Walks 39 Walks Malham, Hanlith and Weets Top rich water that tumbles over the Points of interest waterfall has deposited a screen of tufa, a soft calcium carbonate ALHAM lies at the deposit, on the mosses behind the heart of some of the falls to create a screen. most dramatic landscapes Britain has M to offer, with awe- The walk inspiring limestone cliffs, coves and From the road junction in the ravines. It is true to say that 1 centre of Malham beside the Malham Cove is a very popular, and road-bridge across Malham Beck, easy walk, but there is much more head along the road towards Settle, to Malham. Our route explores the Skipton passing the Buck Inn on moorland to the east of Malham, your right then, where the road where you will find a rich history, sweeps to the right at the end of stunning views and quiet solitude. the village (Methodist Chapel on your right), head straight on From Malham, a delightful through the gate ahead (signpost riverside path then leads Hanlith Bridge), then walk straight southwards alongside Malham Beck on across two fields keeping close to soon reach Aire Head. This, as to the field boundary and Malham the name suggests, is the source of the River Aire which rises as a Beck on your left. After the second powerful spring with an impressive field, carry straight on over a small force of water. This water actually side-stream (slab bridge) and on to Walk information flows underground all the way from join a track that leads through a gate. Head through the gate and Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles) Water Sinks just to the south of Time: 3 – 4 hours then walk straight across the field Malham Tarn about three miles Map: OS Explorer Sheet OL2 away. The path continues (ignore the track) to soon reach Parking:Pay & Display car park at southwards, now alongside the Aire Head spring at the end of the Malham infant River Aire, passing a field. Cross the stile just beyond Refreshments: Pubs, cafes and converted mill along the way, to Aire Head, and walk straight on shops at Malham. Mobile cafe van at reach Hanlith Bridge. A road and across the next field, and over Gordale Bridge most days. then an old track known as Windy another stile, then follow the clear Terrain: Clear riverside path to Pike Lane climbs steadily up onto path alongside the disused mill Hanlith. Then, from Hanlith a quiet Hanlith Moor, where you will find race and overgrown mill pond to road, track and then boggy moorland birds such as skylark, meadow reach Scalegill Mill. Follow the track bearing away from the wall at Beck, with its layby. (30-minute (Hanlith Moor) leads up to Weets Top pipit, curlew and lapwing, all path passing to the right-hand side first then heading gradually up detour to see Gordale Scar, by (exposed to elements). A track then dancing acrobatically across the of the former mill, to join the lane quiet road leads down to Gordale across the middle of the rough following the clear path to the right Bridge, from where a clear path sky. The track then leads up to the leading from the mill. Follow this grassy moorland of Hanlith Moor just before the bend at the bottom ancient crossroads at Weets Top. A lane straight on alongside the leads through woodland, along (heading in a north-easterly of the hill. Return to Gordale riverbanks and across fields back to visit to the nearby Trig Point is River Aire all the way to reach direction) for 1.2 km to reach a gate Bridge). obligatory, but tucked away at the Malham. Boggy ground, rough Hanlith Bridge across the River in the wall corner in the far top moorland and slippery limestone in top of the walled track is a Aire. right-hand corner of the enclosure, 5 Continue along the road passing weathered wayside cross marking places. just above the head of Hanlith Gill Gordale Bridge, a short distance this once important crossroads. How to get there: From the A65 Turn left along the road over Sike (stream). Head through the beyond which where the road There has been a cross here since (Skipton to Settle road) at Gargrave, Hanlith Bridge then follow the head north along a minor road to medieval times, possibly erected by 2 gate (boggy) and walk straight on bends up to the right, take the path road climbing quite steeply up for a couple of paces to quickly join off to the left off this bend reach Malham. the monks of Fountains Abbey to through the village for 300 metres mark the routes across the moors to a clear, gravel path across your (National Trust sign). Follow this then follow the road bending sharp their lands on Malham Moor and path (signpost). Turn left along this clear path down (take care – ridge on your left – ignore this left then right then left again up a Mastiles. This is also one of the path and follow it up across Calton slippery limestone) to soon reach bridge). Continue straight on along finest viewpoints in the southern series of zig-zags heading out Moor for 400 metres to reach Weets Janet’s Foss waterfall set in the narrow enclosed path to soon Yorkshire Dales with Simon’s Seat, above the village up to reach some Gate (junction of tracks/paths) at woodland. At Janet’s Foss, reach Mires Barn (end of enclosed Barden Moor, Flasby Fell and houses and farm buildings on the start of a walled track, with the continue along the clear path), where you continue straight Pendle Hill clearly visible. either side of the road at Top of Trig Point of Weets Top just across streamside path heading down on alongside the wall on your right Hanlith. Continue straight on to your right and the monastic through the woodland (take care - to quickly reach a junction of Our route then follows a track and along the road, which very quickly guidepost just beyond the wall at slippery rocks) to reach a gate that paths and