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
1 comment:
6 new arrivals since yesterday, 3 into Settle (2 of those up from London on the 6.30 morning train!), 2 joining just for the day and 1 into Leeds since yesterday's walk, so n=28 on the walk, with 3 of the Settleonians starting early. We started in warm and sunny weather, but soon enough this turned to overcast with a strong wind in the higher areas.
The route starts with a steep ascent , followed by a long descent and reascent, so the group got strung out. This got worse in Malham, with it's 4 lunch options and 2 principal onwards options. From what I know, several took a bus back to Settle or Skipton, most walked the main route via the Cove, while 7 took the route up Gordale Scar, including the 'wet' scramble. For one it was a first scrambling experience ever. On up the steep path out of the gorge and on via the Water Sinks and a dry valley and god bridleways back to Settle.
The main route lot arrived from 17.30 onwards, the Gordale Scar group at 18.45.
Livestock highlights: Belted Galloway, several of which in a beige or brown fur colour, a first for me.
W=sunny-start-then-overcast-and-windy
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