Over Pen-y-ghent.
Start. Horton in Ribblesdale.
Route. Horton in Ribblesdale - Brackenbottom - Brackenbottom Scar - Pen-y-ghent - Hunt Pot - Hull Pot - Horton Scar Lane - Horton in Ribblesdale.
Notes. Conned by my darling daughter this morning, she stuck her head round the bedroom door, told me it was pouring with rain, would I mind giving her a lift to work at half ten, I agreed without checking for myself, I eventually rose at ten to find Kirsten with a guilty grin across her face and a half decent day outside. Where to go? after being duped into a late start I decided to go walking with the crowds over the always popular Pen-y-ghent.
Yorkshire welcomed me with grey skies and the threat of snow, the summit of Pen-y-ghent hidden under a low blanket of grey cloud. After parking in Horton in Ribblesdale I headed south passing the church before reaching Horton Bridge and the lane to Brackenbottom, half a mile up the lane a finger-post announced the start of the footpath to the summit. I started my ascent through fields before crossing Brackenbottom Scar to access the Pennine Way under the steep cliffs of Pen-y-ghent nose, ascending into dense cloud, views from the summit today, zero.
From the summit a finger-post gave directions, it was Horton in Ribblesdale for me, descending on the usually very good path I suddenly found myself on a steep slippery snow slope with nothing to arrest a slide except Horton Moor far below, gingerly I picked my way across, I must say it was a relief to reach solid ground. My descent now straight forward, visiting the evil looking Hunt Pot then on to Hull Pot before descending between the dry stone walls of Horton Scar Lane.
Towards Ingleborough from the fields above Brackenbottom.
Walkers ascend into a blanket of cloud thrown down by the mountain.
Under a grey cloud Horton Moor with the Ingleborough massif seen across Ribblesdale.
From Brackenbottom Scar a rather grey Pen-y-ghent.
Lit by the afternoon sun, Ribblesdale.
Views down Silverdale to the hills above Littondale, with the slopes of Fountains Fell to the right.
Fountains Fell, about to disappear with the rest of the views.
On the steep slopes of Pen-y-ghent looking to Ribblesdale.
Ascending through a landscape of shattered grit stone, ahead the mountains dark escarpment.
Another view over Silverdale before the final pull to the summit.
Marsh grass on the summit plateau.
It's hard to get lost on the friendly hills of the Yorkshire Dales, it's the Pennine Way to Horton in Ribblesdale for me.
Looking to the cliffs on Pen-y-ghent Side, backed by Foxup Moor and Cosh Outside. The snow slope I'm about to cross is a lot steeper than it looks, the wide angle lens tends to flatten the landscape somewhat.
I'm wedged in a hole looking to the limestone pinnacle on Pen-y-ghent Side.
Back on safer ground with relief, looking to a sun lit Simon Fell across Horton Moor.
Pen-y-ghent seen from the Pennine Way on the descent across Horton Moor.
In the distance with a crown of cloud Simon Fell, to the right grey today Whernside.
Just a few yards from the main path, visited by few, Hunt Pot....
....don't get too near the edge it's quite slippery, get too close and this evil looking slit is 200ft straight down.
Much more pleasant the huge opening of Hull Pot, 100 yards long, 20 yards wide, 60ft deep and after prolonged heavy rain fills with water.
Views over Hull Pot.