Malham Cove by munki-boy
Malham Cove
Malham Cove is in The Yorkshire Dales National Park in England.
Malham Cove is a huge curving amphitheatre shaped cliff formation of limestone rock, just north of the village of Malham, in North Yorkshire.
Malham Cove was formed by a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age, more than 12,000 years ago. The water drop was 80 m (260 ft) high and more than 300 m (980 ft) wide. The colossal amount of water flowing over the waterfall created the curved shape of the cove as the lip is more heavily eroded than the sides. Today it is a well-known beauty spot within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A large area of deeply eroded limestone pavement, of a strange pattern rarely seen in England, is above Malham Cove.
There is complex system of caves and tunnels within the limestone cliff. The cave system is estimated to be about 50,000 years old.
The cave systems usually carry away any waters before they reach the drop but after heavy rainfall from Storm Desmond, on 6 December 2015, Malham Cove temporarily became a waterfall for what is believed to be the first time in centuries.
Malham Cove also protects a pair of nesting peregrine falcons which can be viewed during the summer months.
Created: 27 November 2016 Edited: 29 November 2023
Malham Tarn Estate Information
Malham Tarn Estate Address
Yorkshire Dales Estate Office, Pennine Way, Settle BD24 9PT, UK
BD24 9PT
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/malham-tarn-estate
Get directionsLocal History around Malham Cove
There are some historic monuments around including:
Settlement on Ing ScarNucleated coal mine and coke oven on Fountains FellSeaty Hill round cairnFarm sites and field systems on Malham LingsPikedaw Hill southern cairnField system S of Malham CoveSettlement N of Stridebut EdgeSettlement sites on Jorden ScarHut circles, enclosures and fields N of Shorkley HillRound cairn south east of Broad FlatsCrane Field round barrowCairn on Great Close HillSettlement 500ft (150m) NW of Ing Scar CragRoman temporary camp and medieval monastic cross base, Mastiles Lane.Enclosure E of Malham LingsMedieval monastic wayside cross baseMedieval monastic wayside cross baseMedieval monastic wayside cross base, Water Sinks GateBoundary dyke W of Capon HallRound barrow 550m south west of Park HillPillow mounds east of Friars Head, known as Giants' GravesMedieval settlements and lynchets extending NW from Town HeadEnclosure and hut circles on Prior RakesRound barrow 400m south west of Crane Field LaitheSettlement 1/3 mile (540m) NW of Langscar GateHut circle on Comb ScarSettlement on Cow Bank 1/4 mile (400m) NW of DarnbrookFarmhouse sites on Highfolds ScarTwo rectangular house sites on Malham LingsLynchets N of Malham villageSettlement at Dew BottomsEnclosed prehistoric settlement east of Malham CoveSettlement on Blue ScarSettlement on Prior RakesCup marked rock in wall east of Scarnber Wood, 500m north east of Bark Laithe, WinterburnCairn 80m north of Pikedaw HillCairn on Blue Scar 460m NW of Springs CaveRing cairn north west of Ewe MoorRound cairn on Broad FlatsSettlement 1250yds (1140m) NE of Malham Tarn HouseLower Colgarth Hill round cairnRound barrow north of Moor Syke, Crane FieldSheriff Hill round cairnLime kiln and associated quarry 75m south of High Scarth Barn.
