How To Walk Malham Cove via Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss

The circular walk to Malham Cove is a real classic up here in Yorkshire. It takes you via the beautiful Janet’s Foss waterfall, and then the impressive gorge of Gordale Scar and waterfall. This walk had been on my radar for a while, but I had been holding off for two reasons….

First, I knew I wanted to walk Malham Cove on a weekday, as I had heard how busy it can get. Up until this point, every Monday (my day off from work) had been raining. One of my patients at work had also told me to wait until spring to do it, to see all the wild garlic….

What I’m going to do in this guide, is first give you an overview of the Malham Cove circular walk, with a little bit of information about each stop. Then I will provide full logistics for the route, including a map, and some useful tips. I will then go on to describe the full route step by step with photos.

Malham Cove

Malham Cove is a huge, 70 meters high, curved limestone cliff. It has been formed over the last one and a half million years. The landscape along the top is quite unique, with large cracks in the rock you will need to navigate over.

Fun fact: It was featured in Harry Potter

Looking along the rocky cliff face of Malham Cove, after walking from Gordale Scar and Janets Foss.

People walking along the rocks with gaps at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Looking over the rocks, and down into the valley with a river snaking through it, on the walk across Malham Cove.

Janet’s Foss

Janet’s Foss is a small but powerful waterfall, near the village of Malham, and is completely free to visit. It pains me that you have to pay to see some of the waterfalls up here in Yorkshire. But not this one. You can also swim in the pool it drops into.

Fun fact: The pool was traditionally used for sheep dipping, which was a social occasion for the locals.

Top Tip: If you walk through the woods to reach Janet’s Foss in spring, you will be surrounded by wild garlic.

If you like waterfalls, one of my favourites here in Yorkshire, is the one in The Valley of Desolation. That one is also free to visit.

Gordale Scar

Gordale Scar is a huge limestone ravine, formed over thousands of years by melting ice water. It also features a cool waterfall flowing down through it.

Looking through the gorge of Gordale Scar, across a ground covered in rocks. The sun is shining down on the cliffside outside the gorge.

For this walk, you will turn back when you get to Gordale Scar, to walk over to Malham Cove.

The alternate route some people take, is to climb up the waterfall rocks, to head over to Malham Tarn first, before walking to Malham Cove. There is no footpath up Gordale Scar. You literally have to climb up the waterfall. The Yorkshire Dales website does recommend against doing this though, to avoid causing damage (not to you mind you, but to the soft tufa on the rocks).

How long is the Malham Cove circular walk?

The full circular walk to Malham Cove via Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar is about 5 miles. If you do the walk anticlockwise, you will reach Janet’s Foss first which is 1.5 miles in. Gordale Scar is the next stop, which is 2 miles into the walk.

How hard is the Malham Cove walk?

Personally, I found the full circular Malham Cove walk easy. From Malham to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar, there is an easy maintained footpath the whole way, on level ground. To walk up to Malham cove, it’s a bit more rugged and hilly. But I wouldn’t label it as challenging.

A well maintained path leading straight and to the left alongside a stone wall, at the start of the walk to Malham Cove. There are wavy hills ahead in the distance.

A rocky uphill trail, with a few people walking up it.

One thing I will say, is that there are a lot of steps leading up one side of Malham Cove. As such, I highly recommend you do this walk anticlockwise. That way you will walk down the steps. I think the walk up them would be quite tough.

Fancy another easy, but impressive walk in Yorkshire? Check out the Bolton Abbey trail. This one takes you via the Strid, which is apparently the deadliest strip of river in the world.

If you are more of the challenging hike type, then you should try out Pen-y-Ghent. That one involves a proper bit of scrambling to get to the top.

Is the walk dog Friendly?

The full circular walk to Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar, and Malham Cove is somewhat dog friendly, however, there are a few obstacles you need to be aware of. First of all, when walking across the top of Malham Cove, there is a large area with deep gaps in the rocks you need to navigate over. There is one ladder to climb over. There is also livestock about. Specifically sheep, and maybe baby sheep in spring.

