Malham is easily one of my favorite places in the Yorkshire Dales, and in all of Yorkshire itself. With beautiful scenery and great opportunities for hiking, the Dales were at the top of my list when I first moved to Yorkshire. Malham was the first place I visited in the Dales, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. You can see some truly spectacular scenery and visit epic natural features around Malham. It’s one of the top places I bring people when they come visit me in Yorkshire!

Out of all the dales in the Yorkshire Dales, Malhamdale is one of the most beautiful. Travel writer and fellow Midwesterner Bill Bryson, author of the best-selling travel book Notes From A Small Island, used to live in Kirkby Malham in Malhamdale. He said about Malhamdale: “I won’t know for sure if Malhamdale is the finest place there is until I have died and seen heaven (assuming they let me at least have a glance), but until that day comes, it will certainly do.”

Malhamdale is certainly beautiful. The rolling green fields, marked with gray drystone walls and dotted with white sheep, is quintessential Yorkshire. It’s the image of England that so many people outside of Britain have in their mind. The main spots can all be visited comfortably in a day hike. The walk  – including a detour up to the tarn – is approximately 8.5 miles and usually takes me 3.5 hours.

I recommend sturdy hiking boots (I love my Scarpa Mistral boots!), a waterproof rain jacket, and the OS Maps app for any hike in the UK. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you. Check out my outdoor gear guide here. On my first ever visit to Malham in February 2017, I even saw snow – my first snow in the UK! Here’s what you should see around Malham.

Malham Village

The village of Malham itself is really small. There are two pubs, the Buck Inn and the Listers Arms. There are also a shops and a few cafes, a national park center, lots of holiday cottages/accommodation, the YHA hostel, and that’s about it. But it’s an excellent base for hiking – and there is plenty to see in the area!

Janet’s Foss

This is a beautiful waterfall in a clearing surrounded by trees. It’s supposedly named after Jennet, a fairy queen who used to live in the cave behind the waterfall. This is a top wild swimming spot in the Yorkshire Dales! I love the path along the beck and through the woods to get here. The woodland always reminds me of Lord of the Rings! It’s about 1 mile from Malham to Janet’s Foss.

Gordale Scar

Gordale Scar is a limestone ravine, which narrows sharply from the open area at the start of the footpath to an epic chasm. It even has a small waterfall of its own. You can climb up the waterfall to the footpath that goes over the top to the tarn, although I’ve never been brave enough to do this! It’s well-signposted from Janet’s Foss – the entrance to Gordale Scar is through a gate off the road.

Malham Cove

Malham’s most striking feature is, without a doubt, Malham Cove and its rocky pavement. 260 feet above the ground, this limestone cliff was formed by a waterfall at the end of the last Ice Age. It was even featured in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 movie as one of Harry and Hermione’s camping spots!

The views of Malham and the area from Malham Cove are breathtaking. This is easily one of the top views in all of Yorkshire, and maybe even in all of England! It’s one of my favorite places on earth, and somewhere I love returning to.

If you just want to visit the cove (and not Janet’s Foss or Gordale Scar), you can follow the paved footpath from the village. You’ll need to hike up the steep set of stairs (always a killer!) to get to the top of the cove. It’s approximately half a mile from the village to the cove this way.

Malham Tarn

The tarn is 1 mile north of Malham Cove, on a well-marked path – the word “tarn” comes from the Old Norse word tjörn, which means pond. At 1,237 feet above sea level, it is the highest freshwater lake in England! The lake itself is quite pretty, but it’s known more for its geology, birdwatching, and flora and fauna. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), so please protect the environment and don’t swim here.

I prefer to go from Malham Cove through the gully, up past the caves to the tarn. But there are multiple different footpaths in the area that go to the tarn; the path up Gordale Scar waterfall will take you to the tarn, too!

Planning Your Trip to Malham

It’s definitely easiest to visit Malham if you have your own car. There is a Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Malham, which costs £5.50 for all-day parking (over 2 hours); the machine accepts both cash and card. There is parking (free, but donations gratefully accepted) along the road into the village. On busy days, there may be extra parking in a field by the road. There is no parking available in Malham village itself.

If you don’t have a vehicle, you can visit Malham by bus. Skipton is the nearest main train station. For travel on Monday-Friday, DalesBus #210 and #211 run from Skipton to Malham, via Gargrave – the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. On Saturdays in summer, DalesBus #75 runs from Skipton to Malham. On Sundays and bank holidays in summer, Cravenlink Bus #864 runs from Bradford/Ilkley/Skipton to Malham. Find the DalesBus timetable here. The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford – I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.

I have typically visited Malham as a daytrip from where I live in York. If you’re wanting to stay, the YHA Malham hostel will be the best choice for those on a budget. You can also stay at the Lister Arms! There are a few options for B&B/holiday lets, too. You can search for accommodation in Malham here, or by using the map below!

Booking.com

 

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Interested in a tour that visits Malham? Check out options for the Yorkshire Dales here!

Malham is one of my favorite places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, in Yorkshire, and in all of England. It’s simply a magnificently beautiful place. I’ll be returning here, seeing these spots, and hiking in this gorgeous area, for many years to come. I hope this post helps planning your trip to Malham!

Have you visited Malham before? What was your favorite place in the area?

You might also like my posts:

The BEST Places to Visit in the Yorkshire Dales

The Ultimate Yorkshire Guide: 88 Incredible Places to Visit in Yorkshire

Hiking Ingleborough From Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales

Exploring Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales: Hiking Around Muker, Keld, and More

A Quick Guide to Aysgarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales

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