This weekend, amongst the nights out and hangovers I managed to get out and about into the lovely countryside of the Yorkshire dales. Now there is a huge expanse of countryside in the dales sculpted by the rivers and past glaciers along with limestone beds that underlay a large area. This has meant there are hundreds of caves and waterfalls that flow down off the hills. Ingleton is famous for its stunning waterfalls, but just a few miles away there is something which is even more spectacular. Now this feature probably gets overshadowed from the nearby towns of Settle, Ingleton and Skipton but Malham Cove is definitely something that you have to see!
Now Malham Cove sounds like it is something on the coast, but it is probably one of the only places that is called a cove but is not actually at the sea! This feature found in Malhamdale, just one kilometre north of the Village of Malham, with its cafes, coffee shops, pubs, tourist information and farm shops. The cove itself is actually made from the underlying Limestone rocks and has been sculpted into a massive cliff face at the head of a valley with limestone pavements found above. The calcium with the limestone means that the huge cliff is white. The cliff reaches 80m in height and 300m wide.
Its a spectacular site as you walk up the valley right up to the foot of cliff. A small river flows from cracks at the bottom of the cliff from a cavernous pathway which filters through the limestone beds. Their is many walks around this area and the views are spectacular, over 400 stone steps guide you up to the top of the cliff side.
This is where you will find the limestone pavements. Layers of irregular shaped beds of rock laid down millions of years ago. The flow of water has cut grooves and patterns into the beds and can at times be slippy along with its irregularity meaning that sturdy walking boots are recommended! The edge of the cliff is not fenced off so stay back! Many climbers can be seen taking on the cliff face.
The view from the top is fantastic looking down the valley towards Malham where there is a large car park, toilet and visitors centre. Free parking can also be found if you are lucky! There are B&Bs and a local campsite too.
The main walk takes you from the top of the cove down another valley where waterfalls and caves can be found before it brings you back into the village. There is also the option of visiting Gordale Scar a huge ravine with steep cliffs and waterfalls.
The cliff face formed from a large waterfall fed by a glacier during the last Ice Age. It was towards the end of the Ice Age when temperatures were increasing and the ice sheets retreating, but the ground was still permanently frozen meaning that meltwater formed a huge river creating the valley and what would have been a huge waterfall, taller than Niagra falls today! Water now travels down through a complex cave system thought to begin forming over 50,000 years ago. Heavy rain and floodwater is swallowed by the cave system before it reaches the edge; but the last recorded time water came over the edge of the cove was in the early 19th Century during a period of heavy rain.
Malham Cove appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) as one of the places Harry and Hermione travel to with their tent.
Loverly place, definitely worth a visit!
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