At this time last year I wrote about a walk from Malham up to Pikedaw Hill and Nappa Cross. I mentioned then that later in the year another walk from Malham would be included in the paper but unfortunately the outbreak of foot and mouth disease last spring meant this could not take place.

So, as promised, here is the walk we should have done last summer. And it is a classic, being in my opinion one of the finest walks in the Yorkshire Dales!

It visits three of Malham's best-known features - Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn and finally Malham Cove.

Park in the car park by the Visitor's Centre in the village (small charge) and if you have arrived fairly early in the day it is worthwhile calling in at the centre as there is much information about the history, geology and geographical features to be found on display.

It is possible to start the walk either by Gordale Scar or from Malham Tarn Car Park, I always feel it is best done from the village. This is for two reasons - firstly it

means the last 2 miles are all downhill, always a blessing at the end of the day, and secondly there are a number of refreshment places in the village for either a snack, meal or simply a pint at the end of the walk.

Leave the village by the road heading east to Gordale. Shortly after the

road heading left up to Malham Tarn, there is a stile on the right leading down to Gordale Beck, which is then followed upstream to Janet's Foss, owned by the National Trust.

This is a magnificent waterfall and pool below. It is almost like something out of Lord of the Rings and with enough imagination one could almost picture the goblins and elves living in a place like this.

Climb up the stone steps and through the gate to the road, cross the bridge and take the sign on the left to Gordale Scar. As you walk along the path by the stream amongst the fields full of watercress, you are totally unaware of the magnificent spectacle you are soon to encounter round the next corner.

Suddenly into view comes this magnificent cavern with waterfalls cascading and towering rock buttresses on either side. The only way forward at the lower waterfall is up the buttress on the left, an easy rock climb of about 20 feet, with plenty of hand and footholds making it easier than it looks at first glance.

Continue up a scree slope passing the upper waterfall and then cross the fields to a stile and the road near to Malham Tarn. If time permits try and visit Malham Tarn House, now a field study centre.

It was here where Charles Kingsley resided when he wrote the book "The Water Babies" and no doubt drew his inspiration from the area round the tarn itself. All around it is limestone, which anyone who has studied geography at school will know is pervious and water disappears through it, the area of the tarn lays on Silurian Slate, hence the reason for this magnificent sheet of water.

From the tarn follow the road for two thirds of a mile and then turn off on

a path opposite the tarn's outlet which goes onto "water sinks". The stream

leaving the tarn flows beneath the road and into the opposite field where

after a few hundred yards it suddenly disappears underground by a pile of

stones as it hits the limestone fault.

A depression in the ground indicates that at one time the stream continued along to a ravine ahead where it would have tumbled in the form of a waterfall.

The path continues into what is known as Dry Valley and in turn leads to the brink of the precipice above Malham Cove.

Caution is always needed on limestone,

particularly when wet, nowhere more so than the edge of this precipice as it

is a drop of several hundred feet.

Turn right here off the limestone pavement and follow the stepped path down to the cove itself. Imagine now, if you will, before the slate beds had worn away to reveal limestone below where the water now disappears, the fact that water at one time would have come over the top of the precipice.

Judging by the size of the head of the cove, this would have almost have been something on the scale of Niagara Falls. Here is a place to rest a while and watch the climbers at play on the crags.

From the Cove, follow the good track back through the fields, but as you

reach the gate at the end before the road back to the village, it is worth looking back at the amazing sight of the Cove- a sight that never fails to cause a sharp intake of breath from anyone who sees it.

A short walk down the road leads back to the village.

Total walking distance is around 8 miles Ascent: Approximately 700 feet

Time: Allow a good 3 hours.