Secret Spots in the YDNP
Walk From Here
I have to temporarily disappoint visitors sometimes when I'm asked the way to the beach but... all of this area WAS under a shallow tropical sea about 350 million years ago, and only 10 degrees away from the equator. And it was a sea that teemed with life which deposited layer upon layer of shells onto the underlying granite. Pick up any white rock here and you've got a good chance of seeing fossilised corals, lilies and shells. At some point all of this got thrust up high into air as the continental plates moved around: it became the Great Scar Limestone" that we see today. And then it got sculpted - most dramatically by glaciers and glacial meltwaters, but also by rain, wind and vegetation in more congenial inter-glacial climates.
12,000 years ago, a massive melt-water waterfall would have dropped 80m over the 300m arc of cliffs at Malham Cove. Since then the little water that there is now finds its way underground to the resurgence at the foot of the cove. There is still a waterfall every now and then - it flowed on two occasions in the last 5 years, but I'm told that was the first time in nearly 200 years. There is a complex cave system behind the cove but cave divers have so far only penetrated the restricted first 1.6 km of this system. The water that emerges from the base of the cove was thought at one time to come from the "Water Sinks", about 1 mile further north, but we know now that goes elsewhere. The water at the cove includes water from at least two other sources - Boggle Cave and K2 - and it was taking it 4 days and 8 days respectively to make that journey when they tested it! And the "pipework" behind the cove is so labyrinthine that about once a year the Water Sinks water manages to cross these other water courses without joining them and emerge from Cawden - just above the barn at the Friars Garth road junction - then flow down the road into Malham village (bring wellies)!
The cove is only about half a mile north of Malham - there's a big clear footpath starting from just beyond the village on the cove road. There's also a path less travelled starting from this side of the village, on the back road, just above Beck Hall.
Volunteers from the RSPB are often available to talk about the peregrine falcons that nest high on the right hand side of the cove; they set up telescopes for better viewing. If they're not around, just look out for the falcons' characteristic high speed nose dives; they are very watchable.
And it's not just the cliff that's world famous - take the 400 or so steps on the left hand side to reach the limestone pavement above the cove where rain has created an extraordinary landscape. I love the wizzened trees that cling onto life in this barren and sometimes windsept place. Film location scouts like it here too - this is one of the spots that Harry and Hermione pitched their tent when they were lying low in "The Deathly Hallows".
If you cross the whole pavement and keep going, you can either head north (left) up a dry valley, eventually reaching Malham Tarn, or keep straight on to emerge at Hangmans Hill and the Tarn Road. Head downhill on the road to arrive at the Friars Garth junction on the road from Malham to Gordale.
156 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Malham Cove
I have to temporarily disappoint visitors sometimes when I'm asked the way to the beach but... all of this area WAS under a shallow tropical sea about 350 million years ago, and only 10 degrees away from the equator. And it was a sea that teemed with life which deposited layer upon layer of shells onto the underlying granite. Pick up any white rock here and you've got a good chance of seeing fossilised corals, lilies and shells. At some point all of this got thrust up high into air as the continental plates moved around: it became the Great Scar Limestone" that we see today. And then it got sculpted - most dramatically by glaciers and glacial meltwaters, but also by rain, wind and vegetation in more congenial inter-glacial climates.
12,000 years ago, a massive melt-water waterfall would have dropped 80m over the 300m arc of cliffs at Malham Cove. Since then the little water that there is now finds its way underground to the resurgence at the foot of the cove. There is still a waterfall every now and then - it flowed on two occasions in the last 5 years, but I'm told that was the first time in nearly 200 years. There is a complex cave system behind the cove but cave divers have so far only penetrated the restricted first 1.6 km of this system. The water that emerges from the base of the cove was thought at one time to come from the "Water Sinks", about 1 mile further north, but we know now that goes elsewhere. The water at the cove includes water from at least two other sources - Boggle Cave and K2 - and it was taking it 4 days and 8 days respectively to make that journey when they tested it! And the "pipework" behind the cove is so labyrinthine that about once a year the Water Sinks water manages to cross these other water courses without joining them and emerge from Cawden - just above the barn at the Friars Garth road junction - then flow down the road into Malham village (bring wellies)!
The cove is only about half a mile north of Malham - there's a big clear footpath starting from just beyond the village on the cove road. There's also a path less travelled starting from this side of the village, on the back road, just above Beck Hall.
Volunteers from the RSPB are often available to talk about the peregrine falcons that nest high on the right hand side of the cove; they set up telescopes for better viewing. If they're not around, just look out for the falcons' characteristic high speed nose dives; they are very watchable.