A green grass field, filled with sheep grazing. All the sheep are black, except one white sheep.

Two sheep and a lamp walking across the grass, with a stone wall and hills beyond them.

A wooden ladder over a stone wall next to the road.

Looking across the rocky top of Malham cove, when walking across it.

Where to park to walk Malham Cove

There is one car park at the Malham National Park Visitor centre (Chapel Gate parking). It cost £5 for the day. There is free street side parking leading up to the car park.

If there is no space, then over by Gordale Scar, there is also some free street side parking. This is very limited though.

Tips

If you just plan to walk to Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss, trainers will be fine. To walk all the way including Malham Cove, I would suggest hiking boots. That section has some rocky bits and can get a little muddy.

Do the walk anticlockwise, that way you can walk down the steps at Malham Cove, instead of up.
Go very early, and if possible, on a weekday. I got there on a weekday morning and it was already packed. The car park was almost full, and the street side was lined with parked cars.
For the wild garlic, come in the spring.

If you don’t want rugged, then there is a way to see everything, by just following a proper path. After Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar, if you go back to Malham, there is a path from there which will take you to Malham Cove. It would mean walking up lots of steps though.

A path leading towards the cliff face of Malham Cove, with a few people walking along it. — This is the alternate easy path, to walk to Malham Cove

Logistics

Start/Finish: Malham National Park Visitors Centre. Post code: BD23 4DA.
Where is it: Located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Public transport: Yes. The 75 bus comes to Malham from Skipton (about 40min) via Gargrave. Both of which are on a train line. This bus is only on Saturday. Monday to Friday, you have the 210 and 211 minibus which also comes from Skiptin via Gargrave. The 864 runs to Malham from Ilkley and Bradford only on summer Sundays and Bank holidays. You can find the route timetables here.
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 1h 45 min without stops

Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Easy path, dirt trail, rocks, grass, a little bit of mud, steps, one ladder, some road.
Amenities: The Old Barn tearoom in Malham looked like the place to be. I didn’t stop at it, but everyone else did. The Lister Arms pub in Malham. There is a food truck near Gordale Scar. The visitors centre at Malham has public toilets.

Time of year: I did the walk in early spring

Map for the circular Malham Cove walk via Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss

You can see my more detailed route map for the Malham Cove circular walk on AllTrails here.

To explore other areas of Yorkshire, you can find more route recommendations on my best of Yorkshire Dales walking here. Or all the walks I recommend in the North York Moors here.

Full guide to the Malham Cove walk via Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss

When I arrived in Malham, the first thing I passed was a long long line of parked cars. My first though was, ‘oh no, does this mean the car park is full? Did I come all this way to not be able to park?’ My second thought was ‘Oooh, free parking’.

As I drove passed the parked cars, looking for a gap, I did pass one very small gap. It looked too small though, so I cut my losses and headed to the car park. The car park was almost full, which shocked me. It was Monday. I have been enjoying my Monday hikes as everyone else is at work. Who are all these people and why aren’t they at work? I nabbed one of the last spaces and went over to pay. When I saw it cost £5, I promptly left and made myself fit into that small free space on the street.

Part 1: Walk from Malham to Janet’s Foss – 1.5 miles

From the car park in Malham, there are signs pointing the way to walk to get to Janet’s Foss. There is a little stream to cross (if we are being technical, it’s actually a Beck). If you walk along it a little, you should see a bridge.

A wooden trial sign post on the side of the road, pointing left to walk to Malham Cove, Janet's Foss, and Gordale Scar.

A person standing on the grass looking across the the river stream. there are people walking on the other side of it. — It looked like there might be stepping stones here. Maybe when the water is lower?

Looking along the beck, lined with tall hay grass and trees, and a stone bridge further ahead crossing the water.

