Malham Tarn Circular

How to walk around Malham Tarn

Directions (To be used in conjunction with a map - like in the picture!)

1. Heading out of the Car Park there are two major grassy paths, the bridleway (that is the accessible one) and the one that heads down towards the edge of Malham Tarn. The bridleway heads diagonally rightwards, heading away from the car park (with it behind you). The other path heads down to the water’s edge and is a bit muddier.

2. Both paths eventually meet at the edge of the small tree plantation at the wide surfaced track that leads up to the Malham Tarn Estate Field Centre. There is a signpost here saying Pennine Way pointing left through the gate. Head through the wide access gate which has a National Trust sign next to it.

3. Continue along the track as it heads past the tarn (on your left). It will reach another set of gates, one wide that heads over a cattle grid, one narrow footpath gate. Head through these.

4. The track heads upwards towards the field centre and then heads rightwards around the back of the house. Follow the track around the back of the centre passing the cave spider house (pictured) and then keep on it as it bends to the left, then right, heading downhill on the access track with rocky gorge-like sides.

5. Here you will encounter nature themed chainsaw sculptures that line the road as it heads away from the field centre, there’s a viewing station, then later on a bird hide that you can go and birdwatch from.

6. Keep heading down the track until you reach the final sculpture, which is a hawk. Here, if you have a dog, continue straight on to Home Farm, then turn left on the permissive track heading back in the direction of Malham. Skip to point 8. If you do not have a dog, you can enter the nature reserve which is accessed through an iron gate on the left. It is signposted National Trust Malham Tarn National Nature Reserve.

7. Here the path is a little narrower, but still well surfaced and it will lead you to the duckboards that wind their way around the nature reserve. There are plenty of information boards here to check out, so make sure you do!

8. Here the instructions are easy. Follow the duckboards! They will lead you eventually out of the reserve and back onto the permissive stony track that heads across from Water Houses. Head out the gate and turn left. Welcome back dog owners! You will pass the nature reserve gate on your left.

9. Hi those who just want to do the nature reserve bit! There is a car park here at Water Houses, you need to head out of the car park, turn right along the road, and then left onto the stony track. After a short distance you will see the information board and signpost for the nature reserve. Enjoy!

10. Back to those in it for the long haul! After turning left out of the nature reserve gate, continue on until the track meets the road and then keep heading straight on from here. This is your road walking section so be mindful of cars!

11. Soon, the road splits into two. You will want to take the left road, which is the quieter of the two in terms of traffic. Follow it up as it passes High Trenhouse and then joins the Stainforth/ Malham Road.

12. SHORT CUT! If you’re flagging a bit, here you can simply turn left and then walk along the road taking you past Low Trenhouse Farm and then eventually on to the car park you started at. This section is all road walking, so be mindful of the cars.

13. If you still have enough energy (and Haribo) to keep going, then this little extra bonus section will take you up to the Smelt Mill Chimney and then onto Water Sinks (check out more info about those places below) This adds about another 1 mile onto your walk and there is a little gentle ascent too. It follows one of the the Malham Tarn trails and is waymarked (although some were in need of repair when we went and this is certainly not as easy to navigate as the rest of the walk so far!)

14. At the cross roads, cross to the other side of the road, where there is a stile visible in the fence, with the smelt mill chimney in the field behind it.(There is livestock in the field so be aware if you have dogs). Continue on to the chimney where you can see the remains of the flue in the ground.

15. Pass the chimney, keeping it behind you and then continue across the grassy field towards the waymarker post ahead of you. The grassy path leads you gradually uphill towards the corner of the drystone wall. Where there is another waymarker.

16. Continue along the edge of the wall (keeping that to your left). It will reach a stone stile in the dry stone wall ahead. Cross this.

17. Continue straight on along a grassy lumpy bumpy path which has limestone embedded in it. You will have views towards Malham Tarn on your left as you head along. As a rough guide, the path runs roughly parallel with the direction of the road (which you will see at a distance) although admittedly it is not greatly clear! Never fear though, you are on open access land!

18. Keep your eyes peeled for another waymarker post ahead. It appears into sight when you are roughly in line with Low Trenhouse Farm at a distance on your left. It is ahead and a little to your left, continue towards this then down the hill to a large wide track, which heads left through a large gap in the wall. It is signposted Public Bridleway.

19. Follow this to the beck. If you want to, you can go and see what is essentially the giant plughole ‘Water Sinks’ which is where the water that flows out from Malham Tarn disappears completely into the cave systems below. To see this, turn right and follow the beck until it LITERALLY disappears. It depends on how much rain there has been previously as to how dramatic this is, so make a judgment call based on the whinge factor!

20. Continue along the clear path back to the road, turn right and head back to the car park!

Last walked Feb 2023