Malhamdale

Based at Malham National Park Centre, Malhamdale Area Ranger Catriona Kilner (pictured left working with a group of students) manages one of the busiest dales in the National Park, where each year thousands of visitors flock to see natural features such as Malham Cove and Gordale Scar.

Cat works closely with local schools and community groups on a range of access and conservation projects.

Access Ranger Giovanni Mezzanotte’s main role is to carry out maintenance on the rights of way network and assist in the management of Open Access in Malhamdale.

Giovanni works closely with Cat on large projects as well as constantly carrying out smaller projects, sometimes with the help of volunteers.

He is seen in the picture on the right putting up a bird box on a tree near Malham Cove.

Access

Malham Cove and GordaleScar
We are constantly trying to improve the rights of way to make areas more accessible for the less mobile.  At the moment we are concentrating on the area around Malham, and this year improvements will be made to the footpaths to Malham Cove and Gordale Scar. Check back later for more information on this.

Flasby Fell bridleway improvements
Last autumn, we carried out some works to improve the bridleway across Flasby Fell, near Skipton.  The work improved one section of the route, and hopefully this will be extended this year.  Due to some very wet weather, it has taken the route longer to settle down than anticipated.  We would like to ask that people treat this route gently while they are using it, to give the vegetation a chance to establish.  Many thanks.

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs)
Several routes within the Yorkshire Dales National Park now have traffic regulation orders placed on them. Within Malhamdale these routes are: Mastiles Lane, Gorbeck Road, Stockdale Lane and the route from Street Gate to Arncliffe Cote. For more information please visit the traffic_regulation_orders page.

Things to look out for

Aren’t Birds Brilliant!
Since 2003 a project has been running in Malham village to improve visitors' access to the natural history of the area.  The RSPB fund staff to promote information about the peregrine falcons that nest on the face of Malham Cove.

Every day between the start of April and the end of July this summer, RSPB staff were present to talk to visitors.  When the visibility was good they were based at the foot of Malham Cove with binoculars and telescopes to help people see the peregrines and any other wildlife around.  When the weather was too poor to be able to use the telescopes, the staff made their base at Malham National Park Centre to talk to visitors who want to know more about the birds.  This year the peregrines raised two young successfully, named Splish and Splash.

The RSPB will be back again in the last week of August 2008 for one week only.

Advice

Please do not drop rubbish while using public rights of way and access land and do not feed wildlife or livestock.  Cattle and sheep can become curious if this happens regularly and eventually may become aggressive if they think there might be food available.

Please do not leave bags of dog waste in the countryside.  They are a potential health hazard for people and animals as well as looking very unsightly.

Contact details

Catriona Kilner
Malhamdale Area Ranger
Malham National Park Centre
Malham
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 4DA

01969 652383