GEORGE WILKINSON enjoys his second of three outings in Malham.

THIS week I have tried to use the extensive open access areas near Malham to get you off the beaten track. We start in the open, a few miles north of the village.

Water is the immediate interest. There's the tarn close by with its handsome field centre the far side. We will be round the tarn next week. From it comes a stream which sinks near the car park and is useful for dangling feet in after the walk.

A little further south are improbable clusters of ponds. Surprisingly this isn't the water that gushes out of the bottom of Malham Cove, it's very complicated underground.

The other side of this excellent limestone hydrology is the dry valley and we get a good long one next - part of the Pennine Way - dry, rocky, severe and baking hot in the sun. Vacant but for the odd bird and a group of 'supporters' worse for wear and bedecked in England flags and balloons. They will have deflated.

The valley leads to the top of the cove and the view. Then we go up a little more for a crossing of Broad Scars. This is wonderful, a really large acreage of pavement, marvellous to step across. Garlic as well as fancy ferns inhabit the deep grikes, the rabbits are invisible in the fissures, occasionally there's a solitary photogenic tree in classic calendar style.

A quiet mile of grassland brings us to the next thrill, a splendid bird's-eye, almost vertiginous, view of Gordale Scar.

Crocodiles of people making their way to the entrance are hundreds of feet below. We contour along the top so as to meet them, or rather, the fit few, the one-per cent or fewer who have not been repulsed by the scary canyon. You will find them sitting on rocks relishing their conquering of the scar, basking in the glory and keen to recount their adventure to the inquisitive. Little suspecting your access area deviance, they presume you too have come straight up. I could not bring myself to deceive to impress, and instead explained my route and its many virtues.

FACT FILE

Distance: Five miles.

Time: Three hours.

Start: Parking Area Grid Ref. 895660 (Pennine Way sign). Near foot of Malham Tarn

Right of way: Along public rights of way and through open access areas.

Date walked: Friday, June 16, 2000.

Road route: Signed roads north from Malham, a few miles.

Car parking: Free parking area.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: At Malham.

Tourist and public transport information: Malham National Park Centre Tel 01729 830363

Map: Based on OS Outdoor Leisure 2, Yorkshire Dales Southern & Western Areas.

Terrain: Wonderful upland limestone.

Footwear: Walking boots.

Points of interest: Malham Cove, Gordale Scar - from above, very large limestone pavement. Open access (ends 30/9/2002).

Difficulty: Moderate but compass useful on limestone pavement.

Dogs: Keep on leads or under close control.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk

DIRECTIONS

1. From car park (Pennine Way sign), right to road, 100 yards, gate on left, path at 11 o'clock to Watlowes valley.

2. Left at path T-junction by wall (sign and PW symbol) to stile and steps down, valley bottom path.

3. Stile at end of valley (info boards), 100 yards to top of Malham Cove (sheer drop). Return to stile, right for ten yards to gap in wall, one o'clock uphill and then by wall. Ignore first ladderstile on right but beside second ladderstile turn left on grassy path.

4. Ladderstile and right for 100 yards to wall corner. Head 15 south of east (magnetic) aiming to pass well to the right of the two thorn trees then continue in this direction over the extensive limestone pavement to a shallow valley.

5. Right in shallow valley to grassy path.

6. Fieldgate/ladderstile and left on road, 20 yards, wall stile into field, 25 yards, left to narrow path (wall and road to your left) to a wooden fieldgate which is about 50 yards east of the road. Right to grassy track up to fieldgate (stile nearby).

7. Straight on rough path to fallen wall at edge of Gordale Scar (another sheer drop beyond wall), left on clifftop path.

8. Wallstile to path (signed Malham Tarn 2).

9. Ignore stile on left, 200 yards, stile at corner, cross track, left to unfenced road.