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) Key Information David Butcher, route researcher : 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. 0.6 0.37 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 reach the path junction (A). The Smithy Pennine Way South sign
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn Page 2 2.1 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). 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 5.1 3.2 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). Malham Cove sign Wall 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 Stone stile Diverging track
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn Page 4 9.8 6.1 12.0 7.5 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) Cattle grid Tarn House 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) Tarn Water sinks
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn Page 5 13.9 8.7 15.9 9.9 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). Wooden stile Wall and path Malham Cove Below the Cove
Malham, Gordale and Malham Tarn Page 6 6.5 10.3 Turn left and follow the road into the village. Just after Beck Hall tea rooms turn left through the gate to follow 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 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. HF Holidays Ltd, January 2015 Newfield Hall, Airton BD23 4AA. T: 01729 830235
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