Cotter Force
{{Short description|Waterfall in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Cotter Force
| photo = CotterForce.jpg
| photo_caption = Cotter Force
| location = Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England
| coords = {{coord|54|19|4|N|2|14|0|W||display=inline,title}}
| grid_ref_UK = SD848920
| type = Step
| height = {{convert|10|m|order=flip}}
| height_longest =
| number_drops = 6
| average_flow =
| world_rank =
}}
Cotter Force is a small waterfall on Cotterdale Beck, a minor tributary of the River Ure, near the mouth of Cotterdale, a side dale in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England.{{cite web | url=http://www.cyclethedales.org.uk/index/learning_about/nature_in_the_dales/best_places_to_see/cotter_force.htm | title=Yorkshire Dales National Park | work=Cotter Force | year=2006 | accessdate=2009-07-19 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223214211/http://www.cyclethedales.org.uk/index/learning_about/nature_in_the_dales/best_places_to_see/cotter_force.htm | archivedate=23 December 2012 | url-status=dead }}
The Falls and Cotterdale Beck
Cotterdale Beck has several other smaller falls in its course before joining the Ure, but Cotter Force is the largest.{{cite web | url=http://www.waterfallsoftheyorkshiredales.co.uk/info12547.html | title=Waterfalls of the Yorkshire Dales | work=Cotter Force | accessdate=2009-07-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207044730/http://www.waterfallsoftheyorkshiredales.co.uk/info12547.html | archivedate=7 February 2011 | url-status=dead }} The force is not visible from the road, but it takes only a short walk to reach it. It comprises a series of six steps each its own small waterfall with the largest single drop being about {{Convert|5|ft|m}}.{{cite book|last1=Chrystal|first1=Paul|title=The Place Names of Yorkshire; Cities, Towns, Villages, Rivers and Dales, some Pubs too, in Praise of Yorkshire Ales|date=2017|publisher=Stenlake|location=Catrine|isbn=9781840337532|page=106|edition=1}} The force is narrower at {{Convert|4|m|order=flip}} at the top widening to {{Convert|13|m|order=flip}} at the bottom.{{cite book |last1=Fellows |first1=Griff |title=The waterfalls of England : a practical guide for visitors and walkers |date=2003 |publisher=Sigma Leisure |location=Wilmslow |isbn=1-85058-767-1 |page=131}} A short path allows easy access from the A684 near Holme Heads Bridge approximately {{Convert|2|mi|km}} west of Hawes.
After the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust carried out an upgrade to its footpath, Cotter Force is now accessible to wheelchair users and less mobile visitors.{{cite book |last1=Bagshaw |first1=Mike |title=Yorkshire Dales : local, characterful guides to Britain's special places |date=2014 |publisher=Bradt |location=Chalfont St Peter |isbn=978-1-84162-549-2 |page=116 |edition=1}}
References to the Force
The artist J. M. W. Turner sketched here in July 1816 for his Yorkshire Sketchbook.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=David |title=Cotter Force, near Hawes, Wensleydale 1816 by Joseph Mallord William Turner |url=https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-cotter-force-near-hawes-wensleydale-r1143589 |website=tate.org.uk |accessdate=4 November 2018 |date=8 December 2013}} The noted 19th-century etching artist Richard Samuel Chattock is known to have created two works of Cotter Force in 1864. Both etchings now reside in The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.{{cite web | url=http://wwar.com/masters/c/chattock-richard_samuel.html | title=World Wide Arts Resources | work=Richard Samuel Chattock | date=12 December 2007 | accessdate=2009-07-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504181940/http://wwar.com/masters/c/chattock-richard_samuel.html | archivedate=4 May 2008 | url-status=dead }}
See also
References
External links
{{Commons category|Cotter Force}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130709070504/http://www.walkingenglishman.com/dalesguide/waterfalls/master.htm The Walking Englishman]
{{Waterfalls of Yorkshire}}