[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated. All prices were correct at time of writing. Prices may vary at time of reading.]

As one of the most popular attractions in the Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove is an impressive sight. However, nearby Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar are also worth a visit. This hike takes you along some of the most impressive natural features in the area. From cliffs to gorges to waterfalls, this route is without a doubt, one of the best in the Yorkshire Dales.

Some Useful Info

To the right are some useful stats about this walk. Without stopping it takes 2.5 to 3 hours; however, many people either choose to stop and eat lunch in Malham along the way or stop to take lots of photos, so it may take longer than 3 hours.

Another thing to note is that on the whole this walk is fairly easy; however, near Malham Cove you'll have to walk down 400 steps and at Gordale Scar, you'll have to climb up the rock face next to the waterfall, which may be challenging for some people. As a result of this, I recommend doing the walk via Malham Cove first and leave Gordale Scar until the end, so you climb up the waterfall rather than down it. Also, it's important to be wary of how much it's rained beforehand as this route may become impassable at certain times of year.

There aren't many places along this route where you can stop and get help, other than in the village of Malham. The rest consists of rural landscapes that aren't very accessible, so make sure you're capable and willing to do the whole route.

Below is a map of the recommended route:

Where to start

The route starts at the Water Sinks Car Park (post code: BD23 4DJ) near Malham Tarn. The road up can be narrow and windy and it's best to get there early (before 10am) to ensure you can get a space. This car park is only accessible by car. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there from Settle, 35 minutes from Skipton and 50 minutes from Hawes.

Where next?

From the car park, I walked 100m or so along the road until I saw signs for the Pennine Way. This took me all the way to Malham Cove in around 35 minutes and is more scenic than the main route from the car park. From the cove I enjoyed views of the rolling hills.

Malham Cove

The view from Malham Cove

After this, I headed down the 400 steps to the bottom of the cove and enjoyed looking back up at the sheer size of the cliffs. I then followed the path away from the cove until I reached the road leading to the village of Malham. I followed this road for a few hundred metres before entering the village. On the right, you'll see some toilets and I walked past these for another 30m before following a path on the left that crosses the nearby stream. This path took me along the stream Malham Beck before turning left and following the stream Gordale Beck.

Within 50 minutes I had reached Janet's Foss from Malham Cove. Janet's Foss is a beautiful waterfall with a small natural pool around it. It's found within some secluded woods and is thought to be inhabited by fairies. It's definitely worth a visit but I recommend going early to avoid crowds as it can get very busy in the summer!

Janet's Foss

Another 20 minutes from Janet's Foss is Gordale Scar, the next stop on this route. Gordale Scar is a 100m high gorge with two waterfalls running through it. This is personally my favourite part of the hike! If at this point you start to worry that the footpath has disappeared, then don't! The footpath actually takes you up the waterfall and to the top of the gorge. It's a lot of fun! If it's rained a lot beforehand then you may have to get your feet wet if you can still climb up safely. Once again, I recommend going early to avoid crowds, especially in the summer.

Climbing up one of the waterfalls at Gordale Scar

Gordale Scar

Once I reached the top of Gordale Scar, I had a rest to appreciate the views of the cliffs and stream. From this point it's an easy walk that goes through the fields until you reach a point where several roads meet. From here I followed the road in the middle until I found a path on the right taking me to Malham Tarn. From the top of Gordale Scar, this took about 45 minutes. Once you're at the tarn, you can follow the path back to the car park and that's the end of the hike!

The rock formations near Gordale Scar

What to bring/wear?

If you're new to hiking then here's a basic list of some things you might want to bring:

• Lots of water, especially on a hot day

• Lunch and snacks - best to save money by having a packed lunch but there are places to eat in Malham

• Waterproof walking boots - to avoid getting wet feet whilst walking up the waterfall

• A walking partner - it's generally not recommended to hike in the hills alone but it's not so much of a problem here as there are lots of people hiking the same route; however, early in the morning there was no one else around

• Sunscreen

• A map will be useful if you're worried about getting lost!

• Camera as the views are stunning

• Obviously don't forget other essentials, such as ID, money etc.

The waterfall at Gordale Scar from above

From rolling hills to gorges to waterfalls, this hike really has it all. This is by far the best hike that I've ever done, so I really hope this guide has been helpful. In total this hike took me between 3 to 4 hours as I've stopped a lot to take photos and eat food but I find that it's more fun when you do a more relaxed hike. It definitely made me realise that the UK's natural beauty is underrated and definitely deserves more recognition!