Jumping in front of Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn and Great Close Hill

No trip to Malham would be complete without a visit to its famous tarn! This walk also heads up Great Close Hill which overlooks it as a bit of a change to the usual circular.

Located above the village of Malham, the tarn is often far quieter than the walks in the village itself!

Have you walked around Malham Tarn?

A stunning place to visit, this National Trust owned area is surrounded by rolling moorland, and feels a million miles away from the bustle of Malham itself.

As an alternative to the longer circular walk around the Tarn itself, this shorter wander takes in the summit of Great Close Hill, which is next to the Tarn. Not a biggy, so a good one for littler legs!

Malham Tarn is also a nature reserve, so plenty of animals, birds and plants to spot too!

Looking over towards Malham Tarn

Walk details for Malham Tarn and Great Close Hill

Distance: 3 miles

Terrain: Mainly Clear paths. Some ascent (300ft). There is a little more exploring on Great Close Hill, which is on open access land, and a detour to the mahoosive cairn is well worth it!

Parking: Malham Tarn Car Park

Public Transport: Whilst the village of Malham is accessible by bus, the start point for this walk is not easily accessible by bus.

Dog Friendly? Yes. Whilst some of the nature reserve is not accessible to dogs, this part is!

Location: Malham, The Yorkshire Dales

Map: OS OL02 Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western

What 3 Words: camps.ballooned.richest (car park and starting point)

Toilets/ Baby Change: Nearest is Malham Village

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Malham Village

Map reading by the tarn

Map reading by the water of the tarn

How to get to Great Close Hill from Malham Tarn

Directions:

  1. From the car park , take the wide grassy track heading in the direction of the water. The path takes you to the edge of the tarn and then along the edge before gradually bending round to the right and meeting the edge of the woodland to your left. Follow this path, until you reach a gate onto a wide stony track, which roughly follows the perimeter of the tarn (but the water is at a distance).

  2. Walk along the stony track as far as the edge of some more woodland, where there is a gate. Don’t pass through the gate, but instead turn right up the signposted path to your right. You will begin to climb at this point. The hill to your right as you ascend is Great Close Hill and you need to veer off rightwards to reach the cairn. Just keep climbing until you reach the top! On the map, there is no marked path, but in reality, there is a small grassy track that heads up to the summit cairn.

  3. Once at the top, you’ll get cracking views over the tarn and the surrounding fells and the massive cairn is a top picnic spot! Turn left and head down back to meet the path. Turn right, and after 500 yards, turn right again to join the wide track that skirts around the base of Great Close hill. keep on the track until it passes through a wall. Then take the path to the right, which hugs the side of the wall and leads between that on your right hand side and then a small plantation area on your left, heading back in the direction of the tarn.

  4. After the plantation, the path bends round to the left. Ignore the track which would make you turn sharply left, going back on yourself and go straight across it. This path takes you back to the car park.

Last walked February 2024

Walking to the summit of Great Close Hill

Walking up to the summit cairn of Great Close Hill

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

💦 You are NOT able to paddle or swim in the Tarn as it is a protected nature reserve, but you can take a little wander to water sinks, which is where the beck disappears into the ground, before reappearing at the base of Malham Cove. There you could have a paddle if you fancied it, and it is only a 10 minute walk.

✨ Malham Tarn is actually quite unique to this part of the Dales. Located in limestone territory, usually the permeable rock just lets the water sink into the ground, which is why there really aren’t many natural tarns around. However, Malham is unique, because when it was formed during the Ice Age, it actually formed on top of a watertight layer of slate, which means the water doesn’t sink! Because it was so unique to the area, it became a bit of a hotspot for wildlife and for early settlements, and archaeological evidence has been found of early human life here. Now, it is a nature reserve, and if you fancy extending the walk here, you can head all the way around it! (Source yorkshiredales.org.uk)

🦆 There are loads of birds, animals and plant life to spot here with it being a nature reserve and all!

🌳 If you need some help with the walking whinges, then check out our walking games! Or perhaps downloads a scavenger hunt!

Standing looking across Malham Tarn

Helpful Information!

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

Climbing up to Janet's Foss

More Malham walks please?

Malham is admittedly one of the busiest parts in the Yorkshire Dales, but it does have a lot of beautiful places!

Including Janet’s Foss waterfall!

Want to do the walk? Then head to our walk description!

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