A Full Guide to the Malham Cove Circular Walk with Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar
The Malham Cove circular walk offers a magical woodland walk, wild swimming opportunities, an incredible gorge, a 70m high cliff face and unique rock formations. It is a walk that has it all: a true North Yorkshire gem and one of the best hikes in the UK.
Also called the Malham Landscape Trail, you get to visit three incredible attractions, including the two cascades of Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar and the limestone cliffs of Malham Cove. Without a doubt, this is a dramatic hike and one that needs to be on your UK walk bucket list. No wonder it was used in TV shows (The Trip) and films (Harry Potter).
Did you know? Malham Cove was formed by a waterfall fed by melting glaciers 12,000 years ago and is 300 metres wide. On the walk, there are handy information points, which means you can learn as you go. The walk is perfect for walkers, climbers and lovers of Geography (it gives off Geography field trip vibes).
Our guide describes everything you need to know about the circular walk that starts and ends in the village of Malham. It includes details, car parking, how to get there, top tips and complete directions to make the most of your day. If you follow the route we suggest, you will avoid the 400 steep steps to Malham Cove and take a gentler ascent (there’s no escaping going down them, though).
Suppose you would instead do a shorter Malham Cove walk. No problem. Please read our out-and-back Malham walk guide here.
Malham Cove Circular Walk Details
Distance: 7.2km (4.5 miles)
Time: 3 hours
Map: OL2 (Yorkshire Dales)
Route Type: circular
How to get to the Malham Landscape Trail
Train
The closest train stations are Settle (7 miles away) and Skipton (19 miles away).
Car
From Skipton, take the A65 to Gargrave. Follow signs to Malham from Settle. A minor road passes through the Malham Tarn estate towards the North of Malham Tarn.
Foot
The Pennine Way passes through the estate from north to south.
Bus
You can get the bus from Skipton and Settle to Malham. Furthermore, the National Trust shuttle bus runs from Settle to Malham Tarn between Easter and October.
Bicycle
Malham village is on the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway, a marked on-road cycling route from Airton. This route connects with Pennine Cycleway and National Cycle Network route 68.
Malham Cove Circular Walk Car Park
The central car park is located in Malham Village. It is run by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Car Park. Unfortunately, there isn’t a car park on the highest point in Malham Cove. So you will have to park in Malham instead.
You can pay with coins or cards. There are toilets within the car park as well as within Malham Village.
Car parking charges are as follows:
2 hours – £2
All day -£5
Address: Malham Village, North Yorkshire BD23 4DA
You can find directions on Google Maps Directions here.
There are also parking spots on the streets in Malham Village. While it is not charged, Malhamdale Parish Council has requested donations of £2 to help maintain the village.
Malham Landscape Trail Weather
Remember, Malham Cove is very exposed on the top, so you should check the weather before you go. You can look at the following sites to get an excellent overall picture:
BBC for Malham
Met Office for Malham Tarn.
Malham Cove Circular Walk Top Tips
- The paths on the Malham Cove circular walk can be muddy after rain (even well-maintained pathways). So, proper footwear is required. Most people wear walking boots.
- Make sure to bring layers of clothing and a waterproof. However, there are a few woodland sections. There are exposed areas of the trail, especially at the high point part of Malham Cove.
- Bring all litter to take home.
- Do not set fires or have any BBQs on the Malham Landscape Trail.
- Getting the landowner’s permission before flying drones over Cove is essential. There are Peregrine falcons who nest, and it is a crime to interfere with them.
- Be sure to follow the marked pathways to prevent erosion of the region.
- Dogs are always welcome. However, they must be leashed, and you must remember to tidy up after your dog.
- It’s a crowded walking route. Be sure to arrive early and avoid times that are popular, like weekends, if you can.
Malham Cove Directions in 4 Steps
Step One: Malham Village to Janet’s Foss
Take the right turn from the road over the bridge next to Malham Smithy. You are following the direction to Janet’s Foss waterfall and Gordale Scar!
Turn right and walk down the path through the wooden gate next to Malham Beck. Keep going along the way until you reach a double wooden kissing gate. From here, turn left and walk past Mires Barn. Keep walking straight and walk with the stone wall on your right.
The path is well made and easy to follow as this is a popular place. Go past New Laithe, straight through the wooden kissing gate next to Malham Beck.
Keep walking next to the beck and enter the woodland area to Janet’s Foss through the wooden kissing gate. The path takes you through a magical woodland with the calming stream of Gordale Beck. In the spring, you can smell and see wild garlic here.
You won’t be able to miss Janet’s Foss waterfall; it is beautiful!
Foss is the old Scandinavian word for waterfall or force. Legend tells us Janet (or Jennet), queen of the local fairies, lived in a cave behind the waterfall.
You may see people wild swimming in the waterfall.
