Ingleborough from Clapham return over Newby Moss.

Start. Clapham.

Route. Clapham - Thwaite Lane (Track) - Long Lane (Track) - Long Scar - Nick Pot - Shooting Hut (ruin) - Fell Beck Head - Swine Tail - Ingleborough - Little Ingleborough - Newby Moss - Cote haw - Newby Cote - Old Road - Crosshaw - Clapham.

Notes. Ingleborough one of the most recognised of Yorkshire’s many hills, with it’s vast summit comprising of millstone grit and shale tilting slightly to the south east. It was a safe haven for Iron Age man, later around the time of the Roman invasion the Brigantes, one of the many northern tribes established a hill fort including ramparts ringing the summit. Can you imagine what the legions of Roman soldiers thought whilst marching past, a tribe of mad Britain's looking down willing to take on the might of Rome, they probably ignored them and carried on. The hills flanks are perforated by hundreds of holes, some gaping chasms others mere slits, sink holes and limestone scarps, erratic boulders litter the lower slopes, it’s a special place this hill they call Ingleborough.

There are many ways to and from the summit, I tried to pick a quiet one up and the way down was quite sublime. To avoid the crowds an early start was called for, Clapham at seven thirty in the morning is a sleepy little place, an ancient settlement with it’s roots planted deep in Saxon times.

To the north east of the village next to St James’ Church a track is swallowed up by two dark tunnels, I’m afraid this was my route. Through the darkness into the light and on to the junction of Thwaite Lane and Long Lane, the latter a stoney track guided me through stunning limestone scenery for just over a mile, the end of the track marked the start of some wonderful walking over green paths. First I climbed to the large cairn on Long Scar then headed north east through a wonderful limestone landscape, at an obvious path junction I swung north, the scenery got even better, this path cut through limestone pavements eventually depositing me on the Three Peaks Path between Ingleborough and Horton in Ribblesdale.

Needless to say this path gets a lot of footfall, it’s surface bore the scars, I turned towards Ingleborough and met the first person of the day, a three peaks walker whom was heading for the finish in Horton in Ribblesdale, it was eight thirty in the morning the guy must have been walking half the night. I continued climbing stopping for a brew before the final pull up the Swine Tail to the summit plateau, the summit called for another brew and that was where I met the second person, she had climbed the tourist route from Clapham and was about to head back the same way.

This isn’t the best top to find your way off, not even on a clear day, as you can tell by my route on the map. Anyway I found the path that descends to Little Ingleborough, I passed another four walkers on the ridge and one on Little Ingleborough who looked a bit puzzled when I said I was descending to Newby Cote, I left her perusing the map on her phone of course.

The main path now descends to Gaping Gill but my route went south over Newby Moss, a delightful descent route. First between grit stone scarps then over wild open moorland, passed many sink holes and the odd wet gutter. It felt like a long lonely descent, the path was narrow but easy to follow, it eventually ejected me onto Old Road at Newby Cote. Looking at me a mile of tarmac bashing to get back to Clapham, well everything can’t be perfect can it, after seeing a mere seven people on one of Yorkshire’s busiest hills I can put up with the odd car on this quiet road.

view route map.

home.

What lays in the darkness, more than likely a manic mountanbiker.

Views back down Long Lane.

Let the dry stone walls of Long Lane carry your eye to a misty Simon Fell.

Backed by Clapdale Scars, Clapdale Farm.

Seen over the tree tops of Clapdale Wood the distant hills of the Bowland Fells.

Trow Gill a massive collapsed cavern guards the main trod up Ingleborough.

Seen across Clapham Bottoms, it's head in cloud Little Ingleborough.

Taking in stunning views over Clapdale, across the far horizon the Forest of Bowland.

This fine cairn marks the summit of Long Scar.

The grey profile of Langcliffe Scar and Warrendale, a little closer In Moor all viewed from Long Scar.

Ingleborough, a little shy at the moment but the cloud's lifting.

Seen over swathes of unspoiled moorland Simon Fell.

Dominating the view across Ribblesdale, Pen-y-ghent.

Strolling through a wonderful limestone landscape.

In shadow Ingleborough as seen over Clapham Bents.

The Swine Tail makes a wonderful view point, Whernside and the limestone pavements of Souther Scales.

Grandstand views from the Swine Tail, across the horizon Gragareth and Crag Hill, in the foreground the wonderful limestone architecture of Twisleton Scars.

Rising above Humphrey Bottom, Park Fell another walk for another day.

The summit Ingleborough.

Heading down to Little Ingleborough with stunning views to the south.

Spectacular views over wild moorland from the descent of Little Ingleborough.

Viewed from Newby Moss the White Scar limestone scars above Crina Bottom.

On the far horizon Pendle Hill.

Farmland near Newby Cote.

Lunch time, perched on a convenient bench with this picturesque scene for company.

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