The unique natural limestone amphitheatre of Malham Cove has been attracting visitors to this corner of the Yorkshire Dales for hundreds of years.
Whether it’s geologists who have come to inspect the rock formations, sightseers who come for the sheer majesty of the landscape, or more recently Harry Potter fans coming to see the spot where Harry and his chums pitched a tent while on the run from the Death Eaters in the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Whatever their motivation, whether sandwich eater or Death Eater, whether it’s their first visit or their 50th, a trip here will never fail to astound. It truly is one of the UK’s finest natural wonders.
But Malham isn’t just Malham Cove; the wider Malhamdale area is filled with waterfalls, gorges, lakes, and moorland galore. In terms of hiking, the area around Malham has a lot to offer for all fitness levels and hiking abilities.
So, if you are a hiking fan and heading this way soon, here is a quick rundown of some of the walks available.
As recommended by Hiker Hero
Malham Cove
This is the most popular hike in the area for good reason. Starting at the Public Car Park in Malham the trail first takes hikers through the beguiling streets of the 17th Century village with its picturesque cottages, drystone walls, and a bucolic stream running through the length of the village.
It is then easy-going northward from Malham Village along a quiet lane and then pasture land to the foot of the Cove which towers 80 metres high above you. Up until this point, the trail is suitable for all fitness levels.
If you want to stand atop the world-famous limestone platform however you will need to take the 400 hundred steps to the left-hand side of the cliff face that will take you to the top. These require a little bit more puff.
It’s so worth it though. The views back across the Yorkshire Dales, Malham and Kirby Malham villages are stunning.
Gordale Scar
This hike doesn’t actually take walkers to Malham Cove but through another of Malhamdale’s geological wonders, Gordale Scar. A ravine formed by melting glacier water with towering cliffs, 100 metres high in places, located about 1 mile northeast of Malham Village.
The trail first winds through farmland following the river Gordale Beck, past Janet’s Foss, a small but wonderful waterfall which is an ideal spot for a wild swim should the weather be favourable.
Keep on walking before long the walls of the gorge start to engulf you. At the end of the ravine the walls narrow to a dramatic two-tiered waterfall. Enjoy your victory sandwich and then hike back out the way you came.
Malham Tarn Loop
Not only does Malhamdale boast Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, but it also has the highest natural lake in England at Malham Tarn, which sits at an elevation of about 377 meters above sea level.
If you are looking for a quieter walk than the two mentioned above, then Malham Tarn is a great option. It can be done as an extension of the Malham Cove hike. However, it’s also great to do as a standalone adventure.
Park up at the Watersinks Car Park. This is the spot at the south end of the lake where the waters drain from Malham Tarn and disappear into the limestone below.
This circular hike takes in the east side of the lake before leaving the water’s edge to trace a wide loop through the adjacent raised bog of Tarn Moss Nature Reserve and Dean Moor.
Keep your eyes peeled for diminutive water voles who were reintroduced here in 2016, fifty years after they were last seen on the tarn.
Malham Cove – Tarn Circular
Take all the hikes above and combine them into one roughly 7-mile mega loop and you have the Malham Cove-Tarn Circular. You can choose to start at the Watersinks Car Park (Grid ref: SD 8954 6585) up by Malham Tarn or the Pubic Car Park in Malham village, up to you.
Starting from the Watersinks the trail leads down through Comb Scar and Ing Scar before emerging onto the limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove, descending the steps and strolling through Malham Village before swinging eastward to follow Goredale Beck all the way up Gordale Scar.
At the end of the Scar, when you hit the final waterfall, instead of returning the way you came, keep on going, there is a scramble up and over the boulders around the waterfall.
Warning. This section route should only be attempted by experienced hikers and in dry conditions when the waterfall at Gordale Scar is not in full spate, which is waterfall lingo for when they are not gushing at their most gushy.
Once you’ve conquered the waterfall, you will come out onto the moorland above and continue northward until you hit the east shore of Malham Tarn. You can then take a short clockwise way back to your car at Watersinks, or do the full loop anticlockwise around the lake and Dean Moor.
The Pennine Way
Now, this isn’t technically a Malham Cove-specific hike. It’s actually a 268-mile-long multi-week hike that passes through Malham Cove on its way from Edale in Derbyshire, up through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland on its way to the Scottish Borders.
It’s one of the UK’s most enduringly popular multi-day hikes and the hike through Malham Cove is one of its most iconic features. Even if you are just doing the mile from Malham village to the Cove you count yourself as having completed 1/268th of the Pennine Way. Go you!
Final Thoughts: Malham Cove Rocks!
The list of hikes above is far from exhaustive, there are trails and routes crisscrossing Malhamdale in all directions and you can mix and match one route with another to create your own bespoke trail.
Go easy in the knowledge that whichever direction you go in you won’t be disappointed. Malhamdale is where the quaint meets the dramatic and it’s always rewarding. Plus, The Lister Arms will be waiting for you in the village for your post-hike pint and pie. Enjoy!