Malham Tarn is a glacial lake near the village of Malham in the Southern region of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The site is currently owned by the National Trust and has a Field Studies Centre next to the Tarn, in what was called as Malham Tarn House. Malham Tarn is just one of the eight alkaline upland waters in Europe. And is also known as the highest lake in England measuring at 377m (1,237ft) above sea-level. The bed of the tarn is silurian slate which underlies the limestone of the surrounding landscape and has a layer of marl deposits. Marl deposits is a mixture of calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay.

The tarn is home to many species of birds including Great-Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Wigeon and Teal as well as Water Voles which were introduced in 2016, it is also home to an otter that can be seen now and again. Fly fishing for trout is permitted on the lake, but is private and I believe only a boat can be used.

It’s a nice walk round Malham Tarn. Plenty of things to see (if you’re lucky) and as a bonus it is normally quiter than Malham Cove where everyone flocks to.

Starting from Malham village, there are two roads. One is to carry on up past the Cove, or second, is to drive over the small bridge and take your next turn left. Both roads are steep so watch out. If taking the road past the Cove, be sure to make a right hand turn when you can. With the second road, you just have to follow it. Either road will take you to Watersinks Car Park.

From the car park you can walk straight across the grass towards the tarn to the waters edge and then follow the grass path to join the track. Enjoy the views of the tarn and go through the gate (be sure to close it). Head up and round to the Fields Studies Centre and carry on.

Some ways from the Centre you may enter the hide where you can watch numerous fauna, as well as the otter if you’re lucky. When you’ve finished spying on animals in the hide, carry on along the road, and you can meet some of the animals along the way.

You will eventually reach a house with a gate to go into the Reserve. Sadly when writing this I couldn’t go in because it was closed due to Covid-19. I will definately write about it once it’s open!

Carry on to the bridleway and walk down here and all the way to the end and turn left once on the road. At the junction turn left again and follow it all the way back to the car park. On the way there is a stile to have a look at the Smelt Mill Chinmey. The chimney was working in the 18th Century. Lead, copper and zinc carbonate were mined on Pike Draw and the crushed metal ore was processed at the smelt mill. A long flue led from the mill to the chimney where the toxic fumes were exhumed. When you’ve had a look at the chimney, carry along the road back to the carp park. You can either take a breather before heading back home or walk South from the car park and walk to where the water disappears.