Ultimate Guide To The Malham Cove Walk (Harry Potter Filming Location!) 🧙
Ultimate Guide To The Malham Cove Walk (Harry Potter Filming Location!) 🧙

Ultimate Guide To The Malham Cove Walk (Harry Potter Filming Location!) 🧙

The Yorkshire Dales is absolutely jam-packed with jaw-dropping scenery and natural wonder to discover.

Of all the amazing sights to see in the National Park however, Malham Cove is undoubtedly up there as one of the most spectacular.

A gigantic curved limestone cliff-face looming just half a mile north from the quaint village of Malham, Malham Cove stands at an imposing 260 feet and has attracted & inspired keen admirers for hundreds of years.

Perhaps most famed for the iconic limestone pavement which sits atop of the Cove (as seen in Harry Potter – more on that later), Malham is also home to several more spectacular geological formations – namely Gordale Scar & Janet’s Foss – all which can be visited as part of a splendid circular hike around the local countryside.

Malham Cove Walk - Limestone Pavement, Harry Potter
The Malham Cove you see today is the result of a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers more than 12,000 years ago (towards the end of the last ice age)

Where is Malham Cove?

Standing just half a mile north from the village of Malham, Malham Cove is found in the craggy countryside of North Yorkshire, England.

While it is possible to find parking around the village of Malham, we usually just opt to leave the car on the Malham National Park Visitor Centre Car Park.

Costing £5 for the day, it can fill up rather quickly so we’d say it’s best to get here bright & early if possible.

Address: Chapel Gate, Malham BD23 4DA

Malham Cove Harry Potter

How long is the walk around Malham Cove?

Once arriving at the car park, you’ll see a hiking map of the area highlighting four separate trails which you can venture on.

Plantlife - Malham Cove Walk
Depending on which route you choose to hike at Malham Cove, the length of your ramble can vary from 1-mile to 4.5 miles.

The direct path straight to Malham Cove is just 1-mile in length and only around a 25-minute hike each way (although you’ll obviously want to spend some time exploring the cove once you’re up there).

Malham Cove Views, Countryside
When looking out from atop of Malham Cove you’ll be treated to striking views of the Dales landscape

To make the most of your visit in Malham however, I’d personally recommend opting for the Malham Landscape Trail. A 4.5-mile circular ramble which takes in all the main geographical wonders of the surrounding area, there really is no better way to experience Malham’s jaw-dropping countryside.

Whichever route you venture on, each of the footpaths are clearly colour coded with waymarkers along the way, so you shouldn’t have much trouble navigating your way around.

Malham Cove Walk – Visitor Centre Map

Malham Cove Walk - Visitor Centre Map

Malham Cove Routes 

Trail Name
Route Colour
Distance
Approx. Time
Malham Cove
Gold 1 mile (1.6 km) 25 minutes (each way)
Janet’s Foss
Blue 1.2 miles (2 km) 40 minutes (each way)
Gordale Scar
Blue / Red 1.8 miles (2.9 km) 50 minutes (each way)
Malham Landscape Trail (Circular)
Blue / Red / Purple / Gold 4.5 miles (7.2 km) 3 hours

Was Harry Potter filmed at Malham Cove?

While having already been a well-established rambling hotspot for centuries, Malham Cove exploded in popularity even more after it featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2010.

Used as a pivotal filming location for the movie, the wizarding trio of Harry, Hermoine & Ron are seen camping on the iconic limestone pavement during their search for the horcruxes. An absolute must-visit destination for all Potter-heads.

Spanning roughly 300 metres-wide, acidic rainwater has gradually weathered out the characteristic cracks and gaps in the limestone through the years, giving the cove it’s iconic pavement-like appearance.

Malham Cove Harry Potter, Limestone Pavement

Clamber around the rocks & try to find the exact spot where Potter’s tent was pitched in the movies. Likewise, be sure to take a moment to admire the tremendous views of the Yorkshire Dales landscape from above.

Other points of interest on the Malham Cove Walk

Janet’s Foss

A small yet spectacular waterfall found along the trail around Malham, Janet’s Foss has long been used as a natural sheep dip for local farmers and a popular paddling spot amongst wild swimmers.

