Malham

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A paradise of landscapes in The Yorkshire Dales

Malham, a village near Skipton in Yorkshire, is my favourite place in the world.

A fine afternoon's walk would take the intrepid explorer anticlockwise in a large circle starting from the village and taking in the varied sights of Janet's Foss waterfall in Gordale, then climbing up the waterfalls (!) at Gordale Scar before advancing upwards to New Close, across Malham Lings to Great Close Scar and Malham Tarn, before returning via The Dry Valley, Ewe Moor and the stunning Malham Cove, then finally climbing down the stone steps to Malham Beck and following the path back to the village.

I'd been here many times in my childhood, and later in my youth as soon as I could drive here with friends; these times made some idyllic summer memories. While working around Yorkshire, I would often come and camp here as a place of 'home'. I've since been here on many photographic missions, but it wasn't until autumn 2003 that I discovered Gordale, returning in October 2005. In December 2005, I coerced Justine and Duncan to accompany me back up Gordale Scar.

From the village, footpaths lead:

Up the steep and winding road to Ewe Moor
North to the gentle waters of Malham Beck
North east to the fantastic valley of Gordale
East to the enchanting waterfall of Janet's Foss