Malham to Nappa Cross

Fact File

Start: Car park in Malham
Distance: 6 miles (approx three hours)
Going: moderate, with some steep climbs
Map: OS Outdoor Leisure 2, Yorkshire Dales Southern & Western
Toilets and refreshments in Malham

There are lots of potential walks around Malham, many of which start from the centre of the village to the Cove and continue up the steep steps to the limestone pavement above with its ankle-threatening clints and grykes.

But where from there? There are plenty of options, several of which continue along the familiar footpath which heads up the dry Watlowes valley, down which great torrents of icy water once flowed during the last Ice Age.

After crashing over the cliff, the water found its way underground from a pothole to the northwest and the Watlowes valley was left high and dry.

Now it’s walkers that flow along it, particularly during the peak season and weekends.

Setting off up the road to the Cove, there’s a slog up the steep, well constructed steps to the top. Picking your way carefully across the pavement, there’s twin stiles to cross which lead to the dry valley.

The valley narrows and its walls tower over before the steep climb to the head of it.

There’s a choice of hairpinning back to Malham Tarn, or leftward ending up at Nappa Cross high on Kirkby Fell.

Heading to Kirkby Fell, there’s a steady climb to cross Cove Road at Langscar Gate and follow a broad track which curved up through the field to arrive at a gate gap and just beyond, a Pennine Bridleway signposted at a junction of tracks.

Turn up the one which heads left, but take time to stop and admire the fine views across Malham Tarn.

Nappa Cross (more of a stump) is mounted in a wall corner.

Continue from there along the wallside to pass the cairn and arrive at a broad, stoney track.

You can turn right here and walk to Settle, but turning left and striding along a hardcore path down Kirkby Fell gives some exhilarating views with a downhill journey home.

On the way there’s a sealed-off entrance to a mineshaft and a bellpit indentation, reminders of the previous industry. The last leg of the journey is along Long Lane which can be a bit muddy, and then down a narrow path.

Step by step

1. From Malham car park, walk up through the village. Don’t cross the bridge, instead keep along the road on the left of the beck out of the village. Continue to a gate stile on the right into National Trust’s Malham Cove land. Follow the paved path through fields to cove and climb steps up to the left hand side.

2. At the top of the cove, go right and pick your way across limestone pavement (keeping well away from the edge) to meet a facing wall at the far side. Go left here and walk on with the wall on the right, to twin stiles in the wall ahead. Over these walk up the dry valley and climb the steps at the far end to the stile at the head of it.

3. Continue ahead briefly to go over the ladder stile on the left. Just beyond it is a well worn signpost pointing the way to Langscar Gate. Follow up this field with the wall on the right to a gate into the road.

4. Cross the road and go through the gate opposite. Follow the clear, green track as it snakes up the field, initially close to the wall on the right, but then leaving it before returning to it at the gate gap.

5. At the signpost just beyond the gap, at the junction of two tracks, follow the left-hand fork (Pennine Bridleway Stockdale Lane) up the fell to a gate in the wall. Keep on the same line through two more gates then head up the hillside to Nappa Cross at wall corner. Immediately past the cross, go left and follow wallside to the signpost at a T-junction.

6. Go left through the gate and take the hardcore track down Kirkby Fell, through a couple of gates and turning to grass as it heads windingly toward Cove Road. In the road, go right and walk down it to a point where it swings sharply left. Now either continue down the road (being careful of traffic), or follow a footpath sign for Malham Village which goes ahead, through a gate into a field. Walk across the field and through another gate into Long Lane. Stay with this along a muddy stretch which improves as another lane joins it, to eventually arrive at a T-junction with houses of the village immediately ahead. Go left, then quickly right down the path into the village.