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United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Craven

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove – Malham Cove loop from Malham Tarn

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Craven

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove – Malham Cove loop from Malham Tarn

Moderate

4.9

(39)

271

hikers

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove – Malham Cove loop from Malham Tarn

04:33

16.2km

300m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

381 m

Malham Tarn

Highlight • Viewpoint

A glacial Marl lake and important wildlife habitat in a beautiful setting. Malham Tarn is managed by the National Trust.
The round the lake trail is a great fairly flat run-on good trail. The wooden walkways over the marshland to the north of the lake are fun to run but it's difficult to pass people so best to only include them on a run on quiet mid-week days. The Pennine Way national trail goes past the tarn.

Tip by

941 m

Lings Plantation

Forest

1.62 km

Malham Tarn

Highlight • Natural Monument

A beautiful lake at 1,237 feet (377 metres) above sea-level, Malham Tarn is the highest marl lake in England. Formed around 10,000 years ago, it is one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe. The lake has been a site for human activity since the Mesolithic era when hunters camped here hunting for deer and wild cattle.

In more recent history, author Charles Kingsley was inspired to write his novel 'Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby' when he visited the lake in 1858.

Today, the lake is owned by the National Trust. It's considered to be an important conservation area thanks to its unique geology, flora and fauna.

Tip by

7.89 km

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove

Highlight • Natural Monument

Most people walk from Malham village up to the Cove using the road ways. There's actually an alternative route up past the pub, which takes you higher up. I find this is better for photos of the Cove. Once you're up on the top, after a break on the steps, don't miss out on the Malham Tarn further along. It's only an extra 10-15 minute walk and worth a visit, especially during the summer months.

Tip by

9.53 km

Archaeological Site

10.0 km

Janet's Foss

Viewpoint

10.4 km

Woodland Path to Janet's Foss

Highlight • Gorge

This magical woodland path leads to Janet’s Foss. The waterfall is named after the Queen of the Fairies, as it is rumoured that she lived behind the falls. The woods have a glorious smell of garlic in the spring when the ramsons come into flower.

Tip by

11.1 km

Riverside Path to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

Highlight • Forest

A quick and easy route from Malham to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

Tip by

13.1 km

Malham Cove

Highlight • Natural Monument

Car parks gets really busy. I got there early morning but it was too busy to park I came back late afternoon and it was a lot quieter. Farmers sometimes open fields that you can park in too

Tip by

13.4 km

Malham Cove Steps

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The steps up to the Cove are a nice little challenge. Enjoyable to walk up with others, as the shared experience leads to a few 'hellos' and a little humour. Once you get to the top it's nice to sit on the Cove and 'people-watch' to see the various 'conditions' that people arrive in, that's when you have managed to catch your own breath of course!

Tip by

13.7 km

Top of Malham Cove

Highlight • Natural

very slippery

Tip by

16.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.14 km

3.88 km

2.48 km

1.53 km

217 m

Surfaces

4.26 km

3.38 km

3.35 km

3.16 km

1.27 km

813 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (400 m)

Lowest point (190 m)

Weather

Thursday 2 July

17°C

9°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove – Malham Cove loop from Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove

Woodland Path to Janet's Foss

Riverside Path to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

Malham Cove

Malham Cove Steps

Top of Malham Cove

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