An Easy Guide To The Malham Cove Circular Walk In The Yorkshire Dales

The Malham Cove circular walk in the Yorkshire Dales is regularly voted one of the best walks in Britain. With its varied terrain and sweeping views over the Yorkshire Dales, you’ll soon see why on your Malham Cove circular walk.

This guide will answer your most important questions, and let you in on some top tips so you can make the most of your visit to Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales.

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Where Is Malham Cove?

Malham Cove is in the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. The nearest town is Skipton but if you’re travelling from Leeds, York or Manchester, your journey via car will take you around 90 minutes. This makes a day trip to Malham Cove easily doable!

Your Guide To Malham Cove Circular Walks

Where Does Malham Cove Walk Start and What Is The Malham Cove Circular Walk Route?

My favourite way to do the Malham Cove circular walk is starting from Malham Cove itself. This is the clockwise route around Malham Cove.

The entrance to the cove is a short walk from Malham Village centre. You follow Malham Beck towards Cove Road out of the village. Following Cove Road, you’ll pass the National Trust site of Town Head Barn on your right. After a short incline, you’ll reach the gateway and path to Malham Cove. 

From here, the path, and Malham Cove are clear. The path is well maintained and accessible down to the cove. 

When you’re ready to get to the top of the limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove, climb the steps on your left. Take your time as they are steep! However, once you reach the top, the views over the Yorkshire Dales are incredible.

Walk over the limestone pathway, towards the fields and and find the gap in the dry stone wall. Turn right after this gap and you’ll walk uphill alongside Malham Cove. The path is grassy so might not be clear at first but keep Malham Cove roughly on your right and you won’t go far wrong.

The path will eventually become clearer along side the dry stone wall and you’ll eventually hit Tarn Road. Turn right here, follow the road down the hill and around 100 metres on the left, you’ll be able to climb over the wall the rejoin the path.

It’s straight on and downhill through the fields from here until you hit Gordale Beck and Gordale Lane.

From here, you can turn left to the entrance of Gordale Scar to view the impressive waterfall at the end of the path. If you want a shorter route, miss Gordale Scar out and turn right down the road to Janet’s Foss.

You’ll see the sign and path for Janet’s Foss on the left and there are some stone steps down the hill to the bottom of the waterfall. One of the most photographed spots in the Yorkshire Dales, Janet’s Foss is a great place to stop for photos or a quick swim if it’s warm. 

To continue your walk back to Malham Village, follow the path through the woods which often smell of wild garlic in late spring and early summer. The path it quite flat through the woods and completely flat once you’re in the fields leading into Malham.

Alternatively, if you want to do the route anti-clockwise and end your walk at Malham Cove, take the Pennine Way route to the south of Malham. This flat path takes you through the fields and woods to Janet’s Foss first.

Top Tip: Stop at Gordale Bridge for a cup of tea, there’s usually a food van here with some much needed refreshments!

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Should I Do The Clockwise Or Anti-Clockwise Route?

I prefer the clockwise route, and here’s why: I love the view of Malham Cove as you walk towards it. It just gets more and more impressive the closer you get. And, although I hate it at the time, I much prefer to get the steep climb of the steps out of the way at the start. It means the rest of the walk is fairly steady, mostly flat with a big down-hill section to Janet’s Foss. If I want to dip my toes in the river at Gordale Scar, or go for a swim at Janet’s Foss, it means I can also do this as a refreshing pit stop towards the end of my walk. 

However, doing the route anti-clockwise is still incredible. You’ll still have a climb but it’s just an ambling incline across the fields. There’s also the water at Malham Cove if you want to cool off your feet after too!

How Long Does The Malham Cove Circular Walk Take?

Malham – Malham Cove – Janet’s Foss – Malham
This route is around 7km and takes around 2 hours at a steady pace.

Malham – Malham Cove – Gordale Scar – Janet’s Foss – Malham
This route is around 8km and takes around 3 hours at a steady pace. Here’s a guide for the Malham Cove Circular Walk via Gordale Scar. If you don’t want to walk to Gordale Scar, just miss out this diversion. You can then go from Gordale Bridge straight to Janet’s Foss.

Malham – Janet’s Foss – Gordale Scar – Malham Tarn – Malham Cove – Malham
This route is around 12.1km and will take around 3 hours. You can view directions for the Malham Tarn Circular Walk on Dales Walks.

Are There Shorter Walks In Malham If I Don’t Want To Do The Circular Walk?

Yes of course, you can just walk from Malham Village to Malham Cove. This will take you no longer than an hour and is all on a proper path.

Alternatively, miss out Malham Cove altogether and walk the flat path through the woods from Malham to Janet’s Foss. Do the same route back and it will take around 1 hour. Although if you stop for a dip in Janet’s Foss, you could be there all afternoon!

For a slightly longer walk, climb past Janet’s Foss, continue up the road, and do the walk to Gordale Scar. From Malham to Gordale Scar and back, this would take around 90 minutes. Apart from the steps up past the waterfall and a slight incline on the road between Janet’s Foss and Gordale Bridge, the route is flat.

If you’re driving and just want to walk to Gordale Scar, there is very limited road parking near Gordale Bridge. 

How Difficult Is The Malham Cove Walk?

