I Started the Pennine way last October and on day walks where Cath dropped me off and picked me up, I made it the 78miles from Edale to Malham and passed through some great countryside.
On my holiday in July I planned to walk a further stage and planned for 4 days walking with 3 overnight stops. With this in mind I purchased a tent from Go Outdoors and after a training walk in the Yorkshire Wolds was feeling pretty well prepared for 4 days of walking across Yorkshire.
Day 1- Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Monday 12th July; 15 miles ( part one)Malham Cove
An Early start from home saw Cath driving the dogs and me over Keighley moor and up the Aire valley to Malham. Throwing on the heavy rucksack and taking Mollydog’s lead in my hand we waved goodbye to Cath and Cassiedog and headed up the lane from the visitor’s centre in Malham heading towards the cove. As I headed up the road adjusting the straps of the rucksack another walker came out of a B&B and followed me.
Having last been to the Cove some 20 years ago as a venture scout on a walk so my memories where vague and the Cove was even more impressive than I had remembered.
Across the fields to the base of the cove and then up the steps to the left to climb onto the pavement on the top of the cove.
The climb really hurt my legs, they were burning and at the top after Mollydog had barked at the sheep by the gate and scattered them, my legs were wobbly as I crossed onto the pavement.
The walker behind me caught me up and climbed onwards rather than following me onto the pavement. I very carefully picked my way across the pavement, not great on my feet and top heavy with the rucksack and trying not to let mollydog fall into the deep cracks.
I was heading across to the centre of the cove to take a picture for the Malham cove Earthcache GC19X1P(Malham cove Earthcache GC19X1P); the first of 12 caches for this day.
At the top as I was taking the pictures we were buzzed by a Peregrine falcon, it swooped over us and over the edge chased by some small birds, which were obviously chasing it away from their nests.
Cove from the Bottom
Mollydog looks over the edge.Turned my back on the cove and onwards for .3 of a mile to grab the next cache up on the side of the dry valley a well hidden box ( Malham Cove GC10ET6 )
Dry Valley
Walking away from the cove up the dry valley which narrowed onwards to the next cache I saw the walker that was following me crossing the head of the valley. I reached the bowl below the cliffs of the dry valley and hunted for the first of a series of caches placed between Malham and Hawes by a Pennine way ranger. The 8 caches in the series led to a final at the visitor centres at the 2 towns. The finals hadn’t been found after 18months so I was hoping to be the FTF on the Hawes one.
This first cache Cave and Karst GC1P2JX was a nice simple one and I was glad to shrug off the rucksack and take a sip of water as I signed the log book and left a tb.
Leaving the cache we climbed the steps and instead of carrying up the dry valley past watersinks we headed out along the Bridle path across the fields above the valley to grab the 4th cache at Locks scar GC10ET9 (It was a slight detour to the outcrop mof rock and I ended up sitting on some nettles though which was slightly painful. The clouds were low and very grey but the walking was exilerating.
Back to the path and the first view of Malham Tarn as I yomped along the grassy track down to the minor road that crosses the stream that drains out of the tarn.
First view of the tarn
The Pennine way sign and Bargee at Malham TarnMalham Tarn.
Mollydog had a drink from the stream and we were then off along the way that skirts round the large lake. And picked up the Water Babies cache GC10EFV named after the book by Charles Kingsley, a great spot.
Molly dog at water babies cacheAs I left the cache further round the tarn I could see the walker from earlier.
Decided not to climb up to another cache above great close as I was aware I still had along way to walk and headed onwards into the woods that surrounded the lodge that overlooks the Tarn. Before getting a last look of the tarn as the Pennine way continued northwards towards Fountains fell.
Last view of the Tarn
