A DALES waterfall that is said to have inspired the music of one of Britain’s greatest composers is up for sale.

Catrigg Force and its lush, wooded valley was one of Edward Elgar’s favourite places during his regular visits to the area.

It has now attracted a cascade of bids after being put on the market for £25,000.

Elgar, who penned the patriotic anthem Land of Hope and Glory and the Enigma Variations, would tramp to the fall above Stainforth while staying with Dr Charles Buck in Settle.

The 2.5 acres of secluded landscape has no comercial value and could not be built on. Neither is it suitable for growing crops or grazing livestock.

The new owner would have to be fit enough to reach the out-of-the-way spot, which is three-quarters of a mile from Stainforth and best reached on foot, horseback or mountain bike.

Chris Carlisle, of J R Hopper and Co estate agents, which is selling the plot, said: “To access the land by vehicle is tricky. Only the most sturdy 4x4s would dare venture up the steep bridleway to the east of the village. The vast majority of villagers choose to walk, cycle or ride there.

“However, this is a superb place and a one-in-a-million chance for someone to own their own little piece of rural England in the gorgeous Yorkshire Dales.

“While there is little comercial value to owning this majestic piece of natural beauty, comercial value isn’t everything.

“There are very few places in the world that have such magnificence to them.

“To be able to say that this ancient and unique piece of nature is your very own is a magical prospect.”

The fall is owned by John Hunter and his sister Elaine Dugdale and has been in their family for more than 100 years.

In a statement, they said: “There’s a farmhouse at the bottom of the hill that the family used to own and that, and the land, was sold a long time ago when we moved out of farming.

“But for sentimental reasons the family retained this plot and we’ve always used it for amenity purposes. Now that our children are older we’ve decided to sell.”