the famous limestone pavement

After being stuck in lockdown for 4 months, my family and I decided to go on some walks because what else was there to do? Being stuck inside all day and every day, we needed some fresh air, nature, and just enjoying the glorious sunshine.

The first journey we undertook was the 4.7mile (7.5km) loop trail which is located near Malham, North Yorkshire, England. The 3 main features are Malham Cove (the famous limestone pavement), Janet's Foss, and Gordale Scar. To reach the top of Malham Cove is roughly 400 uneven steps and the vertical face of the cliff is around 260 feet high. I would say the whole trek around took us roughly 2 hours with a lunch break at the top where the view is definitely rewarding.

The reason I refer to the top of Malham Cove as "the famous limestone pavement" is because it's one of the locations in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part I. It's where Harry and Hermione are searching for the Horcruxes and are camping out on top of an astonishing cliff. I didn't know any of this until I got to the top and saw what I was looking at and what I was actually walking on.

The actual cove area is great for hanging out and enjoying the scenery. I loved just sitting on a rock and people-watching. You can even dip your feet into the refreshing creek if it's a hot day. However, my favourite part was watching people swing into the deep pool at Janet's Foss. The pool was traditionally used for sheep dipping, a jolly event which drew in local village inhabitants for the social occasion.

This trip certainly started my love for walks again.