(S) From the parking, walk into the village passing the National Park centre (toilets here if needed), Malham Methodist Chapel and the Old Barn Café. Then, on the right side of the road, you will see the Malham Smithy. Cross the narrow stone bridge. Turn immediately right and follow the Pennine Way also marked Janet's Foss. The good path is made from york stone slabs and soon brings you to a gate.
(1) Turn left at the gate and leave the Pennine Way, following the finger post past a barn and along a continuation of the good path with Gordale Beck on your right. You will soon enter woods with some crags, a cave on the left and then Janet's Foss (waterfall) and cave. The path climbs up here over a few rocky steps to lead to the road. Cross the road, turn right and walk along passing a small bridge before coming to a gate on the left into the Gordale Scar Campsite.
(2) Walk on the good track through the campsite and into Gordale, soon the valley narrows with steep cliffs on either side. Gordale Scar is one of Yorkshire's major climbing sites and you may well see climbers here. Follow the path up through the gorge; there is a section where you will have to scramble steeply on rocky steps with the water of the beck splashing beside you. Take care, the limestone is polished smooth by the passing of feet and the action of water; if damp, wet boot soles can be very slippery. Test each foot and handhold. It is possible to ascend at the left although this is usually wet. The easiest way is straight up the rocks in the middle as shown in the photo. (Do not go right into the circular hole next to the man in the middle, rather from where he is, step left across the rock and then up and right to the top man), Choose your route according to your ability and conditions underfoot, if it is too wet turn back and take the alternative route (see useful information below) up to the tarn.
At the top of the scramble take the path diagonally on the left and up more easily to the top of gorge. Turn around and admire the view back down, Then take the stony path which slants up leftwards to a wall.
(3) Cross the wall and follow the good path, which veers away from the line of the gorge top. The path is grassy and provides good walking. It brings you to towards a dry stone wall with a road on the other side. Follow the path with the wall on your left to a corner where a stone stile leads you up and over.
(4) After crossing the wall take the good track North, heading towards a rocky scar on the skyline (Great Close Scar). The track soon leads to a small pond on the right (which is part of Great Close Mire) and a gate. Turn left before the gate and follow the path with the wall and trees on your right. This area can be muddy after wet weather. Keep to the line of the wall until a small copse of trees on your right where you join up with another path from the left. Then, turn right and walk to a metal gate and entry to the Malham Tarn Estate.
(5) Go through the gate and walk on until you can admire the views of the tarn. Retrace your steps back to the gate, go through it and then take the Pennine Way on your right towards another dry stone wall which has a copse of trees on the other side. Go past this and follow the path over the grass to the dam and outlet at the southern edge of the lake.
(6) From the dam, follow the path south towards Water Sinks car park and Henside Road. Skirt the car park on the right and turn right at the road. Go over the bridge and turn almost immediately left at a finger post for the Pennine Way and Malham.
Where the path splits take the left-hand path (Pennine Way / Malham), this takes you past the water sinks for Malham Beck and into a shallow gorge.
(7) Take a sharp left and walk down the continuation of the narrow gorge, soon this will lead to a view where the limestone pavement is in front of you.
(8) There is a prominent finger post pointing in two directions. At the finger post, turn right and step up onto the limestone pavement. Take care as a few blocks (Clints) are wobbly and the cracks (Grykes) are just the right size to twist or break an ankle should you slip a foot into one. Take the time to walk to the front and admire the view across to the left, directly below you is the steepest part of the cove so be careful it is along the way down. Cross the limestone pavement to a place where the path turns left onto some well-maintained steps.
(9) Go through another kissing gate and take the good steps down to the bottom of the cove. As you near the bottom, the view of the sheer cliff face will come into view. Like Gordale this is also a major rock climbing venue although climbers avoid the crag during the nesting season in spring as it is home to Peregrine Falcons. (There is often a viewing area set up at the bottom of the cove with scopes so that visitors can spot the birds)
(10) From the cove bottom, turn right follow the path south back towards Malham, it soon joins the road where there is a path beside the road but after the campsite. You will have to walk along the roadside.
(11) Just past Town Head (National Trust Barn), there is a path on the left crossing the beck and going into Malham village if you want to look around but the best way to get back to your car is to take the track on the opposite side of the road (right) through Hill Top Farm and follow the lane south until it comes out beside the National Park parking area. Return to your car, in whichever car park you used.
