A Walk - Black Hill and Great Close Hill with Graham Hogg
10½ miles (17km) with 1550ft (475m) Total Ascent
From the Visitor Centre Car park we make our way to Malham Cove and ascend steeply to the limestone pavement for views out over Malham and beyond.
Heading north along Watlowes Dry Valley we emerge at Langscar Gate and join the Dales High Way and head for Black Hill (468m). There is no trig point or cairn but its the highest point on our walk today.
Descending north we exit the open access land near Capon Hall and then have some road walking before we join the Malham Tarn Estate path near Tarn Moss. For a change, we´ll take the boardwalk path around the nature reserve at the northern edge of the tarn before heading to the bird hide for a brew stop.
From here, we proceed to climb Great Close Hill (465m) with its expansive views on a clear day. A careful descent to avoid the steep crags brings us to Great Close Mire and a well graded path which we´ll follow to Street Gate near Seaty Hill.
Our route now takes us to the head of Gordale Scar. It is too risky to attempt a reverse descent down the waterfall so instead we follow a path which hugs the high western flank of the gorge. There are plenty of vantage points for dramatic views down into the confines of the gorge and at one point the waterfall is fully visible.
The disadvantage of staying high along the gorge edge is inevitably a steep descent down to Goredale Bridge. (Walking poles may prove useful here). There´s no rush, so we´ll take care on the descent and once in the valley it is a straight forward return to the village by way of Janet´s Foss waterfall.
B+ Walk - Langcliffe Loop with Sue Banister
10½ miles (16.9km) with 1400ft (427m) Total Ascent
We head up through Malham village towards the cove but continue on the road to join a footpath climbing up towards Langscar Gate. We then head west on the Pennine Bridleway over the moors to Langcliffe. The views up here are superb on a good day including Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.
At Jubilee Caves we go south along Brent Scar and Attermire Scar then join the Dales High Way heading east past Rye Loaf Hill and Kirkby Fell. It´s then downhill to Malham via Hanber Side and Hoober Edge.
B Walk - Malham Circular with Stuart Arnold
8 miles (12.9km) with 1150ft (350m) Total Ascent
Leaving the coach we cross the footbridge at the Smithy and go downstream to follow the path to Janet´s Fosse and on to Gordale Scar for a look only.
Back at Gordale Bridge we go up a gentle slope which takes us to the fell top at New Close Knotts. Here we take a good grassy path going north westwards on to Malham Tarn. On our return we join the Pennine way for a short way and then take the path to Dean Moor Hill. This allows us to avoid the rocky path around Comb Hill, Comb Scar and the dry valley which in bad weather can be hazardous. So we turn south to take field paths for just over a mile to Cove Road.
Here we turn left and then right onto Long Lane to arrive back at the start and a well deserved brew.
C Walk - A whispering to the faries with Joe Brennand
5 miles (8km) with 500ft (152m) Total Ascent
We set off fron the coach park south towards mires barn on to Janets cave Gordale bridge then we trek up to gordale scar retrace our steps back to Gordale bridge take the path to climb slowely to malham cove and follow path back into malham and the pub or tea house for refreshments there is ONLY one stile, but there is 420 steps coming down from Malham cove.