Gordale Scar
A colossal limestone gorge a mile from Malham, its overhanging walls towering above a waterfall-fed beck. The atmosphere is as intimidating as anywhere in England, with long trad pitches and steep sport routes threading the leaning walls. Slow to dry and prone to seepage, but unforgettable in condition.
Conditions right now
Classics
| Route | Grade |
|---|---|
| Face Route | E3 6a |
| Cave Route Right-Hand | f7c+ |
| Pierrepoint | f8a |
Access & approach
Park at Gordale Bridge or in Malham and walk in through the campsite field. Seasonal bird nesting restrictions on some sectors - check BMC RAD.
Always check the BMC Regional Access Database (RAD)for current restrictions and seasonal bird bans before visiting. County: North Yorkshire. View on OpenStreetMap ↗
Photos
Freely-licensed photographs taken at or near the crag. Rock changes less than websites do, but check the date — an approach can silt up or a path can be diverted.
Gordale Scar - 2 - geograph.org.uk - 822232 · Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
On the way out - geograph.org.uk - 1210948 · Ron Galliers, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Looking down into Gordale Scar - geograph.org.uk - 1354078 · Andy Beecroft, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Gordale Beck valley - geograph.org.uk - 1862334 · John H Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Looking down into Gordale Scar from the north - geograph.org.uk - 3269052 · Karl and Ali, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
