11th November 2016 - Malham to Ribblesdale and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.9 miles
Total ascent: 2132 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Malham-Long Lane-Field Barns-Pikedaw Hill-Nappa Cross-Pennine Bridleway-Attermire Scar-Warrendale Knotts-Victoria Cave-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Watlowes-Malham Cove-Malham
I've taken another Friday and Monday off work to make a long weekend and since the forecast is set fair for today I decided to head to Malham for a walk. The route I decided on was a slightly shorter version of one that I did a few years ago. Then I included the tops of Kirkby Fell and Rye Loaf Hill. No time for them today though, I was pushing it for time as it was and I arrived back in Malham as it was going dark. Early season snowfall had left a cover on the hills earlier in the week but milder temperatures had already started to melt it and there was a continued steady thaw throughout the day. There was a bit of sunshine to enjoy during the late morning and early afternoon ahead of clouding over in advance of overnight rain.
After parking in Malham I walked north into the village before turning left onto the track and bridleway of Long Lane. I followed this uphill until I reached a fork where I took the left hand track past Burns Barn and Field Barns. A footpath left this track on the right to head up the side of Pikedaw Hill to where it meets the bridleway from Cove Road. I then followed this bridleway west (with a brief detour to Nappa Cross) and down into Stockdale. The bridleway joins Stockdale Lane just past Stockdale Farm and at the first left hand bend I took the footpath on the right. This passes beneath Attermire Scar and when I reached the gap between Attermire Scar and Warrendale Knotts I followed the path round to the right and uphill. I made a detour to the trig point on Warrendale Knotts from here (worth it if you have the time). Once back on the path I continued heading north past Victoria Cave and Jubilee Cave to pick up the Pennine Bridleway. This took me back east across the moors to Langscar Gate on Cove Road and after crossing the road a footpath took me to the top of the dry valley of Watlowes. Here I joined the Pennine Way and this trail brought me to the top of Malham Cove and back to Malham.
Total ascent: 2132 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Malham-Long Lane-Field Barns-Pikedaw Hill-Nappa Cross-Pennine Bridleway-Attermire Scar-Warrendale Knotts-Victoria Cave-Jubilee Cave-Pennine Bridleway-Langscar Gate-Watlowes-Malham Cove-Malham
I've taken another Friday and Monday off work to make a long weekend and since the forecast is set fair for today I decided to head to Malham for a walk. The route I decided on was a slightly shorter version of one that I did a few years ago. Then I included the tops of Kirkby Fell and Rye Loaf Hill. No time for them today though, I was pushing it for time as it was and I arrived back in Malham as it was going dark. Early season snowfall had left a cover on the hills earlier in the week but milder temperatures had already started to melt it and there was a continued steady thaw throughout the day. There was a bit of sunshine to enjoy during the late morning and early afternoon ahead of clouding over in advance of overnight rain.
After parking in Malham I walked north into the village before turning left onto the track and bridleway of Long Lane. I followed this uphill until I reached a fork where I took the left hand track past Burns Barn and Field Barns. A footpath left this track on the right to head up the side of Pikedaw Hill to where it meets the bridleway from Cove Road. I then followed this bridleway west (with a brief detour to Nappa Cross) and down into Stockdale. The bridleway joins Stockdale Lane just past Stockdale Farm and at the first left hand bend I took the footpath on the right. This passes beneath Attermire Scar and when I reached the gap between Attermire Scar and Warrendale Knotts I followed the path round to the right and uphill. I made a detour to the trig point on Warrendale Knotts from here (worth it if you have the time). Once back on the path I continued heading north past Victoria Cave and Jubilee Cave to pick up the Pennine Bridleway. This took me back east across the moors to Langscar Gate on Cove Road and after crossing the road a footpath took me to the top of the dry valley of Watlowes. Here I joined the Pennine Way and this trail brought me to the top of Malham Cove and back to Malham.
Route map
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It's quiet in Malham on a Friday morning in November
Malham Cove as I walk up the bridleway of Long Lane
On the track past Burns Barn and Field Barns towards Pikedaw Hill
Looking back down on Malhamdale
Up into the snow on Pikedaw Hill
Looking back across the moors towards Goredale Scar as I join the bridleway to Ribblesdale. It feels a bit bleak with it clouding over.
A brief detour to see Nappa Cross
Back on the bridleway and looking north to Malham Tarn
Rye Loaf Hill
Starting the descent to Stockdale
Stockdale Farm appears ahead
Stockdale Farm below Rye Loaf Hill
Onto the path to Attermire Scar and Warrendale Knotts
Pendle Hill in the distance from the trig point on Warrendale Knotts
The fells of the Forest of Bowland to the southwest. A bit of Settle can be seen in the valley below.
A patch of limestone pavement provides a good spot to take in the view across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough and Whernside
Penyghent, Fountains Fell and the black hole of Victoria Cave in Attermire Scar
Attermire Scar and Rye Loaf Hill
I couldn't pass Victoria Cave without popping up to have a look
nor Jubilee Cave
Ingleborough, Whernside, Ribblesdale and Penyghent from above Jubilee Cave
Fountains Fell ahead as I start the walk back towards Malham
The bridleway to Malham and I need to set a good pace to make it back before the sun sets
Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent
Knowe Fell, the southern end of Fountains Fell
A last look back to Ingleborough as I reach the top of the bridleway
and start the descent to Langscar Gate
A glimpse of Malham Tarn round Lang Scar
Broad Scars as I reach Langscar Gate
Into the dry valley down to Malham Cove
Malham and Malhamdale as I reach the top of Malham Cove
The limestone pavement was dry and relatively safe to walk on, so I was able to take a couple of photos looking across it
Malham Cove as I walk back to Malham in the last of the light..
