Janet's Foss, Malham
OS grid reference:- SD 911 633
Janet's Foss, close to Gordale Scar, is situated near to the Dales village of Malham.
The waterfall on Gordale Beck falls over a limestone outcrop into a deep pool below. Tufa deposits form on the rocks behind the waterfall, Tufa is formed by calcium carbonate rich water precipitation.
The name Janet, which sometimes occurs as Jennet, is thought to derive from a folk tale reference to a fictional fairy queen who inhabited a cave at the back of the falls. Foss is an Old Norse term for waterfall, which is still used in Scandinavia, and is presented in a number of cases in northern England as 'force'.
The pool was traditionally used for sheep dipping, an event which drew the village inhabitants for the social occasion.
Opposite the falls is a small cave thought to have been inhabited by copper miners working at the nearby Pikedaw mines.
Directions
The footpath to Janet's Foss commences from the Smithy at Malham village, cross over over the small clapper bridge at the back of the Smithy, then turn right along the side of the beck, passing through and entering a wood. The footpath then continues alongside Malham Beck.
Images courtesy of Paul Johnson
Waterfalls in the Dales
| Aysgarth Falls | Cauldron Falls | Catrigg Force | Cote Gill Waterfall |
| Gaping Gill | Hardraw Force | Ingleton Waterfalls |
Janet's Foss |
| Linton Falls | Stainforth Force |