Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page

23rd August 2015 - The Delights of Malham

Walk Details

Distance walked: 11.5 miles

Total ascent: 1923 ft

OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas

Time taken: 5.5 hrs

Route description: Malham-Hanlith Bridge-Hanlith-Windy Pike Lane-Weets Top-Hawthorns Lane-Gordale Scar-Street Gate-Malham Tarn-Pennine Way-Malham Cove-Malham

My brother decided our destination for today. He wanted to go and see Malham Cove and I was happy to oblige. The route I chose was one that I did when I visited Malham for the first time. It takes in Weets Top, a hill above Malham with good views, Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn and Malham Cove. We certainly enjoyed the best weaher of the day while we were out, warm and sunny for the most part though it clouded over as we reached Malham Tarn. The heavens opened on the drive home as a torrential thunderstorm passed through. We considered ourselves lucky that it didn't turn up a couple of hours earlier.

From the car park in Malham we crossed the road and took the footpath that heads south through the fields past Aire Head to reach Hanlith Bridge. After crossing Hanlith Bridge we made our way up through Hanlith and then up the bridleway of Windy Pike Lane for the long gradual ascent to the summit of Weets Top. After taking a break here we took the bridleway down to Hawthorns Lane to head down to Gordale Scar. We had intended to do the scramble up Gordale Scar but after seeing just how much water was pouring down Gordale Beck we decided against it, so we backtracked to Gordale Bridge and took the path signposted for Malham Cove. On entering access land we turned right and made our way up the hillside and onto New Close Knotts. The path up from Gordale Scar was joined, our next destinations were Street Gate and then Malham Tarn. From Malham Tarn we then followed the Pennine Way past Malham Cove and back to Malham.

Route map
Picture
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

Picture
Looking back to Malham as we follow the path south by Malham Beck
Picture
The limestone crags around Gordale Scar in the distance
Picture
Scalegill Mill
Picture
The hamlet of Hanlith as we head up Windy Pike Lane. I can make out the church in Kirkby Malham in the distance.
Picture
There are great views across to Malham Cove..
Picture
..and Gordale Scar as we head up
Picture
It's a long gradual ascent
Picture
Looking back to see Kirkby Fell on the other side of Malhamdale
Picture
The trig point and summit is finally in sight
Picture
On the summit of Weets Top
Picture
It's a nice warm day today but there's quite a haze to go with it, so no long distance views. Barden Moor and Sharp Haw beyond nearby Hetton Common Head.
Picture
We could just about make out Pendle Hill
Picture
The limestone uplands to the north of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar..
Picture
Picture
Weets Cross
Picture
Down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane
Picture
Kirkby Fell as we..
Picture
..head down Hawthorns Lane
Picture
The impressive limestone scenery of Gordale Scar..
Picture
Picture
There's a lot of water flowing down Gordale Beck today after yesterday evenings torrential rain and thunderstorms. We had intended to do the scramble up but I didn't fancy our chances of just getting to the start of it without getting our feet wet. One for another day I think.
Picture
The alternative was to take the path from Gordale Bridge to Malham Cove and once on access land head for the hillside to the west of Gordale Scar
Picture
This view of Gordale Scar was the definite highlight of the day
Picture
More limestone scenery as we join the path up from Gordale Scar...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Approaching Street Gate
Picture
On the track to Malham Tarn
Picture
Malham Tarn is a bit windswept today
Picture
Heading for Malham Cove
Picture
The dry valley that takes you to the top of the cove..
Picture
Picture
Looking back up the dry valley
Picture
Malham as we reach the top of the cove
Picture
The cliffs..
Picture
..and limestone pavement of Malham Cove
Picture
A very full Malham Beck as we leave the cove behind and head for Malham..
Picture

Return to HOME
Return to Yorkshire Dales Walks
Return to Walking Diary 2015

© Alan Kilduff 2016-2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page
✕