This route can be used during the Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove walk if Gordale Scar is too challenging to complete.
Gordale Scar can be quite intimidating to scramble and not everyone will be comfortable climbing up Gordale Scar. If you cannot complete the passage through Gordale Scar you can follow this route to the top of Gordale Scar and continue your walk to Malham Tarn. It will take approximately one hour to complete this bypass of Gordale Scar.
From Gordale Scar, follow the path back the way you came. Go through the gate and turn right onto the road.
![Gate from Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gate-from-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
Turn right. There is a signpost for Malham Cove.
![Road away from Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Road-away-from-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
Go through that gate and follow the grass/mud path.
![Start of Gordale Bypass](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Start-of-Gordale-Bypass.jpg)
The incline is quite steep to start.
![Grass route uphill](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Grass-route-uphill.jpg)
Keep following the grass route until you reach a gate in the stone wall.
![Gate from a distance](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gate-from-a-distance.jpg)
Go through the gate and turn right. Following the route with the stone wall on your right-hand side.
![Gate](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gate.jpg)
![Signpost and route along stone wall](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Signpost-and-route-along-stone-wall.jpg)
Climb over the stile in the wall and keep following the grassed path uphill. It is another steep incline.
![Stile in stone wall](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Stile-in-stone-wall.jpg)
![Steep incline](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Steep-incline.jpg)
Keep right at the pile of stones.
![Incline to top of Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Incline-to-top-of-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
![Grassed incline](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Grassed-incline.jpg)
You will reach the top of Gordale Scar.
![Gordale Scar from above](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Gordale-Scar-from-above.jpg)
![Grass flat route to top of Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Grass-flat-route-to-top-of-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
Once you reach the stone wall, you can turn left through the stile in the wall to continue towards Malham Tarn. If you wish to view Gordale Scar from the top, turn right. Once you have seen Gordale Scar from the top, turn back on yourself and continue through the stile in wall.
![Top of Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Top-of-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
![Path to Malham Tarn from top of Gordale Scar](https://www.thinkadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Path-to-Malham-Tarn-from-top-of-Gordale-Scar.jpg)
You can continue this walk to Malham Tarn using the Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove guide.