11th March 2018 - Malham to Ribblesdale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.3 miles
Total ascent: 1877 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Malham-Pennine Way-Malham Cove-Pennine Way-Langscar Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Jubilee Cave-Victoria Cave-Attermire Scar-Stockdale-Pennine Bridleway-Nappa Cross-Fair Sleets Gate-Cove Road-Long Lane-Malham
The "Beast from the East" has passed and it felt positively springlike today. I decided to visit Malham and do a walk that heads west from the village and makes use of bridleways to cross the moorland to Ribblesdale before looping back to cross them again for a return to Malham. The weather was definitely at its best during the morning. With sunny spells and a gentle breeze it felt mild. However, it tended to cloud over somewhat during the afternoon and with a stronger wind the mild feel disappeared.
From Malham I followed the trail of the Pennine Way to Malham Cove, to its top and up the dry valley behind, where I left it for the path to Langscar Gate. I then crossed the Cove Road and took the Pennine Bridleway west across the moorland towards Ribblesdale until I reached Jubilee Cave. After having lunch here I followed the path south past Victoria Cave and Attermire Scar and then east into Stockdale, where I picked up the Pennine Bridleway to head past Stockdale Farm to reach the top of Stockdale. I kept on the Pennine Bridleway for a short detour to Nappa Cross before returning to the bridleway east through Fair Sleets Gate down to Cove Road. After a short walk down Cove Road I reached the track of Long Lane which took me back to Malham.
Total ascent: 1877 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Malham-Pennine Way-Malham Cove-Pennine Way-Langscar Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Jubilee Cave-Victoria Cave-Attermire Scar-Stockdale-Pennine Bridleway-Nappa Cross-Fair Sleets Gate-Cove Road-Long Lane-Malham
The "Beast from the East" has passed and it felt positively springlike today. I decided to visit Malham and do a walk that heads west from the village and makes use of bridleways to cross the moorland to Ribblesdale before looping back to cross them again for a return to Malham. The weather was definitely at its best during the morning. With sunny spells and a gentle breeze it felt mild. However, it tended to cloud over somewhat during the afternoon and with a stronger wind the mild feel disappeared.
From Malham I followed the trail of the Pennine Way to Malham Cove, to its top and up the dry valley behind, where I left it for the path to Langscar Gate. I then crossed the Cove Road and took the Pennine Bridleway west across the moorland towards Ribblesdale until I reached Jubilee Cave. After having lunch here I followed the path south past Victoria Cave and Attermire Scar and then east into Stockdale, where I picked up the Pennine Bridleway to head past Stockdale Farm to reach the top of Stockdale. I kept on the Pennine Bridleway for a short detour to Nappa Cross before returning to the bridleway east through Fair Sleets Gate down to Cove Road. After a short walk down Cove Road I reached the track of Long Lane which took me back to Malham.
Route map
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On the Pennine Way to Malham Cove..
A short time later and I cross the limestone pavement at the top of the cove..
Looking down Malhamdale
Heading up the dry valley of Watlowes
Looking back as I reach its top
Broad Scars as I look back having passed through Langscar Gate
Lang Scar with a bit of Malham Tarn to its right
Views from the Pennine Bridleway as I follow it west towards Ribblesdale...
Knowe Fell and Fountains Fell to the north
Ingleborough comes into view as I pass the top of the bridleway
Penyghent joins the scene as it peeps round the edge of the moor
Penyghent and Knowe Fell
Continuing west..
..with Penyghent, Plover Hill and Fountains Fell to the north
The patches of limestone pavement above Jubilee Cave was an ideal spot to stop and have lunch. I had a great view across Ribblesdale to enjoy..
On the path to Attermire Scar..
A short climb up the hillside to visit Victoria Cave
Looking back north along Attermire Scar
Warrendale Knotts from the path up Stockdale..
Rye Loaf Hill above Stockdale Farm
Looking back down Stockdale as the bridleway nears its top
Rye Loaf Hill
I've kept on the Pennine Bridleway for a short detour north..
..to Nappa Cross
There's a great view of Malham Tarn and its surrounding moorland
Back on the bridleway east to the Cove Road...
I made a short detour from walking down Cove Road to get close to the western side of Malham Cove
On Long Lane back to Malham..
