When the weather is fine in November get your boots on quickly and get walking, before the weather notices and takes a turn for the worst. It can be glorious – fine, crisp blue skies – and it can be very warm (we’re talking Yorkshire, right?…Ed) as it was walking in the Lakes early one Sunday in November 2016.

Malham nettles below Malham Gorge and, above and behind you’ll find Malham Tarn. Malham Gorge was formed during the last Ice Age, leaving a spectacular limestone pavement at the top.

Malham Cove is a huge curving amphitheatre shaped cliff formation of limestone rock. The vertical face of the cliff is about 260 feet high. The top of the cove is a large area of limestone pavement. The cove was formed by a large Ice-age river that fell at this point as a cataract. The water drop was 80 m (260 ft) high and more than 300 m (980 ft) wide. The water flowing over the waterfall created the curved shape of the cove because the lip was more heavily eroded than the sides.

You can admire the gorge from below – a short walk from the village – or climb the 300+ steps to the top, and continue on to Gordale Scar, Janet’s Foss and back to Malham village. After the initial climb up the gorge, it’s a gentle downhill stroll back – about 7.5km or just over two hours.

Back in the village there are a couple of pubs, and a handful of tea shops and cafés. We invariably (just habit really) pop into the Lister Arms. Delightful outside in the summer, or equally welcoming in the chill of winter, enjoy some good sandwiches (other dishes are available) and a glass or wine, or choose from an excellent range of local beers (it is Yorkshire…Ed). Yes, ok, we’ll try the other places next time…

Pub The Lister Arms Malham

Plenty of beer at the bar…

Pen y ghent…guess which side is easier to climb?

…even at Pen y ghent no opportunity is lost to charge for car parking. There’s no car park…

The Lister Arms in summer…

The top of Malham Cove…