It’s fabled that the tranquil falls derives its name from Jennet, Queen of the Fairies, who’s said to reside in one of the small caves behind the waterfall.

Foss is just a Nordic word for waterfall, still used in Scandinavia today and often titled in England as ‘force’.

Gordale Scar

A gigantic limestone ravine with two epic waterfalls, it’s speculated Gordale Scar could have been created by either water from melting glaciers or a cavern collapse.

The stream cascading over the gorge is Gordale Beck, which flows onwards & over Janet’s Foss before joining Malham Beck further downstream, forming the River Aire.

Gordale Scar, Waterfall Scramble

Fun fact – Gordale Scar makes an appearance in Netflix’s fantasy hit ‘The Witcher’ (Season 2, Episode 3: “What is Lost”). For other Witcher Filming locations, be sure to check out our Lake District Witcher Guide!

If waters permit and your ability allows, you can even scramble up top Gordale Scar and make your way towards Malham Tarn – although for your safety please ensure you climb in suitable weather conditions and are wearing the correct footwear.

Gordale Scar Cliffs

Malham Tarn

Nestled amongst the rugged Yorkshire moorland, Malham Tarn is in rare company as one of just eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe.

Incredibly serene and residing 377 metres above sea level, it’s the highest marl lake in the UK and provides visitors with absolutely gorgeous vistas.

Not part of the four main routes on offer, Malham Tarn requires you deviate off the standard path which will add a little more time and mileage to your ramble. Definitely worth a mooch if you’ve time though!

Is Malham Cove a hard walk?

I wouldn’t class any of the Malham Cove walk routes as difficult walks. They’re all relatively gentle rambles and easy to follow due to the clear signposting throughout.

There are a few craggy segments which require some very light scrambling, and you’ll need to be quite steady on your feet to walk around the cove’s limestone pavement, but overall most reasonably fit walkers should have no issues here.

Limestone Pavement - Harry Potter - Malham Cove

The full circular 7-kilometre Malham Landsacpe Trail (which takes in all of the surrounding sights) is relatively flat throughout, except for the steep descent down the Malham Cove Steps towards the end of the route.

Likewise, while the direct trail straight to Malham Cove is a short & easy ramble of just 1-mile, you will be required to hike up the steep steps of Malham Cove which can be a bit of a quad burner!

Malham Cove Steps

Malham Cove Steps - Down
Looking down on Malham Cove Steps

As you approach the 260-foot high Malham Cove, you’ll be faced with a rather steep & rugged looking staircase winding up to the summit of the rockface.

Best known as the Malham Cove Steps, this climb consists of 400 irregular stone steps and may seem a tad daunting at first glance.

Nevertheless, while the climb to the limestone pavement may get you huffing and puffing a bit, the ascent is relatively brief. Plus, the incredible panoramas you’re treated to up top are undeniably worth it.

Do you need walking boots for Malham Cove?

While the trails around Malham Cove are mostly well-laid out footpaths, certain segments are quite uneven and rocky.

As mentioned above, Malham Cove’s limestone pavement is particularly craggy, along with the rugged areas around Janet’s Foss & Gordale Scar.

It’s certainly wise to wear proper walking boots or walking shoes for ankle stability when traversing this kind of terrain. Regular trainers or sandals won’t really cut it here I’m afraid!

Other UK Harry Potter filming locations

In addition to Malham Cove, the UK is home to numerous other must-visit Harry Potter filming locations.

For instance, on our most recent venture to the Scottish Highlands we were able to uncover the exact spot where Hagrid’s Hut once stood!

For those interested, click through to read all about our guide to tracking down Hagrid’s Hut.

Hagrid's Hut Glencoe, Harry Potter

Nearby walks in Yorkshire

For those new to the Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove is only the start of your outdoor adventures here.

Home to countless epic peaks, hidden gems and awe-inspiring natural wonders, be sure to head on over to the Yorkshire section of the blog to get all the inspiration you need!

For fellow fans of waterfalls, I’d particularly recommend our comprehensive post listing the 10 BEST Waterfalls In Yorkshire.

From cascading falls big and small, we’ve even thrown a few hidden gems in there for good measure!

Happy walking 🚶🚶