It’s now as simple as just following the path…or just follow everyone else. This would be the theme of the day. Follow everyone else.

A wide path with a field on the right and stone wall on the left, on the walk towards Janet's Foss.

A path leading straight ahead, with a stone wall on the right and wire fence on the left, with a couple of people walking along it ahead. There are hills way in the distance.

Two people walking on a paved path, with the river on the right and field on the left, on the walk to Janet's Foss.

A paved trail leading towards a hut and the hills, on the walk towards Janet's Foss. — Ok. It doesn’t look that busy. I just managed to get some photos without other people in it.

The landscape is quite lovely on this bit, with a view straight ahead to the hills. I had mixed feelings though. On the one hand, I was really excited about where I was heading, on the other, I was not excited about the amount of people about. It didn’t feel very peaceful. I left London to get away from the crowds.

The wild garlic

I mentioned one of my patients had told me to wait for the wild garlic. Well, I actually thought I might be too early for it. I had been planning to hold off a little longer to do this walk, but it was such a lovely day and I didn’t want to wait anymore.

As I approached the woods, I could see a mass of green. It all felt very lush. Then as I made my way along the woodland path, I smelt it. This was it. The wild garlic. I had only ever experienced wild garlic when it was further along, and flowering.

A path in the woods, with a hill bank on the left covered in green wild garlic, on the walk towards Janet's Foss.

I felt quite pleased with myself, having timed the Malham Cove walk just right. Then wondered if I could pick any of it….I thought best not, and kept on going.

Arriving at Janet’s Foss

It’s only a short walk though the woods to reach Janet’s Foss waterfall. This is where the crowd got serious. There was a mass of people hanging around it when I got there.

First of all, the waterfall was very cool. Very powerful, and I had a strong urge to jump into the water below it. Second, I looked and left very quickly. There was just too many people for my liking.

A rocky dirt path on the left and river on the right, and Janet's Foss waterfall visible ahead past some trees.

To leave Janet’s Foss, you have to walk up a very rocky section. There was a bunch of people slowly and precariously making their way down. I had no time for this, so hopped my way up the rocks just like the mountain goat I am.

A rocky hill through a gap in the rocks, on the walk away from Janet's Foss. There is ivy hanging down the rocks, and a person walking down the rock hill.

Fancy another easy waterfall walk? The Aysgarth Falls are all accessible along an easy path. You have the option to extend this walk, to get away from the crowds, and will cross over some cool stepping stones. Local to Aysgarth, you could visit Hardraw Force. This one you have to pay for. It does have claim to being the largest single drop waterfall in England though.

Part 2: Walk from Janet’s Foss to Gordale Scar – 1/2 mile

After you get up the rocks, you will see a sign at the gate, pointing the way to walk to Gordale Scar. Through there, you will be walking on the road now.

The path leading towards a wooden gate in the stone wall on the walk to Gordale Scar from Janet's Foss. There is a wooden trail signpost on the other side of the wall. There is a big hill rising up high ahead.

A road with a food truck to the left of it, and big hills behind it, on the walk towards Gordale Scar. There are lots of people walking about.

The field on the left of the road, is where you will go when you walk to Malham Cove in a little bit. The trail entrance is next to the food truck (I’m assuming the food truck is always there as it is marked on Google Maps).

For Gordale Scar though, you need to continue walking along the road, past the food truck, to a gate entrance at the curve in the road.

The road curving right, with a wooden gate in the stone wall on the left, on the walk towards Gordale Scar, There are a bunch of people walking through the gate.

Just like earlier when walking to Janet’s Foss, you will be on an easy well maintained path. Also, just like earlier, the landscape is really lovely, as you head towards the impressive cliffs…with lots of other people.

A wide path leading through a large grass field with the big gorge ahead, on the walk into Gordale Scar. There are lots of people walking on the path.

