Length : 22.8 km (14.2 mi) [longer and shorter walks possible, see below]
Ascent /Descent: 800m
Net Walking Time : 6 hours
Toughness : 7 out of 10
Take the 09.20 Carlisle train from Leeds City Station (Shipley 09.33, […]), arrives Settle at 10.20.
Return trains: 15.06, 16.30, 17.58, 18.21, 20.02, 21.46, 21.59.
This is a very rewarding route from the pretty and scenically positioned small market town of Settle, rising steeply out of Ribblesdale straight into one of the best limestone country imaginable and later across the watershed into Malhamdale with its natural wonders. Almost all of those are explored on the various route options. The return is less exciting but still features stunning views of Malham Tarn and Fountains Fell as well as to the Yorkshire Three Peaks and an elevated section through steep pastures high above Ribblesdale, while – in season – you may spot curlews and lapwings.
Across all the route options, you encounter limestone outcrops, crags and pavements, caves, path side springs, shake holes, sink holes and pot holes, water sinks where rivers disappear into an underground cave system, streams re-emerging further down out of other caves, dry valleys which only every few centuries are water-filled, a very steep and dramatic gorge with two waterfalls and an optional ‘wet’ scramble up it – Gordale Scar, as well as the most impressive limestone amphitheatre imaginable – Malham Cove, with its 70m drop and a beck emerging from a cave at its bottom plus a very large area of limestone pavement at its top, as well as one of the largest tarns in the land – Malham Tarn, also one of the very few upland alkaline lakes in Europe.
Malham, where the optional routes split, has four lunch places, sits roughly half-way and can be reached by bus. The paths and tracks are mostly good to walk and easy to follow, but the going can be hard on the feet and knees over time, as a lot of the route follows gravel farm tracks, and other bits cross stony ground.
Walk Options:
At the highest point of the walk , a bridleway across to the return route cuts the descent into Malham.
Three bus lines serve Malham on a daily basis between them but only one of them is operating today:
· Bus Line 75: 09.48 from Skipton Station, arrives Malham, Buck Inn at 10.25. Leaves Malham, Buck Inn for Settle at 15.15 (calling Malham Tarn/Water Houses at 15.25). Also leaves Malham for Skipton at 14.30 and 16.30 (via Gargrave).
A Variation in Malham leads past Janet’s Foss (waterfall) to Gordale Scar and its waterfalls, then a ‘wet’ scramble up the gorge and on to the fascinating Water Sinks, where the outflow of Malham Tarn (the future River Aire) disappears into the ground. This adds 4.0 km and 30m ascent.
An Alternative within this route avoids the scramble by going up pastures around the gorge (adds 1.7 km).
The waymarked Dales High Way links the two principal routes out of Malham from the top of Malham Cove.
A Variation of the Gordale Scar Option leads around Malham Tarn. This adds additional 1.1 km (map-led).
Lunch : Two pubs, a Tea Room and a Restaurant in Malham (from 10.2 km/6.3 mi). See the webpage or the pdf for details.
Tea : Numerous options in Settle, see the webpage or the pdf for details.
For
walk directions,
map,
height profile,
photos and
gpx/kml files click
here . T=swc.443