Janet's Foss water pool

​I visited Janet's Foss on August 9th with my family and my brother's family, and it was a simply magical day out! This waterfall is stunning and the perfect spot for a refreshing dip or paddle. It's FREE and open 24/7 (just pay for parking in Malham village). You can visit early or late to avoid crowds. ​The main route from Malham is on good paths initially, but be warned: the last section through the ancient wood trails is rocky, uneven & involves steps. Bring a strong off-road pram or a baby carrier. Standard wheelchairs will struggle to reach the pool itself. ​The walk is enchanting, guiding you through a lovely wood! We appreciated that the Foss is part of a Two-Way Entry system: you can either walk straight there and back from Malham, or continue past it to Gordale Scar as part of the challenging but rewarding Malham Loop. The water pool itself is shallow and crystal-clear, perfect for a refreshing wild swim or just letting the kids paddle and cool off on a warm August day! Both families loved dipping their feet and feeling the cool spray of the cascade. It was busy (as expected in peak summer), but the atmosphere was fantastic, full of families enjoying the simple joy of nature ​A truly special place steeped in legend (the Queen of the Fairies, Jennet, is said to live here!).

Beautiful smallish waterfall. Pleasant walk to the waterfall itself. Didn't enjoy the windy small roads to get there but that's a 'me problem' 🤣. Waterfall was very busy when we got there so it's good to see people enjoying nature. Giant field car park as you enter the village is ideal place to park. Beautiful part of the country.

Came here on the back of a walk over from Malham Cove, through Goredale Scar, and this works as a perfect extension of that route. Also as a return route to Malham I think this works a lot better than simply retracing your steps backwards. It has the added advantage of being a lot flatter for those who's legs might by now be feeling a little defeated by it all. The waterfall itself is everything you would expect from one of Yorkshires wild places. Lush green vegetation fringes the clear waters as they cascade downwards. A picture perfect scene, though you will likely be competing with numerous other visitors to take the shot. Also saw some wild swimmers here (a popular spot apparently) though I don't think I personally would be easily persuaded into the equivalent of a cold bath in a public place. The walk onwards is enjoyable and filled with sufficient interest to easily compete with the first leg of the walk. The initial stretch is very rocky and could be challenging for the mobility impaired visitor. Also take care if you are tempted into the crossing on a conveniently felled log along the route. The child in me jumped on with barely a thought for my own personal safety. The adult then realized that logs don't seem nearly as wide when you are on them.

Beautiful little waterfall surrounded by lush woodland. The walk is peaceful. Water is crystal clear, and the place feels magical with the fairy folklore. A must-visit along with Malham Cove and Gordale Scar.

My wife and I love the Lake District and are relative newcomers to the Yorkshire Dales. However, from the trip we did earlier this year, we love it and one of the main reasons is the number of beautiful waterfalls Janet’s Foss was one of our favourite finds and has the bonus of a beautiful small pond to dip your feet in. The hardest part of getting there is driving down narrow country roads to get to Malham where the walk begins There’s a decent sized car park with toilets and a gift shop. The walk to Janet’s Foss is about 30 minutes direct along a flat route running beside a bubbling brook. The waterfall itself is beautiful with a small pond at its base You can continue on the route to see the Gordale Scar and Malham Cove - this is definitely more strenuous! If you can turn back to the village