This walk (one of our favourites) starts and finishes in the stunning village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. It is about 5.5 miles, should take you a couple of hours and we would describe it as an easy to moderate walk. There is ample parking to the South of the village in a pay and display car park adjacent to the Information Centre and public toilets, but the early starter may well be able to secure some free parking on Chapel Gate, but when I say free you are expected to make a £2 donation in one of the honesty boxes (Milk Churns) at the side of the road, but please park sensibly.
From the centre of the village head North on Cove Road, just after the village hall there is a footpath in some woods to your right, this runs parallel with the road and is a short pleasant alternative to the road ahead. This short section of woodland has the sound of running water from Malham Beck and also has plenty of Yew Trees which attract Blackbird, Mistle Thrush and Fieldfares along with possible sightings of Goldcrest and Firecrest.
The footpath will bring you back out onto Cove Road, and a short distance later just as you exit the Malham village you will get your first proper view of Malham Cove. Take the obvious path on the right which takes you towards the Cove. Dogs should be kept on leads here as the fields are home to Swaledale Sheep which are the official symbol of the Yorkshire Dales, and there are also some Belted Galloways, also known as Belties or Oreo cows, due to their resemblance to the popular biscuit.
If you keep an eye to the beck you may well see Dipper, there are also Peregrine Falcons nesting on the cove and on my last visit here I spotted a Green Woodpecker in the trees to the side of the Cove.
Enjoy the views here, explore a bit then take the steep path up the left hand side of the cove but be mindful that the worn Limestone steps here can be very slippy when wet. At the top enjoy the views, explore the ‘Clints and Grikes’, then find the path that follows the top of the cove that heads South East.
The path here is well defined and you will drop in height slightly before you reach the road. The gate here is padlocked, so you will have to climb the stile or climb the steps in the wall, either way those with large dogs may struggle a bit to get their dogs over here. At the road take the footpath directly opposite and then follow this well defined path, which can be muddy in places, keeping the wall to your right you will pass some old buildings and eventually you will drop down to Gordale Bridge.
From Gordale Bridge you could turn right and follow the road towards Janet’s Foss waterfall, but you’re too close to Gordale Scar to ignore it, so turn left and take the first footpath on your left and follow the crystal clear waters up the valley. After a short walk you will round a corner into Gordale Scar which was caused by glacial melt waters creating an underground cavern which eventually collapsed and forms the gorge and waterfall that you see today. Here the climbers amongst you may notice the new bolts up the side walls and ponder the grades and moves required to reach the top.
After the obligatory photograph, and shout to see if there are any echoes, follow the beck back to Gordale Bridge, and continue on the road towards Malham for about 100 metres where you will find the footpath on the left which is signposted ‘Janet’s Foss’. A short and slippery walk down to the waterfall for another photo stop and an information board that tells you about the local wildlife and the fairy that lives behind the waterfall.
From Janet’s Foss follow the river downstream, through the lovely woods with new solitary bee hotels and bird boxes that have been put up on the lichen covered trees.
Continue on this footpath where eventually it flattens out and you will come to a T junction with the footpaths, simply take the path to the right which follows Malham Beck back to Malham village, over a small footbridge and back to where you started. The ‘Old Barn Cafe’ near to the car park do some delicious cakes and coffee with ‘The Buck Inn’ offering an alcoholic alternative.
