Scotland
Affric Kintail Way
Coming soon
- On trail 17.5 mi 28.2 km
- Walking time 8–9 h
- Ascent 750 m 2,450 ft
- Descent 760 m 2,500 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
Through the Aire Gap: villages, fields and a canal, to the edge of limestone country.
Section 5: Ickornshaw to Malham map
Example stay The Buck Inn (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: Pennine Way route description on National Trails . The walk follows that page's sixteen days, checked 17 October 2026. Distance and climb are measured on our line between these ends, not taken from its mile figures.
The walk
"Mostly muck and manure," Wainwright said of this one, and it will not top many lists. It crosses the Aire Gap, the low corridor between the gritstone moors and the limestone of the Dales. From Ickornshaw the path climbs to Pinhaw Beacon, drops to Thornton-in-Craven, follows the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and runs through Gargrave and the fields to the River Aire. The prize is at the end: Malham, "the place where the highlights start to appear".
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Start of section
Ickornshaw
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Pinhaw Beacon
A low moor top with fine views back over the South Pennines and forward to the Dales. The last gritstone before the limestone begins.
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The Leeds and Liverpool Canal
A stretch of towpath beyond Thornton-in-Craven. Barge and bridge fans will enjoy it; everyone else enjoys the flat walking.
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Lunch and shop
Gargrave
The biggest village of the day, with pubs, cafés and a Co-op. A sensible place to stop if you want a shorter day.
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Up the Aire to Malham
From Scaleber Hill and Airton the path follows the river north. The limestone starts to show and Malham appears at the head of the dale.
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End of section
Malham
Section 5: Ickornshaw to Malham overview
The ground
- Field paths
- Canal towpath
- Riverside
A long, low day of fields, villages and riverside. Less climbing than the moor days around it, and more places to eat than anywhere else on the Way. The challenge is the path-finding, not the hills.
Stops
Refreshments
- Plenty
- by Pennine Way standards. The path passes through an unusual number of villages
- with a couple of very good cafés; Gargrave has pubs
- cafés and a Co-op. Malham has the Buck Inn
- the Lister Arms and a shop
Toilets
- No source used for this section names a public toilet
Before you go
Opposite direction
Malham to Ickornshaw
Walked north to south, you leave Malham down the River Aire, cross the fields to Gargrave and the canal, climb over Pinhaw Beacon and drop to Ickornshaw at the edge of the South Pennine moors, where beds are few and mostly self-catering.
End of section
Ickornshaw
Ickornshaw to Malham FAQ
Is Ickornshaw to Malham worth walking?
Yes, even if it is not the most dramatic day. It has the most food stops on the Way, the canal and Pinhaw Beacon, and it ends at Malham, where the limestone country begins.
Can I break the day at Gargrave?
Yes. Gargrave has beds, pubs and a shop, and the official guide suggests it as a way to shorten the day. Malham is then a shorter walk up the Aire the next morning.
Where do I stay in Malham?
Malham has a youth hostel, inns, B&Bs and a campsite, but it is busy at weekends and in summer. Book early.
Can I download a GPX for Ickornshaw to Malham?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 5 on the 15-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 15-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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