Friday, 13th September 2004
| Walk: | Malham Cove, Dales High Way, Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar, Weets Top, Hanlith Bridge, River Aire | ||
| Start Point: | Malham YDNP car park (£5.50) | Grid Reference: | SD 900 626 |
| Distance: | 9 miles | Ascent: | 1,304 feet |
| Time: | 4 hours walking, 5.5 hours total | ||
| Weather: | Sunny with a cool breeze at times | ||
| Comments: | The walk to Malham Cove was quite busy but there were fewer people further on in the walk. Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar were both worth detours on our route to Weets Top. Crossing Hanlith Moor was boggy in places but there were marker poles to guide us across. From Hanlith it would be better to take the Pennine Way footpath instead of following the west side of the River Aire. | ||
Heading towards Malham Cove . . .
a huge curving amphitheatre shaped cliff formation . . .
of limestone rock
The emerging stream derives from the smelt mill sinks . . .
three-quarters of a mile north west of the Cove on the moor
Looking up towards the limestone pavement . . .
we spot a rock climber near the top of the vertical face
The large area of deeply eroded limestone pavement is of a strange pattern rarely seen in England . . .
and has great views . . .
across the surrounding countryside
Looking back from the Dales High Way
Janet’s Foss which has been used as a natural sheep dip for local farmers . . .
and may even be the home of Jennet the queen of the fairies in a cave behind the falls or another small cave to the right
In 25th September 2020
Gordale Scar is a limestone ravine 1 mile north-east of Malham . . .
It contains two waterfalls ...
and has overhanging limestone cliffs over 330 feet high
It is possible to climb up beside the waterfall - which I did many years ago!
Higher up on the cliff face . . .
a climber has reached a stopping point . . .
and begins to abseil down
These are the remains of a medieval monastic wayside cross. The cross was restored in 1955 and only the base or socket stone is original.
The base is made from gritstone and stands near the junction of five townships so may have been important as a boundary stone as well as a route marker to and from the Fountains Abbey estates on Malham Moor
Weets Top . . .
with Marie and Luna . . .
and me