A Circuit of Malham Tarn.

Start. Malham.

Route. Malham - Cove Road - Malham Cove - Waterlows - Comb Hill - Water Sinks - Malham Tarn - Ha Mire Plantation - Tarn House - High Trenhouse - Streets - Smelt Mill Chimney - New Laithe - Deen Moor - Langscar Gate - Waterlows - Malham Cove - Sheriff Hill - Cawden Flats Barn - Gordale Bridge - Gordale Lane - Janet's Foss - Foss Wood - New Laithe - Mires Barn - Malham.

Notes. The Malham Tarn Estate comprises some of the most dramatic upland limestone landscape in the country, with Malham Tarn forming a natural focal point. Tarn House, which was gifted to the National Trust in 1947, was built around 1780. Many influential Victorian figures of the day visited the house including Charles Darwin, John Ruskin and Charles Kingsley who made Malham the scene of The Water Babies published in 1863.

The National Trust have been kind enough to devise a way-marked trail around Malham Tarn starting at Water Sinks car park, but my version is far better taking in some of the wonderful scenery on offer. Come along you know you want to, grab your boots and bag, the hardest part is at the beginning, all those bloody steps up Malham Cove.

I left Malham via Cove Road, a short stroll deposited me at the footpath that guides the many visitors to the impressive limestone cliff of Malham Cove, once at the cove many steps ascended to the dramatic limestone pavements that adorn the top. Once at the top Waterlows Valley came next, this imposing trench that once carried glacial meltwater to the lip of the cove guided me through magnificent limestone scenery, up a dry waterfall depositing me at Water Sinks, here the stream that flows from Malham Tarn goes to ground, re-appearing two miles away at Aire Head.

I wandered across the lane to Water Sinks car park to join the National Trust Trail, well marked and easy to follow, small arrows nailed to posts kept me on track. With a green trod under foot I wandered on, the path soon joined the drive leading to Tarn House, once passed the impressive pile a narrow tarmac lane guided me. This was soon replaced by a stoney track cutting between dry stone walls, obviously once an important route to the house, some fine trees lined the lane, all the while tiny arrows kept guiding me.

The lane ejected me onto a narrow tarmac road, with tarmac under foot I strolled to the next junction, turned left, wandered passed High Trenhouse, the next arrow pointed through high limestone pastures. An old chimney rises in the middle of the field, all that remains of a smelt mill, the field is also home to bovine lawnmowers. With beady eyes watching me I wandered through, passed the chimney then into the next field, and more beady eyes. To be honest the cows couldn’t have give a toss, nor could the bloody great bull that greeted me at the other side of the field, wary of it I briskly walked to the next path junction, turned right and wandered to Langscar Gate. Here I stepped onto a path that ushered me downhill and back into Waterlows Valley, I continued over ground walked earlier until reaching Malham Cove. The cove was busy and noisy, this didn’t sit well, I’d been alone all morning, that had abruptly ended as I knew it would.

After a brew stop I followed the path all the tourists take, over Sheriff Hill the Dales High Way under foot, along graded paths and through limestone pastures I walked eventually emerging into Gordale Lane. A choice to make, visit Gordale Scar, it’s a must if you’ve never been before, I have many times, one look at the crowd on the path made my mind up, back to Malham via Janet’s Foss then.

This path was as busy, the plunge pool at Janet’s Foss was full of wild swimmers, a noisy crowd ring the pool I presume waiting for somebody to drown or more than likely freeze to death. Sod this I followed the many pilgrims through Foss Wood, along the banks of Gordale Beck, through stunning wild flower meadows back to Malham.

view route map.

home.

Approaching the stunning limestone cliffs of Malham Cove.

Early morning views over Malhamdale, lets say from around half way up this stone staircase.

Dappled light on Kirkby Fell.

Stunning views from the top of Malham Cove.

Adventures through an extraordinary landscape, Waterlows Valley.

The mist's rolling in taking the edge of the landscape, as seen in the shot down Waterlows Valley.

Nearing Water Sinks looking to mist sweeping across the face of Great Close Hill.

In the shadow of Highfolds Scar Tarn House.

Looking over Tarn Foot to Low Tranhouse with cloud sweeping across the high wide moors above Malhamdale and Ribblesdale.

Cloud shadows dance across the landscape.

Overlooking Malham Tarn the limestone cliffs of Highfolds Scar.

Malham Tarn at 1,237ft above sea level, the highest lime rich lake in Britain.

The stately pile of Tarn House commands....

....wonderful views over Malham Tarn.

Viewing the low cliffs of Knowe Fell from the lane leading to High Trenhouse.

Great Close Hill seen from near High Trenhouse.

The smelt mill chimney on Malham Moor is all that remains of an old smelting mill, used to smelt lead from galana and zinc from calamine, which was mined on Pikedaw Hill to the south.

The smelt mill chimney with views over Knowe Fell and Fountains Fell.

Near Langscar Gate looking to Flasby Fell.

With Langscar Gate behind me the descent to Waterlows.

Pendle Hill viewed from the west side of Malhan Cove.

Kirkby Fell above Malham Cove.

Cliffs and rivers of limestone scree replace the glacial meltwater that once flowed down this valley plunging over the lip of Malham Cove.

Gordale Beck in the cool of Foss Wood.

Wild flower meadows near Malham.

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