Pennine Way Day 5 - Ickornshaw to Malham

Wednesday 30th June 2021

Walking Diary (All Walks) Long Distance Walks North Yorkshire & Co Durham Pennine Way

Pennine Way Day 5

This stage is covers Ickornshaw to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a 17 mile walk through a lot of farmland and the famous Aire Gap which splits the South Pennines from the Yorkshire Dales. The highlights include the view from Pinhaw beacon, walking beside the Leeds Liverpool Canal, Gargrave as well as entering the Yorkshire Dales National Park and then of course the Yorkshire jewel that is Malham.

There is also somewhere to buy a cold drink - Day 5 and we finally get something refreshing en-route

The information contained in the material on this Website is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.
Distance: 19.3 miles
Duration: 7:00 hours
Ascent: 2677 ft
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Accompanied By: Davy
Weather: Dry & Sunny

3D outline of route

Parking

Cowling - Church of Holy Trinity

Heading out from Cowling through farmland towards Lothersdale

Most of the days ascent is covered within the first four miles of today's walk with the majority of the walk being on gentle countryside paths

Lothersdale

Lovely views near Pinhaw beacon

I have every intention of doing exactly that - But recently I've been far from perfect !

A slight detour up the road to Thornton-in-Craven to try and get a cold drink or ice cream - but no shops or cafe's anywhere to be found - and this was quite a busy little place. What is it with the Pennine Way ? - Walkers are certainly not catered for and this was a common theme over the first 100 miles or so, I've never known it be so difficult to get supplies, water, treats etc.. how do the locals survive ? Horton-in- Ribblesdale was by far the worst, but more of that in a later blog. Okay then - back to the path in the red hot sunshine.

Nice Clock - but I'd rather of found a shop

In general all folk in this area were extremely friendly - but not this chap, he gave us a very loud growl, fortunately we didn't need to go into HIS field

Reaching the leeds - Liverpool canal

It's a lovely walk alongside the canal - plenty of activity and gentle flat terrain as you would expect.

Plus - the bonus of an honesty fridge full of cool drinks at East Marton (Abbots Harbour)

Approaching Gargrave

St Andrews Church - Gargrave

Is that all !! My heel feels like it's further, No worries though as we found a corner sweet shop that sold ice cold drinks - As good as beer in this heat

Couple of hours and we should be sitting outside the Lister Arms with a beer

Yorkshires lush green countryside - never tire of such views

No stone slabs on this soft carpet - I'm surprised that the Pennine Way hasn't worn a path over the years, maybe this section is less popular than others ? Can't see why though, it's beautiful

A quick stop to make ourselves presentable before we bump into Jodie Comer

Walking alongside the River Aire just before reaching Airton

Malham ahead

The Lister Arms - our stay for the night and the long awaited beers before checking in. Malham is a very pretty little village, but again we encountered difficulty in getting food for the next day, fortunately the Lister Arms made us a couple of sandwiches in the morning to keep us going. I thought we were a nation of shopkeepers ? Certainly not in this part of the world.