Step Two: Janet’s Foss to Gordale Scar
From here, walk up the path with the stone wall as a barrier between you and the waterfall.
The stones can be pretty slippery here. Go out the wooden gate and turn right to walk along the road toward Gordale Scar.
You will soon see a large wooden gate on your left. Follow the direction of Gordale Scar and head straight. You can climb up the left-hand side of the waterfall or retrace your steps to the road to head to Malham Cove.
The walk up the waterfall is steep and should not be underestimated. If the weather is poor, or there has been a lot of rainfall, we recommend not climbing Gordale Scar but walking around instead by following these directions.
Step Three: Gordale Scar to Malham Cove
Return to the road, turn right and then cross over the small Gordale Bridge on your right to head up towards Malham Cove. Go through the wooden gate next to the picnic benches and head up the path to walk up the grassy path near the stone wall.
Go through the wooden gate and then head to the right-hand corner of the following field to climb the stone steps and go through the wooden gate. Continue straight and follow the public footpath sign once more to Malham Cove.
Continue straight through another small wooden gate and keep the stone wall on your left. Go past Flats Barn and continue to Malham Rakes road.
Go through the gate and then over the wooden-style steps on the other side. From here, continue along the rocky path, which becomes grassy. You can take the lower and upper art as they soon join together again.
Keep straight and where the stone wall ends, continue straight to Malham Cove, following the direction of the public footpath sign. Continue walking around and head onto Malham Cove Rocks through the gate in the wall.
Step Four: Malham Cove to Malham Village
Walk along the rocks to the other side, spending as long as you like enjoying the majestic views.
On the other side, you need to turn left through the wooden gate between the stone wall and head down the many steps towards the river.
You can detour towards the Cove at the bottom. It is a great spot to watch the climbers brave the cliffs!
After, it would be best if you walked back on yourself towards Malham village on the tarmac and gravelled path through Malham Cove Fields. After that, it is a leisurely stroll back to the village. Turn left to walk down Cove Road.
Watch the cars as you walk. Go past Beck Hall, and you can continue to walk along the woodland footpath next to Malham Beck. Continue out the other side and walk down the road, past the toilets, and you will arrive back to Malham Smithy, where you began.
You can have a drink or some food in the Buck Inn! Malham Cove circular walk complete!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Malham Cove?
Malham Cove is a 70m high limestone cliff.
How do I park for the Malham Cove circular walk?
There are a variety of options available to choose from in Malham Village. There are only a handful of free (donations appreciated) parking spaces on the roads, and the most well-known car parking spot is run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Car Park. It is currently priced at £5 per day. In addition, there are overflow car parking spaces in fields nearby.
Is Malham Cove suitable for dogs?
You can bring your dog on a trip to Malham Cove (the limestone pavement may be rugged). There is also a tricky stile to go over during the walk.
Where is Malham Cove?
The Malham Landscape Trail and Malham Cove are located at the southern end of Yorkshire Dales National Park in North Yorkshire and near Malham village.
How did Malham Cove form?
In the last two and a half million years, Malham probably has been covered three times over by vast sheets of glacier. As these glaciers cut across the land, they tore the rock from the cliffs that make up the Cove and then swept away the stone. As a result, each time the glaciers melt, tremendous water flooding continues to alter the appearance of the Cove.
The water flows underground now, but in the past, the surface was permanently frozen, and the melting glacier meltwater was required to run through the earth. The result was huge waterfalls that once roared over the Cove. Unfortunately, the last waterfall to be seen at Malham Cove was for one day in December 2015 after a heavy storm.
Be sure to keep your dog on a leash, especially during the lambing season, which runs from January through June.
How many steps are there at Malham Cove?
You can climb 400 steps made of stone (of various dimensions) to reach the top of Malham Cove. In the Malham Landscape Trail we describe you will go down the steps instead of up.
Is Harry Potter filmed at Malham Cove?
Yes, Warner Bros filmed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Malham Cove. The scene where Harry discovers that the snitch (opens at the close) and puts it to his mouth!
What are the best places to stay in Malham Cove?
There are a variety of lodging options to fit all budgets and tastes. There are many options to choose from, these include:
- Beck Hall
- YHA Malham
- The Lister Arms
In what other places can I walk nearby?
If you wish to extend your walk, you can go on a 6.5-mile round trip to Malham Tarn. Malham Tarn is England’s highest freshwater lake. If you want to shorten your Malham Cove circular walk, you can walk only to Malham Cove or Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar and return the way you came.
We hope you enjoy this trip to Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove. We are amazed by the area’s beauty and hope you are too.
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We want to stress that ‘Average Lives’ cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while walking our routes. We strongly advise that you wear proper footwear to reduce the risk of injuries, and carry a paper map and compass to ensure your safety while walking. You can read more on our About Page.