The 70m high, dramatic limestone cliff of Malham Cove is one of the Yorkshire Dales’ top natural wonders and a gentle walk around here is the perfect showcase of the beauty of Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Dales is also home to some of the darkest skies in the country and with an unpolluted night sky, Malham Cove is the perfect place for some stargazing. On a clear night, you can see planets, the Milky Way and if you’re really lucky, the Northern Lights.
The walk starts from the lovely village of Malham where there is plenty of parking as well as the option of public transport from both Skipton and Gargrave. There are also some great places to grab dinner after your walk while you’re waiting for the night to settle in to head out on a stargazing adventure.
This walk is a great beginner friendly one with the option to extend your walk to see everything this area has to offer. The path to the bottom of Malham Cove is easy to follow and signposted well. From the base of Malham Cove, the path winds up a set of steep steps to the limestone pavement at the top, overlooking the valley below. The steps are well maintained and even though it’s a steep section, it’s over quickly.
The limestone pavement at the top was the one that appeared in the Harry Potter film The Deathly Hallows and the views here are spectacular. The limestone can get incredibly slippy in wet weather so stay away from the edge and be careful with your footing.
The route then heads across the top of Malham Cove and back down through fields towards Gordale Scar. If you want to add on a couple of kilometres to your route, it’s worth heading into the hidden gorge to see the waterfall at the end. The path here is accessible and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
For a shorter walk, follow the river downstream through the woods, past Janet’s Foss, a waterfall said to be haunted by Janet, Queen of the Fairies. This is a popular wild swimming spot or a great place to have a rest and enjoy the beauty surrounding you. The path will eventually bring you back to the starting point in Malham.
The best place to view the dark skies at night is from the top of Malham Cove but if you’d rather join a guided stargazing tour then take a look at the ones on offer on the Yorkshire Dales National Park website.
This route guide is part of the Taylor’s of Harrogate Coffee Bag Adventures Collection and was created by OS Champion Izzy Taylor
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