Malham
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.
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
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.
Try the CragFace Walk
from Malham :- HERE
Gordale Scar
Words are useless, I won't even try. This is an incredible
sight. Go there.
---oOo---
If you can't make it, then below are
videos of the area most people visit:
Gordale
Scar
Janet's Fosse
(& cave)
Malham
Cove Base
(RSPB in residence when falcons are breeding)
Malham Cove
Topside
(an amazing landscape)
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