Malham Cove is one of the most incredible sights in Yorkshire, and – depending how far north you live – is only an hour’s drive from parts of Greater Manchester.
Even if you’ve never visited before, it might look a little familiar.
Malham Cove was used as a major filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
In one scene, Harry and Hermione are seen scrambling over huge stepping stone-like rocks while trying to solve the clues left to them.
It’s one of the most memorable locations from the film, which sees the main characters in hiding across the UK.
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Malham Cove. Credit: The Manc Group
These unusual rock formations are actually part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and a visit to them will lead you on a truly great hike.
You can visit the curving limestone cliffs of Malham Cove, the amazing waterfall and gorge at Gordale Scar, and the pretty pools of Janet’s Foss all in one walk.
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Once you make it up to Malham Cove itself, you’ll be greeted with sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
The view from Malham Cove. Credit: The Manc Group
You’ll have to leap and bound your way through the rocks – so go steady – where deep cracks have formed between the limestone.
It’s well worth the effort to see the tiny trees that have tried to grow between the rocks and soak up this surreal landscape.
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A long, steady flight of stairs leads up from the village of Malham to the top.
Walking through Gordale Scar. Credit: The Manc Group
From there, you can walk through the fields to get down to Gordale Scar, the dramatic limestone gorge with 100 metre-high cliffs and two huge waterfalls.
This part of the national park was used by Netflix crews for The Witcher, and is said to have inspired the writer William Wordsworth as well as famous artists such as J.M.W. Turner and James Ward.
Then nearby is Janet’s Foss, a small National Trust waterfall in the middle of a magical wood.
Janet’s Foss waterfall. Credit: The Manc Group
The easiest way to see all three beauty spots is to take the stairs up to Malham Cove then loop back around past Janet’s Foss.
For those who fancy something a little longer, there’s also a 12.4km loop which heads a bit further into the hills.
There’s a small pay and display car park at the visitor centre – where there are also toilets, maps, and drinking water taps – and a larger parking area further afield.
As always, make sure to stick to footpaths, take your litter away and generally respect this beautiful corner of Yorkshire.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Feature
Review | PinkPantheress turns Victoria Warehouse into one huge party on first night in Manchester
Emily Johnson
There was a point during Pinkpantheress’ set at O2’s Victoria Warehouse where you almost forgot you were watching someone perform an album that barely stretches past the 20-minute mark.
Instead, night one of two Manchester shows felt like one huge club night curated by one of the most exciting British artists around right now.
From the second you walked into the venue, greeted by an army of plaid, the world of PinkPantheress (real name Victoria Beverley Walker, for those who didn’t know) completely took over.
The stage itself mirrored that energy too, with a two-tier setup that allowed her to constantly move around the space, appearing and disappearing throughout the night alongside outfit changes, dramatic lighting and eventually, a pair of angel wings.
Backed by her dancers and DJ Joe, the entire show felt slick, immersive and miles away from the early days of PinkPantheress nervously clutching onto her handbag on stage like a comfort blanket. Ironically, the handbag did make a brief appearance during the evening.
It’s a reminder of just how much her performances have evolved – and evolve they have.
What could have easily been a short and simple set instead became a fully realised live show, complete with extended dance sections, rave-inspired moments, drum solos and seamless transitions that made the whole thing feel bigger than the music alone.
There’s also something undeniably British about a PinkPantheress show: the UK garage influences, the fashion, the awkward humour, and the understated confidence all combined into something that felt distinctly hers.
At one point, she paused to laugh: “It’s hot in this venue, f*** me,” which summed up the sweaty chaos of the night perfectly.
At one point, she joked that the last time she was in Manchester, she made it all the way to the final stage of Pointless, before being told she was now “too famous” to go on the show – a perfectly PinkPantheress anecdote that had the crowd laughing immediately.
By the end of the set, Victoria Warehouse felt less like a gig venue and more like the best house party you’ve ever accidentally ended up at.
And with another Manchester show still to come, it’s safe to say the party isn’t over just yet.
Starting off life as a little coffee trike back in 2021, and now based inside a bright-yellow shipping container in Levenshulme‘s Cringle Park, Grounded MCR CIC is a social enterprise that does more than just make you a brew.
Set up with the idea of creating a welcoming space for the whole community to gather, with a key focus on sustainability, Grounded serves up specialty coffee, lots of other hot and cold drinks, and yummy homemade food – much of which is grown by hand, on and around the container.
This is Grounded MCR / Credit: The Manc Group
Coffee beans sourced from a local roaster that pays farmers properly, tasty bakes on offer from a handful of local makers – including bread from the incredible Stockport-based charity, Pure Innovations – and dozens of free community events organised throughout the year are just a few of the reasons why Grounded goes above and beyond your typical cafe.
Sustainability – and affordability, especially amid the ongoing cost of living crisis – are two huge driving factors for Grounded, especially through their partnership with FareShare Greater Manchester and utilising the ‘Too Good To Go’ scheme.
By delivering and using surplus food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste, Grounded is able to keep their prices low whilst still creating some delicious scran.
The Levenshulme community cafe crafting coffee for a great cause / Credit: The Manc Group
Their ‘FareShare Fridays’ are hosted each week, where that morning’s delivery is dedicated to one specific dish and served up for just £1.
To top it all off, Grounded also works with vulnerable adults in honing their barista and hospitality skills, and is also in partnership with ‘Women in Probation’ too to ensure their impact goes further than just what comes in a cup or on a plate.
”We’ve worked hard to create a space that feels safe and welcoming for all,” Grounded declares in a statement on it’s website – and we think they’ve succeeded.
Daisy Jackson -
4th February 2022 
