Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar

Gordale Beck falls prettily over a band of tufa rock into a circular pool. It's really attractive, both the way the cascade tumbles down and the pool itself, which in good light is a clear, soft, aqua turquoise colour. There are small caves in the rock, said to be inhabited by 'Jennet, Queen of the Fairies' - not that I've ever seen her. For those with time to spare, there's an interesting article HERE by a blogger who at one time lived in Malham and has researched the legend. 

Looking back the way I walked in, the rocky sides of the gorge rise above the stream as it trickles down. 

Out beyond the gorge the valley opens out and then narrows again at the spectacular ravine of Gordale Scar, where the overhanging limestone cliffs are over 330 feet high. There is another double cascade, which in theory you can climb. You can perhaps see a couple of lads and a dog attempting the climb but it was very wet and slippery on the tufa and they didn't get all the way to the top.  

The ravine was probably formed by water from melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, which carved out caverns and potholes that run through and under the limestone in this area. It's likely that a cavern collapsed here, to form the gorge. It is breathtaking scenery. People come from all over to see it and it has featured in poems, paintings and films.