Malham Cove
Skipton, England
Don’t be fooled by its name: Malham Cove isn’t a quaint seaside village, but rather a landlocked limestone amphitheater in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Geological formations of this type are rarely seen in England, making it an interesting place to visit when exploring this area.
The basics
Malham Cove’s limestone amphitheater is around 230 feet (70 meters) high and was millions of years in the making. Although it’s believed that a massive waterfall once thundered over the amphitheater—imagine Yorkshire’s answer to Niagara Falls—now the water flows underground, which is good news for rock climbers who attempt the sheer rock face, and the peregrine falcons that nest here.
Many people visit Malham Cove independently, as it’s within walking distance of Malham village. It’s also sometimes included on day tours of the Yorkshire Dales National Park from Liverpool or Manchester, along with other picturesque villages and waterfalls in the area.
Things to know before you go
Camping is prohibited at Malham Cove, but there are campsites in and around Malham village nearby.
Several scenes of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were filmed around here, so film fans might like to seek these out while visiting.
Take care if you’re walking up the limestone pavement at the top of the cove as wet stones can be slippery.
How to get there
There’s no parking at Malham Cove, so drivers need to use parking facilities in Malham village and walk from there. The track to the cove is about 900 feet (275 meters) up Cove Road from the village. From the road, a footpath leads to the foot of the cove and up to the limestone pavement above, where views across the landscape are especially impressive. Malham is about an hour by car north of Leeds, and a little further from Manchester.
When to get there
Malham Cove can be visited year-round, but Northern England can be especially cold between November and March. It’s an outdoor attraction, so most people will prefer to visit in the daylight and when the weather is fine. Nesting peregrine falcons may be seen in the summer.
Hike the Malham Landscape Trail
Make the most of your time in Malham by hiking the Malham Landscape Trail. The 4-mile (6.3-kilometer) hike takes about 90 minutes and passes the beautiful Janet’s Foss Waterfall, the Gordale Scar gorge, and Malham Cove. It can be boggy, slippery, and challenging in places, but is a very scenic circuit.
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