Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn

Self-Guided Walk
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn
Combine all the major geological attractions of Malham in this walk and hopefully leave enough
time to enjoy the cafes, pubs and shops of the village. Malham Tarn is a glacial lake formed
10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age and is the highest lake in England (1,237ft above
sea level)
David Butcher, route researcher
Key Information
Distance: 10.3 miles (6.5km)
Time: allow 5 hours plus stops
Route Grading:
Start & Finish: The public pay and display car park at the entrance to the village as you approach from Kirkby Malham. It is
next to toilets and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre.
Distance
Directions
Km
Miles
0.6
Leave the car park passing the entrance to the
National Park Centre on your left and walk beside the
road towards the village. After 100m turn right
immediately before the Smithy and cross the clapper
bridge (paved with flat stones) and then immediately
turn right again following the signpost Pennine Way
South away from the village. Go through 3 gates to
0.37 reach the path junction (A).
Photographs
The Smithy
Pennine Way South sign
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn – Page 2
Distance
Km
2.1
Miles
Directions
1.3
Turn left (signpost Janet’s Foss) and follow the clear
path. Reaching Gordale Beck keep it on the right
eventually entering wooded valley and then reaching a
pool and waterfall called Janet’s Foss (consisting of
tufa formed by the dissolved calcite particles in the
water reforming on the moss). Behind the waterfall is a
cave where reputedly lives the queen of the fairies.
Ascend the path to the left to join the road (B).
Photographs
Janet’s Foss sign
Janet’s Foss
2.7
1.7
At the road turn right and in 200 metres turn left
through a gate (signpost Gordale Scar). Follow the
track ahead across the field to reach the Scar (a
collapsed cave) and (if there has been rain) its waterfall
which others may be climbing but you do not (C).
Gordale Scar sign
The Scar
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn – Page 3
Distance
Km
5.1
Miles
3.2
Directions
Retrace your steps to the road turning right to the old
pack horse bridge. Turn through gate (signpost
Malham Cove) following the path ascending for
400metres to go through a gate at the top of steps.
Turn left & in 120m go through next gate & turn
immediately right and with wall on your right pick
your way up the steep and stony Grey Gill. Beware
slippery rocks if wet. Beyond top of gill, head for gate
in cross wall and before the gate turn left keeping the
wall on your right which joins the wall beside the road.
Turn left keeping the wall and road on your right until
reaching and crossing a concrete/stone stile in wall.
Going slightly to your left cross the ladder stile on the
opposite side of the road (D).
Photographs
Wall
Malham Cove sign
Stone stile
7.0
4.4
Bearing right follow path continuing straight ahead
across Malham Lings and bearing right at a fork of
paths to reach the cross wall at Abbot Hills. At the wall
turn right and with the wall now on your left reach a
muddy gateway next to sheep pens and cross an
indistinct stile beside the road. Turn left following the
road over the cattlegrid and then bear right along the
track which diverges from the road and follows the wall
to street gate (E).
Muddy gateway
Diverging track
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn – Page 4
Distance
Km
9.8
12.0
Miles
6.1
7.5
Directions
Do not go through Street Gate but continue straight
ahead on the farm track towards Middle House Farm
with a glimpse of the Tarn on your left. Immediately
after a cattle grid bear left on a green unsigned path
round the end of a wood (Great Close Plantation) and
head towards the Tarn keeping below and to the left of
Great Close Scar and join the track beside the Tarn at
(F).
As an option you may turn right and pass through a
gate into the wood surrounding Tarn House leased to
the Field Study Centre and view a small exhibition in
the orchid house behind the house. Then return to (F)
Now with the Tarn on your right follow the track
through a gate into open moorland. Bear right away
from the track and follow the path beside the wood to
the outflow from the Tarn and then to the car park.
Turn right on the road, cross cattle grid then go through
the gate on left (signpost Pennine Way) to go South to
Water Sinks (G). (where the outflow from Malham
Tarn vanishes underground)
Photographs
Cattle grid
Tarn House
Tarn
Water sinks
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn – Page 5
Distance
Km
13.9
15.9
Miles
8.7
9.9
Directions
Continuing to follow the Pennine Way initially with a
wall on your left and eventually bending round to the
right to meet a wall at a footpath junction. Turn left
crossing a stile and with the wall initially on your right
descend the rocky valley over slippery rocks and with
the ancient monastic boundary wall now on your left
reach easier walking in the Watlowes Valley and 2
stiles. At the end of the valley are the limestone
pavements above Malham Cove (H).
Beware the 360 ft drop and keep away from the
edge
Continue west over the limestone pavements on top of
Malham Cove. Take great care and keep to the grass
above and to the right of the pavements if it is wet. On
the far side of the cove you will reach a wall and path
descending to the left. At a gate go through and
descend the steep and long stepped path down to the
woodland below the Cove. If you wish, turn left to view
the pool and Malham Beck as it emerges from the base
of the Cove. There may also be climbers to watch and
Peregrine falcons nesting on the cliff face. Turn away
from the Cove first retracing your steps and continue
along the wide path towards the village until reaching
the road (J).
Photographs
Wooden stile
Malham Cove
Wall and path
Below the Cove
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn – Page 6
Distance
Directions
Km
Miles
6.5
Turn left and follow the road into the village. Just after
Beck Hall tea rooms turn left through the gate to follow
10.3 the woodland path beside the beck. Emerge on to the
road turning left and continue past the Buck Inn to the
National Park Centre and car park
Photographs
The gate
National Park Centre
Local Information
Refreshments: Pubs are the Lister Arms and the Buck Inn. There are tea shops at the Old Barn Café before you reach the
car park and Beck Hall in Cove Road.
Facilities: There are toilets near the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre.
Places of Interest:
 The National Park Information Centre is well worth a visit – check opening times as you set off on the walk but in
winter (from end Oct to end March) it is only open at weekends.
Please Note: All self-guided walks and cycle rides are undertaken entirely at guests’ own risk. Route directions are supplied in good faith;
however HF Holidays cannot be held responsible for any errors contained within.
Newfield Hall, Airton BD23 4AA. T: 01729 830235
© HF Holidays Ltd, January 2015
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