~Ingleborough~
7th April 2012
I've always considered Ingleborough to be the biggest and best of the "Yorkshire Three Peaks" due to its sheer bulk and fine profile from all around. Today's walk was a late choice when I found out the weather was not likely to be as grim as feared.
Ingleborough Summit
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Horton-in-Ribblesdale Railway Station
Following a familiar format, I caught the 09:39hrs from Hellifield. This train was 90% full, it's a good sign, I just wish they ran an earlier service for those who like an earlier start. It's the first time I've started a walk from Horton Station, it's 10am.
Pen-y-Ghent
The walk I have planned will collide with "3 Peakers" somewhere between Whernside and Ingleborough. Horton has developed as a village in two places and I presume the part nearest the camera was a product of the railway's arrival in the 1870's.
The Way Ahead
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Looking back to Pen-y-Ghent |
Sulber Nick |
I mentioned to the chap on the right that maps were superfluous, just follow everybody else....
Basil The Dog
Basil The Dog was covering plenty of ground, frequently catching up with me and then responding to the hail of "Basil!" and returning to his master. The views ahead have been vague with no clear views of Ingleborough.
Thwaite Scars
Thwaite Scars are in the middle ground in this view to the south. Pendle Hill is further away, if you look hard enough.
Simon Fell Breast
The final approach to Ingleborough along Simon Fell Breast.
Ribblehead Viaduct
A diesel-hauled excursion train makes its way across the viaduct, heading north.
Lunchtime
I had my sandwich overlooking the view to Ingleton, rather than squeezing into the shelter. I had an interesting time at the trig point. I generally like to get a photo of the column, but a man was stood there messing with his GPS and didn't seem to want to move. I said, jokingly, "you're at the top", but he wasn't amused, carried on pressing buttons and then turned away. Miserable sod!
The Top!
You don't need no fancy gadget to tell you that this is the top, or near enough, anyway.
Quaking Pot
I have time on my side, so I choose to walk down the Ingleton ascent and then visit Quaking Pot before heading north under the nose of Ingleborough.
Quaking Pot
The reverse of the view in the previous photo.
Tatham Wife Moss
Peace and quiet in abundance on the stretch around the west side of Ingleborough. There's a sunny interval over there.
Limestone Pavement
Vast acreage of clints and grikes and, unlike Malham's version of the same, no folk and no litter in the gaps.
3 Peakers
The anticipated encounter with intrepid triple mountaineers. (see 1st comment left by visitor, Paul Dyson)
Erratic Boulder
A look back at Ingleborough with an erratic boulder standing proud.
The Old Hill Inn
A little bit of road walking down to Philpin Lane and more encounters with leg weary descenders from Whernside.
A Bet?
Whernside
As I had a train to catch, I made the walk fit the time allowed and that's why I followed the path under Whernside and along to the viaduct.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Only the sky has been disappointing today, everything else has been fine. Calm, dry weather; firm underfoot.
R
Lots of little lambs in the lower fields.
Freightliner on the Ribblehead Viaduct
Ribblehead Railway Station
I arrived at the station just as the "volunteers" cafe closed its doors. C'est la vie....
This year, I've walked the Three Peaks; all the right mountains, but not necessarily in the right order.
Walkers: Just Me
Time taken: 5hrs 20mins over a distance of about 12 miles.
Route: Horton Railway Station to Ingleborough, via Sulber Nick and Simon Fell Breast, Quaking Pot, Tatham Wife Moss, Southerscales Scars, Philpin Lane, Broadrake, Ivescar, Gunnerfleet Farm, Ribblehead Viaduct, Ribblehead Railway Station.
Weather and Conditions: Cloudy throughout, but calm and dry.
Greetings Count: Very busy everywhere, except the bit in front of Ingleborough, where I was alone for an hour or so.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Nothing to report today.
Whernside in January; Pen-y-Ghent in March.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2012 ©
Take me back to the start ....