Lots of people on the path leading through the rocky gorge on the walk into Gordale Scar.

Arriving at Gordale Scar

It all happens very quickly, as once you enter the gap in the cliffs, you are there, with the waterfall straight in front of you.

Looking into the gorge of the impressive Gordale Scar with a waterfall running down it, on the circular walk to Malham Cove.

Before heading out on this walk, I had planned to go up the waterfall if I could (this is also before I knew that the Yorkshire Dales people don’t like you to do it). When I saw the waterfall and what I was up against, I didn’t consider it for another second. There was no way I was going up there.

After Gordale Scar, it’s now time to walk to Malham Cove. For this, you turn back the way you came, to get back to the food truck.

A path on the left, and waterlogged field on the right with a few sheep grazing, on the walk from Gordale Scar to Malham Cove.

Part 3: Walk from Gordale Scar to Malham Cove – 1.5 miles

To walk to Malhma Cove, there is a gate entrance to the field, just behind the food truck (if the food truck isn’t there, there is probably a sign. I can’t remember exactly, as I wasn’t paying that much attention, but rather, just following everyone else).

One thing to note, as you enter the field, this section can be very muddy (it was a mud fest for me).

Past the muddy bit, you need to follow the wall to go uphill. It’s now uphill for the rest of the walk to reach Malham Cove.

A stone wall on the right, running up a grass hill, with a few people walking along the top of the hill, on the walk from Gordale Scar, towards Malham Cove.

A large grass field, with a stone wall on the right, and hills ahead. There are a couple of people walking their dogs ahead, up the hill.

It’s grassy to start, then you will be on a dirt trail. You will go through some gates, and there are a couple of slightly rockier sections.

A rocky dirt trail through the hills, with a stone wall to the left. There are people walking ahead on the trail.

People walking up a rocky bit in the trail, on the walk towards Malham Cove.

Lots of people waling on a dirt trail with a grass hill on the right, stone wall on the left, and a stone hut ahead on the left side of the wall.

Looking down the trail to the hills in the distance on the walk up to Malham Cove. There are a few people walking up the trail. — The view looking back

When you reach the road, you need to go over the ladder on the other side, and then continue along the grass trail.

People walking cross the large grass hill field, with rocky bits ahead.

Looking across the fields, to a view of some big hills way in the distance. — The view to the left. I couldn’t figure out what that big hill is in the distance

Walk to Malham Cove

You will reach a signpost directing you straight to Malham Tarn and left to Malham Cove. This is where I went wrong. I had really zoned out by this point. I hadn’t looked at my map once. Without thinking about what the sign told me, I just continued straight.

After a bit, I suddenly realised there wasn’t anyone else about. Where had everyone gone? Something wasn’t right, so I looked at my map and realised I had gone too far.

After walking back a little, I got a view to a mass of people below to the right on the rocks. Ah, that must be Malham Cove…

Looking down the hill to the rocky top of Malham Cove, and the hills and fields in the distance.

Arriving at Malham Cove

Malham Cove is quite impressive, and I particularly liked the view along the river below. The next bit is also quite fun, as you navigate the gaps in the rocks to walk across it.

People walking along the rocks with gaps at Malham Cove.

Again, I didn’t stay long, due to too many people.

Part 4: Malham Cove back to the start –1.5 miles

From up here, you will see the path below that you will walk along next. To get to it, you need to find the steps down.

Across the gappy rocks, look out for the way down on the left. There is a gap in the stone wall just next to the stone wall steps. You need to go through this gap.

Looking down across the rocks, with a stone wall with a gap on the right, and the valley below, on the walk down from Malham Cove. — See the gap in the wall on the right

Stone steps, leading downhill with Malham Cove to the left and the valley below.

As I made my way down, passing other people coming up, I felt a bit bad for them, but also a little smug.

At the bottom, you now just follow the well laid out path, through the fields, to reach the road. Once at the road, turn left, which will lead you back into the village.