Easy Malham Loop

The route

This is the relaxed way to see the best of Malhamdale. Starting from the National Park car park in Malham village, the loop heads out on good paths toward Janet's Foss, a moss-framed waterfall tucked in woodland that makes an early highlight. From there the route works its way around toward the towering amphitheatre of Malham Cove, staying low so you keep the 80m limestone wall in view rather than climbing it.

Easy by design

At 8.6km with around 145m of ascent, this is about as gentle as Dales running gets. The surfaces are firm field paths, walled lanes and well-trodden tracks, with no rough fell ground to slow you down. That makes it a genuine option for newer trail runners, recovery days, or anyone who wants the scenery without the suffering. Keep an eye out underfoot near the cove, where limestone gets slick in the wet.

Why it works

Few short routes deliver this much. You get a classic Yorkshire waterfall, the limestone pavement and curving cliff of the cove, and a pretty village with cafes and pubs waiting at the finish. It links naturally to longer Malham routes if you want to extend, but stands on its own as a satisfying easy loop. Run it early or late in the day to dodge the crowds that gather around the cove in summer.

Good to know

This loop pairs naturally with a longer day if you want more, but it is just as happy standing alone for families and newer runners. Janet's Foss is named after a fairy queen said to live behind the falls, and the surrounding woodland is lovely in bluebell season. The cove itself once carried a waterfall taller than Niagara at the end of the last ice age, which explains the sheer scale of the curving cliff you run beneath.