Yorkshire Dales Day 3 - Goredale Scar, Malham Tarn, Malham Cove + Sunset walk up Inglebrough

Our next day was another slightly tourist day. For a long time I've wanted to visit Malham Cove so we decided to do the usual walk of Goredale Scar, Malham Cove & Malham Tarn.

En route to the start of the walk the area we'd walked on our first Evening was looking particularly impressive in the sunshine..



Then it was onwards to Malham to park up. It was in fully swing of Jubilee celebrations and was full of people. Luckily they'd arranged for parking in the nearby fields. We walked through Malham to the start of our walk - all around us with decorated animal models for a Jubilee Safarai which Emma enjoyed looking at during the start and end of the day.

Malham



Fields full of buttercups



We soon arrived at Janet's Foss and cave which was swarming with people. I was rather sad about that as I fancied a swim (had my stuff with me) but didn't want to be in a million and one people's photos. So we had to be content in scrambling up to have a closer look at the falls and Tufra deposits.



Onwards we went to Goredale Scar, again hugely impressive. It also features a campsite.







There is a short scramble up the waterfall to reach the top. Emma lost her confidence doing them step across , but with me bridging a gap with my legs and Steve giving a hand she eventually stepped across. Then it was my turn, I wasn't too keen in trying to stick my big winter boot into one of the slippery slimey footholds, but stepped across with little bother. We scrambled up a bit further and came to the impressive waterfalls - a great spot.



More tufra





Once on the top we were surrounded by limestone pavements which we enjoyed wandering around. There were also lots of wild flowers about - the best being Viola tricolor









Our way onwards was to Malham Tarn. I was hoping for a swim there, but the air temp was pretty chilly out of the shelter of the valley, especially with the sun going in and out at regular intervals. When we sat down for lunch we were surrounded by midges so I decided it was probably for the best I didn't venture in!





We set off to Malham cove with full tummies, people were everywhere - not a walk to do on a bank holiday weekend if you desire peace and quiet! Staring down from the top was impressive - I ever managed to look down!





We dropped down the footpath passing lots of out of breath walkers in unsuitable shoes and attire - flip flops - really?! to reach Malham Cove. We sat for sometime watching in amazement at the climbers - it looked horrible! Some of the climbs were closed due to ospreys nesting - just as we were leaving we heard, then saw one flying across the cove.





Emma took this shot:



On our way back to the car we saw Canada geese flying in formation



And we enjoyed some icecream and more animal safarei in Malham



And it was then back to the cottage to decide how to spend Jubilee evening. There were celebrations in Settle with a Beacon being lit on one of the smaller hills but we fancied something a bit more impressive so decided to head to Inglebrough for the Beacon lighting there. We thought we'd try one more attempt at eating out so we found a pub on the OS near the ascent of the peak and off we headed...

We arrived at The Old Hill Inn and they were doing food and had room for us - hooray! So we sat down to some seriously big huge and tasty portions of food. By the time we were ready to leave it was 8pm. I had some doubt if we'd make the top in time, but as it was a sunny evening we decided to get as far as we could and head down if we got too tired.

Despite the warning signs the pub let us leave the car there, although the guy looked a little concerned when we said we were going to the top at that time of the day. He needn't have been worried - the burger and coke fueled little Emma and she stormed it to the top - at times I struggled to keep up with her!





A very big sink hole











We made it to the top in time for sunset which was one of the best ones I've ever seen. Emma declared it beautiful and it felt good she was able to appreciate the view (she normally enjoyed the sites and geology more than views when walking). We sat for sometime watching it go down over the lake district peaks then went to shelter in the summit shelter out of the wind.











It was pretty cold on the top and I was glad we had packed extra layers for Emma - I had my usual layers plus waterproof top/trousers/balaclava and gloves. My gloves had lots of holes in them from scrambling so I spent the wait for the Beacon sewing them up with my mini sewing kit whilst Emma chattered away.

We watched the Beacon be lit (somewhat of an anti climax after the great sunset) and Emma made friends with one of the beacon lighter's dogs - which she thought was better than the beacon lighting itself. The fireworks down in the valley looked quite pathetic from so far away and failed to impress the ever demanding Emma..







We soon headed down just as the light was starting to fall - we found the start of the easy scramble down which was trickier going down than up for Emma then it was down the steep rocky path to join the wooden/stone paths through the bogs. We had torches but mainly managed without them until the last 15 minutes or so. The moon was full and looking particularly impressive. Emma only complained she was tired when she was a few minutes from the car - so proud of her for doing so much walking during the day..