two kissing-gates in the quiet road down to Gordale Bridge, becomes a stony track. Follow this the top of the walled track. leads out onto fields (beside a barn corner of the field (signpost). Head with an optional detour to see the clear, enclosed track straight on for on your right). Follow the clear through the kissing-gates and impressive collapsed cave system of 1.5 km (Windy Pike Lane) to Head through the gate and flagged stream-side path straight follow the clear path bending Gordale Scar, which is one of eventually reach a gate at the end 4follow the walled track down for on across the field and through a round to the right then straight on England’s Natural Wonders. Our of the enclosed track, with the 400 metres to join a road kissing-gate (bridge just beyond the (Malham Beck to your left) all the route, however, heads down rough moorland of Hanlith Moor (Hawthorns Lane), where you turn kissing-gate to your left – ignore way back into Malham. alongside Gordale Beck passing ahead (signpost Weets Top). left and follow this road steadily this bridge), after which continue Janet’s Foss; “foss” is derived from down (take care – traffic) all the straight on along the very clear Mark Reid the Old Norse for waterfall. This is a Head through the gate and way to reach the bottom of the hill, path alongside a wall on your right, Walking Weekenders 2014 lovely spot where Janet, the Queen 3follow the rough, indistinct where you follow the road to the with Gordale Beck just across to Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, of the Fairies, is said to live in the track straight on bearing very left around the bend to reach your left, for 600 metres to reach a Lake District & Snowdonia cave behind the waterfall. The lime- slightly to the right. Follow this Gordale Bridge across Gordale junction of paths/tracks (another walkingweekenders.co.uk

Countrydiary by Phil Gates Birdwatch by Ian Kerr RIFTS of golden daffodils, planted beck, in Weardale, where the riverbank HILE most birders are currently Right across Britain, the peregrine has along roadsides and in parks, were a with its partially-shaded woodland preoccupied with seeking out had a chequered history. It suffered severe D particularly welcome sight during provides an ideal habitat. Weardale also W spring migrants, a dedicated band population reductions during the early the recent, dismal foggy weather. Among has its own unique cultivated daffodil are heavily involved in a new national and mid-20th Century, first from this profusion of deliberately-planted variety, the famous Weardale Perfection. survey of our most spectacular birds of persecution, and then the insidious effects flowers, it’s easy to forget that daffodils are The work of the celebrated daffodil prey, the peregrine. of organochlorine pesticides, which came also native wild flowers. breeder William Backhouse who lived at St Craggy upland sites, which either attract close to wiping out this predator at the top Wild daffodils are not always easy to John’s Hall, near Wolsingham, in the mid- our largest falcons or should hold them are of the food chain. 19th Century. Weardale Perfection, late distinguish from the vast array of being checked. I use that phrase “should The last national survey, in 2002, showed blooming, with tall stems and large flowers cultivated varieties, but they tend to be hold them” quite deliberately because that the number of occupied territories displaying very pale petals and a trumpet small and their forward pointing pale illegal persecution is still a problem. The had risen by 13 per cent to 1,492 in a yellow petals, with a deeper yellow of primrose yellow, was his tour de force. Durham Upland Bird Study Group stated In 2007, it was rescued from the brink of decade. Now the British Trust for trumpet, are distinctive features. They’re recently that a sadly consistent feature Ornithology is anxious to see if the no longer as common as they once were extinction and replanted in Wolsingham was the absence of pairs in large areas of churchyard, 138 years after the improvement has been maintained. throughout most of England, but we are the North Pennines. A few years ago, when Peregrines have managed to re-colonise death of the breeder who I did some survey work in Weardale, one fortunate in the North-East in having tens many former lowland breeding sites. They created it. Backhouse pair annually reared young solely because of thousands on the wild species in are now breeding in some cities, even bred many more of protection from two local men. They Farndale, in the North York Moors central London where pairs are feeding National Park. The famous Farndale varieties that have since guarded those birds as if they were their mainly on a seemingly inexhaustible daffodil walk, a three-and-a-half mile path been lost, but it seems own bairns. The situation in lowland supply of feral pigeons. To a peregrine, a alongside the river Dove, attracts visitors possible that some of the Durham is a little better with around five from all over Britain. many feral daffodils that successful pairs annually. ledge on a building is as good as ledge on frequently appear along crag, particularly if plenty of food is Wild daffodils have a scattered the banks of the river Wear Peregrines also struggle to make headway readily available. This use of buildings distribution in County Durham, but have downstream from in North Yorkshire, although the situation has yet to occur in our region, apart from a long been known in woodlands around Wolsingham might be is much better in Northumberland and pair in Cleveland which regularly raise Cumbria has a very healthy population. Great Lumley and also along the Bedburn descendants of his varieties. young on an industrial plant.