Shown above is a natural limestone pavement found at Malham Cove, England, in Yorkshire Dales National Park. The product of a glacial retreat, it bears a striking resemblance to actual pavement, hence the name. The fissures that crisscross it, known as grikes, are often over 3 feet (1 m) deep, making it a challenge to walk across. Wherever limestone is relatively hard, horizontally-bedded and has been scoured by glaciers, weathering becomes more obvious about its joints, allowing the pavement to take shape.
There are the stunning cliffs of Malham Cove, home to peregrine falcons and little owls. There's probably the UK finest example of a limestone pavement, known as karst, with its intriguing sinkholes where all surface water disappears down into underground caves. There is also Gordale Scar, a great gorge to scramble up for the brave and experienced, Malham Tarn which is England's highest freshwater lake, and for those who aren't happy with a hike you can go caving - at White Scar Caves near Ingleton or Ingleborough Cave in Clapham - or climb on one of the area's bolted routes.
Good news for those who like a hike, is that all the main attractions of Malhamdale can be linked in one spectacular walk. Malham Cove itself is a huge limestone amphitheatre shaped cliff with a vertical face of 80 metres. It's a truly majestic place and it's hard not to feel a little bit ant like when you stand below its vertical face, marvelling at its natural grandeur as the 300 metres wide cliff face curves almost around you. At the top of the cove is a large area of deeply eroded limestone pavement, with a bizarre pattern of cracks (grikes) and blocks (clints).
There are many hiking options in Malhamdale and you can get a free pamphlet of hiking routes from the Malham National Park Centre or download it from the Malhamdale site. Our favourite hike is a circular route that takes you above the cove, but you can always take a short detour to the bottom later in the day if you want to look up at the cliff.
Leave the village of Malham and hike towards the Janet's Foss waterfall by following the stream, before continuing to the Gordale Scar. Hike through this short gorge, and continue to its end where you'll find a waterfall, which you can scramble up in the dry (you can also walk around the waterfall by back tracking). Keep hiking straight on towards Malhan Tarn before heading back south on the Pennine Way towards the amazing limestone pavement and the terrifying knife edge of the cove itself and ultimately back to the village for a pint of fine Yorkshire ale.
Yorkshire Dales National Park, England Coordinates: 54.266667, -2.083333
