Janet's Foss – Gordale Scar Waterfall loop from Malham

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Malham

Janet's Foss – Gordale Scar Waterfall loop from Malham

Hard

4.9

(112)

729

hikers

Janet's Foss – Gordale Scar Waterfall loop from Malham

04:27

15.7km

330m

Hiking

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 4, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 2.95 km for 100 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

53 m

Malham Village

Highlight • Settlement

Malham is one of the Dales' most popular little villages. It's worth a visit just to enjoy its quaint cafes, boutiques and lovely pubs. However, the village is synonymous with …

Tip by

958 m

Riverside Path to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

Highlight • Forest

A quick and easy route from Malham to Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar

Tip by

2.04 km

Janet's Foss

Highlight • Forest

Janet's Foss is a beautiful waterfall nestled among trees on the footpath from Malham Village to Gordale Scar. You can splash around in the waterfall and its plunge pool, making …

Tip by

2.99 km

Gordale Scar Waterfall

Highlight • Natural Monument

Gordale Scar is one of the most dramatic sights in the Yorkshire Dales. The narrow canyon is dominated on either side by sheer walls of rock, hundreds of feet high, …

Tip by

4.09 km

Archaeological Site

5.72 km

Limestone Pavement at Malham Cove

Highlight • Natural Monument

Most people walk from Malham village up to the Cove using the road ways. There's actually an alternative route up past the pub, which takes you higher up. I find …

Tip by

5.90 km

Top of Malham Cove

Highlight • Natural

very slippery

Tip by

8.69 km

Malham Tarn

Highlight • Viewpoint

A glacial Marl lake and important wildlife habitat in a beautiful setting. Malham Tarn is managed by the National Trust.
The round the lake trail is a great fairly flat …

Tip by

14.0 km

Woodland Path to Janet's Foss

Highlight • Gorge

This magical woodland path leads to Janet’s Foss. The waterfall is named after the Queen of the Fairies, as it is rumoured that she lived behind the falls. The woods …

Tip by

15.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.02 km

6.64 km

504 m

364 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

6.07 km

5.25 km

2.82 km

997 m

547 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (380 m)

Lowest point (190 m)

Weather

Wednesday 14 October

14°C

8°C

76 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 5, 2024,Yorkshire Dales Malham große Runde

Malham Cove is unique, you have to see it from above.

Showing Translation

September 16, 2023,Malham clockwise hike (moderate)

This was a clockwise hike from Malham village to the Cove, then to the Tarn, return back to the Cove then downhill to Gordale Scar, across to Janet's Foss and return back to the village. Dry, clear day with a cool breeze. Good views from the top but the waterfalls at Gordale and Janet's Foss were lightly flowing.

August 1, 2022,Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn and Cove hike (easy and scenic)

This was a scenic route round taking in the spectacular waterfalls at Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar. From there we walked uphill to the Tarn and returned back the Pennine way over to the Cove and back into Malham village. An easy walk and a great day out thanks to the sunny weather.

July 15, 2023,Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar, Malham Cove and Tarn

The dirty dozen! No Lee Marvin or Charles Bronson but a team of 12 of us that I led around Malham.
Nice to see new faces join me this time and hopefully get hooked into hiking. It was work colleagues plus 'bring a friend'.
Parked up in Malham village and took the anticlockwise route via Janet's Foss, then to Gordale …