Best View of T’Dale Traditional Cache
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Size: 
(small)
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A viewpoint overlooking Malhamdale which involves a bit of a walk...
The cairn of Pikedaw overlooks Malhamdale and, in my humble opinion at least, offers one of the best viewpoints in the area. From here you can see right down the Dale, across to Malham Cove and also towards Malham Tarn area. Leading towards the village you will see a lane snaking away from you, this is locally known as “Seven Barns Lane” but you won’t be able to count seven... one barn was demolished years ago to build a house and one is actually sited a field away from the lane.
Geologically it is an interesting area as well, being right on the edge of the Craven fault. Pikedaw Hill itself sits on limestone so has well drained soil, but about ¼ mile to the west is a small stream where the rock abrubtly changes to a sandstone so the ground is much more boggy and covered in rushes. Looking towards Pikedaw from Seven Barns lane, you can quite easily pick out the change by the colour of the ground.
There are 2 ways to approach, one involves a very steep climb from the footpath which comes up the ghyll just to the West and… the other involves a slightly less steep climb from the bridleway to the North via a gate next to a sheepfold in the wall. My personal favourite is to arrive from the Bridleway and go back down the steep route to enjoy the views on the way home. This cache could easily be combined with Pigling's Nappa Cross to make an enjoyable round.
Please note the cache itself is not at the cairn, but about 50 yards towards the village hidden next to a prominent feature (and if anyone can throw any light on the history of this feature I would love to hear it.... ?) This feature had been knocked down on my last visit and I put it back in position. If nothing "makes you cross" on your visit, please let me know
It would be great if visitors could all post a photo, showing the view they enjoyed whilst at the cache site.
As at 23 Nov 2015 a new box and notepad were placed to replace the previous one which absconded earlier in the summer. Kitestu.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abool’f pebff – juvpu jvyy znxr frafr jura lbh frr vg.