Yorkshire Moors

Walks

The Mallyan Spout walk

Tucked into a wooded gorge below the village of Goathland, Mallyan Spout is the tallest waterfall in the North York Moors. A 70-foot ribbon of water spilling over a mossy cliff into the beck below. A short but characterful walk from the village brings you to it, and a loop back over the fields makes a satisfying morning.

Water tumbling over a mossy fern-covered rock ledge into a dark pool on the wooded beck below Goathland

The falls in full flow after rain, framed by mossy rock and ferns in the wooded gorge below Goathland.

The waterfall

Mallyan Spout is not a broad, thundering fall. It is a tall, slender one, water dropping some seventy feet over a mossy, fern-hung ledge into West Beck. That makes it entirely weather-dependent: after heavy rain it is genuinely spectacular, and in a dry summer it can be little more than a shining stain on the rock. Check the Moors weather before you plan a trip specifically for the falls.

The route

From Goathland, the signed path beside the Mallyan Spout Hotel drops steeply into the gorge to meet West Beck. Turn left along the beck and follow it upstream; the final approach is rocky and uneven, with boulders to step over and water underfoot, and the falls appear on your right beneath an overhanging cliff. Most walkers return the same way, but the classic circular continues along the beck and climbs back to the village by field paths and lanes, making a loop of around three miles.

Route map and wayfinding

Start: Goathland village, at the western end near the Mallyan Spout Hotel

Start coordinates: 54.3988, -0.7215

  1. Goathland villagePark in the village and walk to the western end, past the Mallyan Spout Hotel.
  2. Descent into the gorgeA steep, stepped path drops through woodland to the bank of West Beck.
  3. Beckside scrambleTurn upstream and pick your way over wet rock and boulders for a few hundred yards.
  4. Mallyan SpoutThe falls drop from the cliff on your right, the turning point of the walk.
  5. Loop back to the villageEither retrace your steps, or continue along the beck and climb back by field paths.
Driving directions to the startOpen the larger mapBuild a day around it

A downloadable GPX track for this route is still to be added, for now, follow the wayfinding points above alongside OS Explorer OL27.

Path conditions in the gorge change after rockfall and flooding, confirm the route is open on the day.

Parking and getting there

Goathland has village parking that fills quickly on summer weekends and through the school holidays; arriving before mid-morning makes life much easier. Better still, arrive by train: Goathland is a stop on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and the station is a short walk from the village centre.

When to go and what to wear

Autumn and winter, after prolonged rain, give the fullest flow; spring adds wild garlic and birdsong in the gorge. Whatever the season, wear boots with grip. The rock beside the beck is wet, mossy and genuinely slippery, and trainers are not enough. This is not a buggy-friendly or step-free route.

Walking with dogs

Dogs are welcome on a lead. The boulder section close to the falls is awkward for small or older dogs, and the sheep-grazed fields on the return loop mean leads throughout. See our North York Moors with dogs guide for more.

While you're in Goathland

Goathland is a destination in its own right, the "Aidensfield" of Heartbeat, and its railway station stood in for Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films. Keen walkers can extend the day on the Goathland waterfalls walk, which strings together several falls including Thomason Foss; see also our waterfalls guide. Looking for a base? See where to stay.

Mallyan Spout walk FAQs

How long is the Mallyan Spout walk?
The usual circular from Goathland is around three miles and takes an hour and a half to two hours. You can shorten it to an out-and-back to the falls and return the same way.
How hard is the walk to Mallyan Spout?
Moderate. The descent into the gorge is straightforward, but the last stretch beside the beck is rocky, uneven and often wet, and you may need to pick your way over boulders.
Where do you park for Mallyan Spout?
In Goathland village. The signed path to the falls starts beside the Mallyan Spout Hotel at the western end of the village; parking is limited on busy days, so arrive early.
How tall is Mallyan Spout?
Around 70 feet, which makes it the tallest waterfall in the North York Moors. It is at its most dramatic after heavy rain and can thin to a trickle in a dry spell.
Can you take dogs to Mallyan Spout?
Yes, on a lead. The rocky, slippery section close to the falls is hard work for small or elderly dogs, so judge it on the day.

Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

All questions in the full FAQ hub →

Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

Are the North York Moors good for walking, and where are the best walks?

Outstanding, over 1,400 miles of paths, from the 109-mile Cleveland Way (Helmsley to Filey) to countless short circuits. Classics include the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping, Mallyan Spout at Goathland and the Helmsley–Rievaulx Abbey walk.

Walks on the moors →

What are the Bridestones and the best natural features?

The Bridestones are dramatic weathered sandstone outcrops near Dalby; other natural wonders include the Hole of Horcum, Mallyan Spout waterfall, Falling Foss and the Jurassic fossil coast around Whitby and Runswick Bay.

Walks on the moors →

Where is the Kilburn White Horse, and what are the famous landmarks?

The Kilburn White Horse, cut in 1857 below Sutton Bank, is England's most northerly hill figure; other landmarks include Captain Cook's Monument, the Bridestones, Ralph Cross (the park's symbol) and the Wainstones.

Walks on the moors →

What are the Hole of Horcum, Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Way?

The Hole of Horcum is a vast natural amphitheatre about 400 ft deep off the A169; Roseberry Topping is the distinctive 320 m "Yorkshire Matterhorn" near Great Ayton; the Cleveland Way is the 109-mile National Trail looping from Helmsley around the moors to the coast.

Walks on the moors →

What is the highest point in the North York Moors?

Round Hill on Urra Moor, at 454 metres (1,490 feet). It sits on the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk above Bilsdale, and the usual approach is the roughly three-kilometre climb from the Clay Bank car park.

Walks on the moors →

When does the heather bloom on the North York Moors?

Typically mid-August to early September, when the moors turn a spectacular purple; the Hole of Horcum and the high moor roads are classic viewing spots. Exact timing shifts a little year to year with the weather.

Walks on the moors →