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Malham
village
Malham village itself lies in a broad valley called
Malhamdale, which further downstream becomes known as
Airedale. The huge precipice of Malham Cove dominates
the scenery as seen to the north of the village, where
the Craven fault marks a clear geological boundary between
the gentle pastoral valley and the limestone uplands
above. The Pennine Way also passes through Malham, and
the village is a great destination for climbers, cavers,
walkers and tourists alike, offering tea rooms, two
pubs and cafes to visit after a day exploring the sights.
There is also a car park and National Park Information
Centre, with displays about the geology and natural
history of the area
Malham Cove
Malham is the centre of England's impressive inland
scenery.
A giant amphitheatre of sheer limestone, and a gorge
with an overhanging rock some 30 metres high. Malham
Cove is a huge natural limestone cliff which was once
the scene of a spectacular prehistoric waterfall. The
valley above the cove is now dry, with the river having
found alternative routes through an undiscovered cave
system deep underground. However, at the foot of the
cliff, a small stream called Malham Beck rises from
a submerged cavern, which is still being explored by
cave divers.
Malham is a small dales village north of Skipton and
Gargrave in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Besides being the inspiration for Charles Kingsley's
classic children's novel, The Water Babies, the area
around Malham is perhaps most famous for some of the
finest (and most spectacular) limestone scenery in the
country.
Janets Foss
A picturesque waterfall due south of Gordale Scar,
Janet's Foss is where Gordale Beck cascades over a tufa
(A porous deposit of calcium carbonate, laid down round
mineral springs.) capped limestone outcrop into a deep
pool in a wooded limestone gorge. On the far bank is
Janet's Cave, a dark hole which actually leads nowhere.
From Janet's Foss, Gordale Beck flows through woods
and then open fields before meeting up with Malham Beck,
just south of the village. Further downstream, this
tributary meets the stream issuing from Aire Head Springs
(actually the infant River Aire) on its journey down
towards Skipton.
Gordale Scar
Just around the corner from Malham Cove, Gordale Scar
is an impressive natural gorge complete with overhanging
sides and waterfall. It's thought that originally the
gorge was a cavern, but at some point the roof fell
in. There's a great campsite in the field at the entrance
to Gordale Scar.
Malham Tarn
Above Malham Cove sits the Tarn, a 150 acre lake. Granted
to the monks of Fountains Abbey in the 12th century,
along with fishing rights. The tarn nowadays is protected
as a nature reserve, and has a healthy population of
water birds. There's a birdwatching hide at the northern
end.
Village Link Here
Malham Walk
Here |
