MALHAM is a popular visit, possibly the busiest in the Dales. There are some fine sights. However head south from Malham and you can enjoy the peaceful side of the village. In particular the short climb of Weets Top offers a fantastic viewpoint.
From the car park at Malham and head towards the village but before arriving at the road bridge take the narrow stone bridge over the river and turn right on to the Pennine Way. Head south for 400m to a gate and junction of paths.
To the left the popular route leads to Janet’s Foss, the path improved for much of the way (but not all) to make it more accessible. However ignore the turning and continue south next (but not alongside) the riverside path. The path climbs a little from the river but is well signed. Three quarters of a mile from the junction a road is met in the hamlet of Hanlith, best known for the impressive Hanlith Hall.
Weets Top map
Turn left at the road (right is to the hall and river) and climb through a farmyard and in to the lane beyond. This is Windy Pike Lane and is an excellent place to study the topography of the better known sites of Malham to your left.
Malham Cove is particularly well seen but so is Gordale Scar and the higher lands beyond. The lane is nearly flat and continues for three quarters of a mile to a gate and on to the open moorland. The path from here climbs steadily, can be a little muddy after rains, but is easy. The route is shown by some white marker posts. Just short of a mile from the gate the path crosses a boundary and immediately meets a path junction. This is the Dales Highway (the upland sister to the Dalesway).
Turn left and follow the track for 200m to the summit of Weets Top, the trig point is a few metres to the right. It is a good place, the summit well sheltered by a wall in windy conditions.
Weets Top Trig (Image: Jonathan Smith)
Looking over the wall is the popular Malham walks, look to the south and the lonely moors continue all the way to Winterburn Reservoir. From the summit go through the gate and immediately to your left is Weets Cross (1.5m tall), a medieval boundary stone marking the territory of Fountain’s Abbey.
Continue south along the lane, turn left and before long meet a road. This is a dead end road so the only traffic you will meet is a farm tractor.
Turn left and follow the road downhill. The views are excellent towards Malham, with traditional Dales scenery, dry stone walls, seep and exposed limestone rock. At the foot of the hill is the entrance to Gordale Scar on your right, for those who have never been it is a must (one mile detour).
For those who have, continue for another 100m and take the path to your left and drop down to the lovely Janet’s Foss (waterfall). The path carries on through woodland before breaking out in to open fields. From here soon re-join the outbound route and back to the village of Malham.
* Fact Box:
Distance: Roughly 6.5 miles
Height Climbed: 250m (820 feet)
Start: SD 900627. There is a large National Park car park.
Difficulty: Medium. The climb to Weets Hill is steady, not steep. The route is a mix of paths, lanes and quiet roads.
Refreshments: Malham has a choice of pubs and cafes.
Be Prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer 2) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.
* Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:
He has written three books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains and the long distance path ‘The Bracken Way. Buy them direct from Where2walk
Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses. The next Beginners Course is on Saturday June 27 from Long Preston, near Settle.
You can buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T-shirts and branded caps from the NEW Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today.
Where2walk.co.uk features hundreds of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation.