As the weather starts to warm slightly and the skies stay blue, many people may choose to head out on a crisp, wintery walk.
And it's a good time to visit the County Durham waterfall just named the country's most beautiful, which is said to be at its "most powerful" in the winter. High Force attracts huge crowds to marvel at the 21 metre (70 feet) drop in Forest-in-Teesdale in the heart of the Durham Dales and North Pennines AONB.
Though not the tallest waterfall in England, it has the highest volume of water falling over an unbroken drop. But it's not just about the waterfall, countryside trails along the Pennine Way cut through the area's wide open moors, meadows and woodlands, making a perfect day-out for those looking to escape into nature.
Read more: Dramatic scenes at High Force as heavy rain sees waterfall become 'extremely powerful'
Also listed as one of the UK's most beautiful waterfalls is a spectacular hidden cascade in Northumberland National Park that once drew Victorian tourists from all over the country. Hareshaw Linn was listed in 12th place, has a nine-metre drop and can be walked to from Bellingham Village, through a woodland and across at least six bridges.
The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the rare ferns and lichen, with more than 300 different types of mosses, liverworts and lichen found there. Wildlife such as red squirrels, woodpeckers, redstarts, dippers, badgers and bats can also be spotted at the site if you know where to look.
To read the full list of the most beautiful waterfalls in the UK, visit Go Outdoors.
Do you have a favourite waterfall in the North East? Let us know!
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