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.
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
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Looking back to Malham as we follow the path south by Malham Beck
The limestone crags around Gordale Scar in the distance
Scalegill Mill
The hamlet of Hanlith as we head up Windy Pike Lane. I can make out the church in Kirkby Malham in the distance.
There are great views across to Malham Cove..
..and Gordale Scar as we head up
It's a long gradual ascent
Looking back to see Kirkby Fell on the other side of Malhamdale
The trig point and summit is finally in sight
On the summit of Weets Top
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.
We could just about make out Pendle Hill
The limestone uplands to the north of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar..
Weets Cross
Down the bridleway to Hawthorns Lane
Kirkby Fell as we..
..head down Hawthorns Lane
The impressive limestone scenery of Gordale Scar..
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.
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
This view of Gordale Scar was the definite highlight of the day
More limestone scenery as we join the path up from Gordale Scar...
Approaching Street Gate
On the track to Malham Tarn
Malham Tarn is a bit windswept today
Heading for Malham Cove
The dry valley that takes you to the top of the cove..
Looking back up the dry valley
Malham as we reach the top of the cove
The cliffs..
..and limestone pavement of Malham Cove
A very full Malham Beck as we leave the cove behind and head for Malham..
