It is not very often when out walking that your start point and car park is virtually the highest point of the walk but today was one such walk. We left the car at Malham Tarn which at an altitude of 1230 feet was only about 70 feet lower than the highest point of the walk. When we arrived at the car park near the Tarn I was surprised to find it empty and remarked that before long we would be seeing plenty of people. As it turned out we only saw a couple of mountain bikers until we reached Gordale Scar where we met the crowds.

Nothing at all to do with the walk but on the way to Malham Tarn I couldn't resist stopping to get this picture of Ingleborough.

And this one of Whernside

Looking across Malham Tarn to Malham Tarn House with Fountains Fell to the left

From the tarn we made our way to Street Gate which is the start of Mastiles Lane

Great Close Scar

A bit of overkill perhaps?  It does keep the sheep away though and looked quite pretty

Street Gate, the start of Mastiles Lane. We would only be following it for about 1.2 miles

The initial stage of Mastiles Lane. Further along it becomes walled on both sides and that is where we shall leave it. Just below the skyline to the right of the wall can you make out a line running from the wall to the right?.....more later

Crossing Gordale Beck which we will see more of later

Gordale Beck wends its way peacefully south

Remember that line I asked you about?.....Well can you see it now?   It's just to the right of centre running away from you then turning sharp left. I must admit even when looking over the wall it was still difficult to make out......more

But this is what it is......or was.

Now the only life about was these chappies

Looking back to Fountains Fell in the distance and the bump of Great Close Hill next to Malham Tarn

Far from the crowds. These were the only people we had seen......how this would change later!

We left Mastiles Lane where it became walled on both sides to descend to Smearbottoms Lane and then to Gordale Scar. This is looking back up to Mastiles Lane

Middle Laithe farm

Descending to Gordale

The entrance to Gordale

Still not too many people about .....might be ok

A queue was starting to form for the scramble up the falls. This is best done in a dry spell unles you like getting wet

After watching the different styles of scrambling for a while we reurned down Gordale on our way to Janet's Foss

The entrance to Janet's Foss

For Part 2 of this walk click here

Last Walk:    2nd November 2007 - Arnside Knott

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