Overall, the Malham Cove Circular walk is an easy walk in the Yorkshire Dales. Apart from the steps up the side of Malham Cove, there are no steep inclines. The pathways are well maintained and the rest of the terrain is easy to walk on. The limestone path may be hard to navigate with its gaps, but the slabs of stone are wide enough to walk on. 

The walk is suitable for families and for those with a reasonable level of fitness.

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How Many Steps Are The Up To The Top Of Malham Cove?

There are approximately 400 steps to the top of Malham Cove. These enable walkers to continue the route of the Pennine Way and climb the 80 metres (260 feet) to the top of the limestone path.

Although they’re steep, and take around 10 minutes to walk up, the views are worth it. So, if like me, you feel the need to pause to catch your breath, take your time and soak in the views!

How Do I Get To Malham Cove?

To make the most of your day in Malham, use the postcode BD23 4DJ if you’re driving. This can be done with your own vehicle or if you’re visiting Yorkshire and need to rent a car, this can easily be done in any of the big cities (Leeds, Manchester, York). 

Please note that the roads leading into Malham are narrow, but in good condition. The country roads and can also often become congested during peak visiting times. With this in mind, be careful of your speed and where you park so that traffic and emergency vehicles can drive through.

However, if you are using public transport you can get the train to Gargrave (7 miles away) or Skipton (11 miles away) with services from Leeds and Bradford.

You can also get a train to Settle on the beautiful Leeds – Settle – Carlisle route which passes through the Yorkshire Dales. 

The trains will only get you near Malham Cove and you’ll either have to walk, catch a bus, or hop in a taxi to begin the walk around Malham Cove.

It’s worth checking out National Rail for the latest times for the train route most suitable for you.

If you’re using the Dales Bus service, you can get to Malham from Gargrave or Skipton. Times and routes vary depending on if you’re travelling on a weekday or weekend. There’s also a summer service from Settle to Malham Tarn. Here’s the Dales Bus timetable updated in May 2022.

Is There Car Parking At Malham Cove?

Yes, there is car parking at Malham Cove. The main car park is at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre. If you’re entering Malham from the south (from Gargrave) it’s on the left before you drive into the village of Malham.

The postcode is BD23 4DG if you’re using a sat nav.

You can pay here at the pay machine for the day.  It’s £3 under two hours and £5 over two hours. If you want to leave your car overnight, it’s £6 for 24 hours or £7.50 for 48 hours. There are also app-enabled electric car charging stations on site if you need them.

There is other parking available in the village during busy periods. Mainly fields where you pay cash on arrival. Prices vary but are usually around £5.

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Malham Cove?

Personally, late spring or early summer is the best time of year to visit Malham Cove. The weather is usually better and the landscape is green and lush with fresh foliage, wild garlic, and blooming flowers.

However, I’ve visited in February and I’ve been wearing shorts at the top of Malham Cove. I’ve visited in mid-September and it was hot enough to dip my toes into the cool, refreshing water of Gordale Scar. I’ve also visited in summer and it’s been pouring down with rain. 

Whatever time of year you visit, I would recommend trying to pick a dry weather day. This will mean the paths are in good condition and the limestone won’t be slippy.

Top Tip: Go as early as you can to Malham Cove. If you start your walk any time before 9, you’ll more than likely have the place to yourself for the first half of your walk. Trust me, it’s worth the early start to enjoy Malham Cove without the crowds.

What Facilities Are There Are In Malham?

At the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre, you’ll find free public toilets. There’s also a visitor centre here where you can find maps, books on the local area and small gifts.

In Malham Village, there are pubs where you can enjoy food and a well earned drink after your walk, and cafes serving tea, coffee and refreshments. There’s also accommodation if you’re making a weekend of it and some outdoor shops selling anything you might need for your walk around Malham Cove.

Top Tip: When you’ve finished your circular walk around Malham Cove, and if the weather is nice, grab an ice cream and sit on the grass by The Lister Arms. It’s a really nice spot by the river!

What Footwear Do I Need For The Malham Cove Walk?

At a minimum, I’d recommend trainers or footwear with good grip. I’ve done this walk both in trainers and walking boots and both have been sufficient in dry weather. If it’s raining, I would recommend walking boots. The limestone path can be slippy at the top, especially in wet weather or if there’s a thin coating of mud on the limestone. And although the paths are well maintained, walking boots will give you extra support and protection on the fields if the weather isn’t on your side.

Can You Swim In Janet’s Foss?

Yes, you can swim in Janet’s Foss! It’s one of the most popular wild swimming spots in the Yorkshire Dales. Make sure you bring your swim wear for a refreshing dip in the summer! 

Where Can I Stay For A Weekend In Malham?

There are many places to stay for a weekend in Malham. If you’re camping, take a look at Gordale Scar Campsite, or Riverside Campsite which is next to the path to Malham Cove.

If you prefer glamping, Malham Glamping Pods will give you a little more comfort and there’s YHA Malham if you are looking for budget accommodation in Malham.

Alternatively, try out one of the many bed and breakfasts, cottage stays, or Lister Barn which is part of the Lister Arms.

If you do decide to do the Malham Cove circular walk, I hope you enjoy it! It’s one of my favourite walks and is such a lovely way to experience the Yorkshire Dales!