Ingleborough via Norber.
Start. Clapham.
Route. Clapham - Thwaite Lane - New Close Plantation - Norber - Thwaite - Long Scar - Sulber Gate - Sulber - Shooting Hut - Simon Fell Breat - Swine Tail - Ingleborough - Little Ingleborough - Thack Pot - Gaping Gill - Trow Gill - Ingleborough Cave - Clapdale Drive - Clapham.
Notes. Over the years I've climbed Ingleborough from many directions, over Park Fell from Ribblehead the quiet ascent, from Horton in Ribblesdale a bit boring, from Chapel-le-Dale steep and daft but gets you up quickly, from Ingleton through Crina Bottom ok if you don't mind limited views, over the moors from Newby Cote my favourite descent, with the crowds from the delightful Dales village of Clapham not quite the top of my list, number one in my opinion has got to be Ingleborough from Clapham via the Norber Boulder Fields, a long walk in but you do get to see some of the best scenery the Dales has on offer, and today I intend to make my descent with the crowds back to Clapham.
My day starts in the tunnels under Ingleborough Hall Estate ascending Thwaite Lane hunting for a ladder stile that would allow access to the high pastures under Robin Proctor's Scar, my route passes under the Scar before ascending onto Norber. The Norber Boulder Fields are an eerie sight, granite boulders laid down by the retreating Crummack Dale glacier over 12,000 years ago. From Norber my route took me north between limestone scars with stunning views across Crummack Dale to Moughton and Pen-y-ghent, all too soon I reached Sulber Gate and the start of the Ingleborough ascent. It's a long easy ascent from here even though the path's seen better days, I was soon ascending the Swine Tail onto Ingleborough's extensive summit plateau, frost covered and wind swept it was freezing, a quick scout round before making my descent over Little Ingleborough. Passing Thack Pot, Gaping Gill, Trow Gill and Ingleborough Cave before the delightful walk through the grounds of Ingleborough Hall Estate, 60p pay at exit if you're honest, I felt honest today.
Looking to Thwaite catching the morning sun.
Heading along Thwaite Lane with views to Simon Fell.
On the far horizon under a little cloud Ingleborough.
The dramatic rock scenery along Robin Proctor's Scar.
From the Norber Boulder Fields views to Smearsett and Pot Scars.
Stunning views to the scars above Crummack Dale, Studrigg, Long Scar and Moughton, on the horizon Pen-y-ghent.
Above Norber with breath taking views across the Ribble Valley with Pendle Hill clearly seen rising to the right.
Sunlight dapples the slopes of Simon Fell with the unmistakable flat top of Ingleborough to the left.
The wonderful view across Moughton Scars taking in Pen-y-ghent and Fountains Fell.
Limestone scenery at it's very best, found at the head of Crummack Dale.
Moughton Scars seen from Sulber Gate.
The view down Crummack Dale across the vast expanse of the Ribble Valley.
Frost on Limestone.
On Ingleborough's summit plateau with spectacular views across Souther Scales.
Lit by the afternoon sun Whernside.
Across the divide of Twisleton Dale rising from Kingsdale the sunlit slopes of Gragarth.
Blea Moor seen from the bitterly cold summit plateau Ingleborough.
Descending to Little Ingleborough.
The stunning panorama from the slopes of Little Ingleborough.
Descending from the moors between the spectacular limestone cliffs of Trow Gill.