road to Hardraw (signposted Hardraw and Askrigg) is about 1/3 mile N of Appersett. Follow for about 1/2 mile

Related Accommodation

The accommodation below is nearby - and has been updated recently.

The Homestead

The Homestead

The Homestead, Hardraw, Hawes, North Yorkshire, DL8 3LZ, United Kingdom

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