Yorkshire

Malham Tarn archaeology walk

Uncover the history of Malham Moor on this archaeology trail. Explore this area of ancient limestone pastures, upland hill farms and the beautiful Malham Tarn, and discover archaeological remains in a landscape which has been used by man since the Mesolithic era.

Near to

Yorkshire Dales

Start point

Street Gate (roadside parking). Grid ref: SD905656

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 5.5 (km: 8.8)

Duration3 hours to 4 hours

Dog friendly***

*Mostly fields and unmade tracks. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Grassy paths and gravel tracks with uneven footing. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs on leads are welcome under close control and on a lead. There may be livestock on this route. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Street Gate (roadside parking), Malham Tarn, North Yorkshire. Grid ref: SD905656
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Settle station is about 7.5 miles (12km) away.
Horton-in-Ribblesdale station is about 10 miles (16.1km) away.
Skipton station is about 14.5 miles (23.3km) away.
By bus
From Skipton: services run from Skipton to Malham village. Please follow the link to view the latest timetable.
Dalesbus
By road
From Settle: Head out of Settle on the B6479 before turning right onto Main Street. Follow Main Street, (which eventually becomes Henside Lane), for about 4 miles (6.4km). Then turn right, following signs for Langcliffe and Settle. At the next junction, take the second left exit to head straight ahead for 1.7 miles (2.7km) before parking up close to the gate on the corner.
From Skipton: Take the A59 west to join the A65. After 2.5 miles (4km) turn right onto Ray Bridge Lane. At the T-junction, turn right onto Eshton Road. Follow this road through farmland and straight through Airton and Kirby. At Malham take the right turning opposite The Buck Inn, signposted Malham Tarn. Turn left onto Malham Rakes and follow this road for 2 miles (3.2km). Turn right at the crossroads and park up close to the gate.
Dogs
Well-behaved, controlled dogs are welcome. Be vigilant near livestock, especially those with young. Keep dogs on leads and under control. If approached by cows, move away carefully and, if necessary, let go of your dog's lead – the dog will outrun the cows. Watch out for local notices for seasonal restrictions in woodland or farmland, such as lambing season or when ground-nesting birds are raising their young, March–July.
Car park
Street Gate, informal roadside parking.
Toilet
The nearest toilets can be found in Malham village, 2 miles (3.2km) south from the trail's starting point.
Café
The nearest cafés can be found in Malham village, 2 miles (3.2km) south from the trail's starting point.
Tea-room
The nearest tea-room can be found in Malham village, 2 miles (3.2km) south from the trail's starting point.
Pub
The nearest pubs can be found in Malham village, 2 miles (3.2km) south from the trail's starting point.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Street Gate (roadside parking). Grid ref: SD905656
Stage 1
Pass through the gate and follow the wall on your right along Mastiles Lane to the Roman Camp.
Stage 2
Turn left, taking the footpath across the northeast corner of the Roman Camp, and follow towards Middle House Farm. After you've crossed Gordale Beck, look to your right - the tops of the fells were full of settlements during the Iron Age.
Stage 3
Optional detour: From Middle House Farm you can wander up the hill to the left of the farm to look at the 16th century farmstead of Old Middle House. Alternatively, to skip the detour, head straight to Step 5.
Stage 4
Return down the hill, pass through the gate and then follow the path to your right.
Stage 5
Follow the old Monks' Road to Malham Tarn. Much of the land on Malham Moor was used by Fountains Abbey to rear sheep, hence the name Fountains Fell.
Stage 6
When you reach the shores of Malham Tarn turn left and then take the left fork onto a grass track which goes beneath Great Close Hill, away from the Tarn.
Malham Tarn
This permanent source of fresh water has long formed the focus for human activity. Flint artefacts dating from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age indicate that this area was an important seasonal hunting ground. The tarn has been used as a fishery since medieval times, when the monks of Fountains Abbey stocked it with fish. It's still used today for fishing, although there's now a strict catch and release policy.
Stage 7
Pause at Great Close Plantation and take a look around you. This was the site of the great cattle fairs of the 18th century.
Stage 8
After Great Close Plantation, bear right to join the track and return to Street Gate and the start of the trail.
End point
Street Gate (roadside parking). Grid ref: SD905656
Trail map
Malham Tarn archaeology walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Malham Tarn Estate Office, North Wing, Malham Tarn House, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9PU

01729830416

yorkshiredales@nationaltrust.org.uk

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