Malham Cove

Malham is the centre of England's impressive inland scenery.
A giant amphitheatre of sheer limestone, and a gorge with an  overhanging rock some 30 metres high.  Malham Cove is a huge natural limestone cliff which was once the scene of a spectacular prehistoric waterfall. The valley above the cove is now dry, with the river having found alternative routes through an undiscovered cave system deep underground.  However, at the foot of the cliff, a small stream called Malham Beck rises from a submerged cavern, which is still being explored by cave divers.

Malham is a small dales village north of Skipton and Gargrave in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. Besides being the inspiration for Charles Kingsley's classic children's novel, The Water Babies, the area around Malham is perhaps most famous for some of the finest (and most spectacular) limestone scenery in the country.

Malham village

Malham village itself lies in a broad valley called Malhamdale, which further downstream becomes known as Airedale. The huge precipice of Malham Cove dominates the scenery as seen to the north of the village, where the Craven fault marks a clear geological boundary between the gentle pastoral valley and the limestone uplands above. The Pennine Way also passes through Malham, and the village is a great destination for climbers, cavers, walkers and tourists alike, offering tea rooms, two pubs and cafes to visit after a day exploring the sights. There is also a car park and National Park Information Centre, with displays about the geology and natural history of the area

Janet's Foss, and Janet's Cave

A picturesque waterfall due south of Gordale Scar, Janet's Foss is where Gordale Beck cascades over a tufa (A porous deposit of calcium carbonate, laid down round mineral springs.) capped limestone outcrop into a deep pool in a wooded limestone gorge. On the far bank is Janet's Cave, a dark hole which actually leads nowhere.

From Janet's Foss, Gordale Beck flows through woods and then open fields before meeting up with Malham Beck, just south of the village. Further downstream, this tributary meets the stream issuing from Aire Head Springs (actually the infant River Aire) on its journey down towards Skipton.

Gordale Scar

This is an incredible sight. Go there.

Click on above thumbnails for a higher resolution.

More photos of Malham

Search the photo gallery

More background info on Malham, and getting there, is here.

1	Wherever you park, make your way towards the centre of Malham. Almost opposite the Buck Inn at Malham you will find the small local Blacksmith shop. Just to the right of the building, there's a Clapper Bridge.  Grid Ref: 900627.  Go over this and turn right.
2	Follow the sign to Janet's Foss (1¼ miles).
3	Go through two gates, keeping Gordale Beck on your right hand side At a kissing gate Grid Ref. 902624 turn left and follow the sign for Janet's Foss.
4	Go past a small barn on your right (Mires Barn) and through another kissing gate. You then encounter a Double then a Single kissing gate. Go past a rather interesting tree on your right, which appears to have its' roots on stilts.
5	Another small gate, with the stream still on your right, and pass through yet another gate. Look out for the National Trust sign for Janet's Foss Malham Tarn Estate.
6	Follow the path through the wood to the waterfall, and it's interesting History Board. Grid Ref: 912633
7	Taking the path that leads up and away to the left of the waterfall, in a north easterly direction, you soon pass by some decorative shepherds' crooks on your right  and onto the road.
8	Turning right; go down the road, and either choose to turn left at the FP for Malham Cove, on your left; or make your way towards Gordale Scar, via a waymarked gate on your left, Grid Ref: 913635 .  Those wishing refreshments, may find a snacks vendor close to this point.
9	The views towards Gordale Scar are always breathtaking.
10	Once you have seen Gordale Scar, make your way back to the road (see route map) and retrace your steps back to the FP now on your right, signposted Malham Cove. Grid Ref: 9125 6345.
11	Make your way up a steep bank and through a kissing gate and continue along the path and through another gate. Keeping the wall to your left, go through another gate veering slightly to the left and uphill, soon passing a barn on the left hand side. Make your way towards a gate, passing more shepherds crooks, (see picture right) and out onto the road.   Here you cross and walk the few yards uphill, to your right. Climb over the ladder stile which clearly states Malham Cove as being only half a mile distance. Make your way along an obvious path, on towards a signpost for Malham Cove, the path taking you slightly left. Now walk down the path and take either route through an open gateway, or over the laddered stile. (Pictured here from the other side.) I should point out that as a matter of safety, you should be very careful on two counts. First, don't stray too close to the edge, it's a long way down.  Second, be warned that the clints and grykes may be very picturesque, but the stone can be perilous during wet weather.
12	You can make your way over the rock, or for a more stable route, take to the higher grassy terrain, up and over to your right. (Click here, or on the picture (to the right) to give yourself a good wide angle photographic view of the exit.) The pathway down is very easy to miss, so once you have ventured far enough over towards a wall, start looking out for the exit at Grid Ref: 897642 ......     ......and the stairway down. This is another place to take your time and be sure footed!
13	Follow the steps all the way down, reaching another gate before the final few steps down to the bottom. Now you can either take the path left to the foot of the cove before returning, or right, following the stream on your left.
14	Go through the stile and turn left on the road heading back into Malham Village, taking advantage of the shops, two pubs, and cafes on the way     Public Toilets are on your right between the red telephone box, and the Buck Inn.

Walkabout Checklist : Print this out and take it with you...

This walk (and pictures) submitted by Crag Face. Good work, fella.

printer-friendly page

top^