And it's not just the cliff that's world famous - take the 400 or so steps on the left hand side to reach the limestone pavement above the cove where rain has created an extraordinary landscape. I love the wizzened trees that cling onto life in this barren and sometimes windsept place. Film location scouts like it here too - this is one of the spots that Harry and Hermione pitched their tent when they were lying low in "The Deathly Hallows".
If you cross the whole pavement and keep going, you can either head north (left) up a dry valley, eventually reaching Malham Tarn, or keep straight on to emerge at Hangmans Hill and the Tarn Road. Head downhill on the road to arrive at the Friars Garth junction on the road from Malham to Gordale.
Janet's Foss
Gordale Scar
Malham Moor
Malham Tarn
The Victoria Inn
Main StreetTown End Farm Shop
The Falcon Inn
2 Castle YdShort Walks From The Car
Victoria Cave
Feizor
Stainforth Force
Clapham
Austwick
Hills To Climb
Pen-y-ghent
Great Whernside
Buckden Pike
Ingleborough
Road Trip #1 - Ribblesdale, Ingleborough and Chapel-Le-Dale
Viaduct ng Ribblehead
Low Sleights RoadThe geology of the dales is dominated by cavernous limestone; glaciers carved it into dramatic relief, but underground, through the eras, the simple chemistry of slightly acidic rainwater running through calcium carbonate has carved out labyrinths of underground chambers and passages. There are hundreds of them - and more are being found all the time. Most may never be entered by mankind. Some of these caverns are decorated with beautiful calcite formations and the show caves at White Scar present an opportunity for everyone to experience one of these
19 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
White Scar Caves Ltd
The geology of the dales is dominated by cavernous limestone; glaciers carved it into dramatic relief, but underground, through the eras, the simple chemistry of slightly acidic rainwater running through calcium carbonate has carved out labyrinths of underground chambers and passages. There are hundreds of them - and more are being found all the time. Most may never be entered by mankind. Some of these caverns are decorated with beautiful calcite formations and the show caves at White Scar present an opportunity for everyone to experience one of these
Dent
Hoffmann Lime Kiln
The Old Hill Inn
Road Trip #2 - Littondale, Wharfdale and Coverdale
Kilnsey Crag
Grassington
Hubberholme
The George Inn
Buckden
Thwaite Arms
Pen-y-ghent Gill
Things For A Rainy Day
There's no doubt that you'll feel better holing up with a book and drink in the warm comfort of the studio, or in the inglenook of an old pub in front of a day-long fire... if... you have plan to brave the rain and venture out somewhere interesting. Or better still, you've already done that and now deserve some quality time.
So where to go?
A short walk to the cove and up the steps - across the limestone pavement and back to the pub via hangman's hill?
Take the car but stay in the countryside? Some things here are still spectacular in bad weather. Take a road trip for instance that takes in Stainforth Force, views of Pen-y-gent and Ingleborough, the iconic Ribblehead viaduct, lunch at the Hill Inn in Chapel-le-Dale, a tour of White Scar Caves, a tea shop in Ingleton, or Settle, a quick look at the Hoffman Lime Kiln near Lancliffe, and back to Malham over the tops (taking the route past Malham Tarn - always serene and atmospheric).
Or there's plenty to do in Skipton: the castle, the woodland walk, the narrow boats in the canal basin, shops, market, pubs and restaurants, cinema... Check in line for what's on that day
And you could treat yourself by ending the day with a glass of wine and a restaurant dinner at Beck Hall or the Lister Arms. In fact, cheer yourselves up first thing in the morning by booking a table :-)
15 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company & Community Rail Partnership
Market PlaceStump Cross Caverns
A Rainy Day in Skipton
The gate-house to this surprisingly complete castle stands imposingly at the top of the high street. I love the manicured lawns inside and the ancient twisted tree in the beautiful Tudor courtyard. The kid in all of us will enjoy imagining the misery of being imprisoned in the dungeon, or the tension of being an archer at an embrasure in the high tower, watching enemy soldiers stealthily approaching.
It was a Norman castle originally so parts of it are pretty much 1000 years old. It held against a drive in the civil eat for three years! And it's still standing, roof and all; in fact, it's still lived in.
61 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Skipton Castle
The gate-house to this surprisingly complete castle stands imposingly at the top of the high street. I love the manicured lawns inside and the ancient twisted tree in the beautiful Tudor courtyard. The kid in all of us will enjoy imagining the misery of being imprisoned in the dungeon, or the tension of being an archer at an embrasure in the high tower, watching enemy soldiers stealthily approaching.
It was a Norman castle originally so parts of it are pretty much 1000 years old. It held against a drive in the civil eat for three years! And it's still standing, roof and all; in fact, it's still lived in.
Skipton Library
High StreetCraven Leisure
21 Gargrave RdThe Narrow Boat
Victoria StreetCoffee Care (N.C.) Ltd
Coach Street