Ribblehead to Settle

3 August, 2013

14.0 mls, 22.53 km

2100 ft, 640.1 m

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Ribblehead

Settle

Ribblehead Station

07:30 to 12:35

Yorkshire Dales

Walk Number 456

Walk Notes:

A bit of an ‘awkward’ walk this – I needed several OS squares so ended up having to trespass a couple of times and this resulted in three difficult wall crossings, a couple of barbed wire fences and some difficult terrain below the lip of Park Fell – but still a great day out for all that. Not a walk I’d recommend to anyone though – it’s here for the record, but pick something else rather than this one. The weather stayed mostly good, short, light showers a couple of times, but not enough to force me into waterproofs and the sun was warm and strong at the end of the walk.

The new car, parked outside Settle train station - I like the VW Golf, so it's not a huge change from the old one, just slower! 🙁
Sign at Settle train station
Settle train station, quite busy this morning - a couple of 3-Peakers and other early morning folk off to Carlisle I guess
Mickey and Minnie Mouse adorn the station walls - not quite sure why, but they are interesting to see
Being dropped off at Ribblehead and the contrast between the bright sunshine and glowering clouds on Whernside is quite startling - forecast is for showers today!
The Station Inn - all quiet, but the barrels outside suggest it was another busy evening!
Park Fell and Ingleborough, as seen from the limestone pavement on Gauber Pasture - a trespass route and a wall to scale make this route inadvisable
The route up to Park Fell is wickedly steep, even when I took the sting out of it by zig-zagging up the face
The trig point on Park Fell with dense black clouds behind it - the wind is strong today and its cool compared to recent weeks
The trig point on Park Fell with dense black clouds behind it - the wind is strong today and its cool compared to recent weeks
Looking over Park Fell trig point towards Pen-y-Ghent and the sunshine is breaking through the clouds everywhere now
Normally the summit of Park Fell is unmarked - a few yards from the trig point, but I found a stake lying beside the path so plunged it into the soggy peat for a temporary summit marker
My plan today is to walk along the inside rim of the Ingleborough-Simon Fell ridge, bagging a couple of OS squares - I head for the wall that's in sunlight
At the wall I turn left and follow a plateau just below the lip of the ridge line - the first section is damned hard going too!
No sheep grazing on this side of the fell means the grass is deep, long and hard to walk through - I'm beginning to wonder if this was a good idea
Beyond the wall things improve, the sheep have trimmed the grass and its easier going - still hugging the upper slopes of Simon Fell
Looking across Thieves Moss otwards the grey lump of Pen-y-Ghent and sunlight breaking through the clouds - another wall to scale - not an ideal route to follow this one!
Crossing the limestone pavement on Sulber and the going is much easier now - a nice green track to follow with expanding views ahead
The dark profile of Pen-y-Ghent as seen across the limestone pavement on Sulber
Limestone pavement is abundant on this route and I never tire of the sight of it - its also great fun to walk across - except after heavy snow, when it becomes dangerous!
I couldn't help but wonder what this poor signpost had done to be tied to the stake - I was tempted to set it free 🙂
Following lanes now, between Crummack and Wharfe - across a lovely clapper bridge and time for a pit stop I think
Looking back up Crummack Dale and Austwick Beck sliding down the middle of the valley
Approaching Smearsett Scar and the wind is gathering speed now - the cloud show is impressive and it's been trying to rain for a while
Smearsett Scar
The trig point on Smearsett Scar - a good viewpoint for PYG and a steep little hill from the Stainforth side
Looking across to Pen-y-Ghent from the trig point on Smearsett Scar
My route down the valley is another trespass, so not advisable (again) - actually better not follow any of this route - too many walls to scale 🙂
The final wall I had to scale is the biggest and it was only possible because I have comedy giraffe legs - I had been expecting a stile here too!
Trees down on the way into Settle, but they don't block the path too badly - I had flashbacks to the Southern Upland Way though
Crossing the River Ribble in Settle on the main road - views behind of Attermire Scar and Langcliffe Scar
And back at the car - get used to the black one for future walks 🙂 I have to get changed in front of a shop window though - not good planning that

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