Pen-y-ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale.
Start. Horton in Ribblesdale.
Route. Horton in Ribblesdale - Horton Scar Lane - Horton Scar - Tarn Bar - Pen-y-ghent - Gavel Rigg - Brackenbottom Scar - Brackenbottom - Horton in Ribblesdale.
Notes. I missed the hills last weekend, I got dragged off to Paris to celebrate a certain birthday, the one that makes me officially old, the kids say ancient, I think I'll settle for just old, a good weekend was had by all, it's always good to be home.
I've been under the weather since my return so I picked a hill with an easy ascent, just to test the hill walking muscles. Pen-y-ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale, the ascent up Horton Scar Lane shouldn't be to hard, should it? it isn't normally. The hill was very busy, everybody seemed to be making faster progress than me, I still reached the summit to pass most of them on the way down.
My day started in Horton in Ribblesdale from where I made my way up Horton Scar Lane, a long easy ascent between dry stone walls through some stunning limestone scenery, a gate at the top of the lane marked a change of direction, right on an engineered path across the moors before reaching the cliffs on Pen-y-ghent Side followed by the final push to the summit. My descent was to the south scrambling down two giant limestone steps (easy) to reach a new gate that replaces the old stile onto Brackenbottom Scar, a gentle descent through fields followed, crossing the scars of Brackenbottom to reach the tarmac lane from where I turned right to make the short descent back to Horton in Ribblesdale.
Seen from the parked car my destination for the day Pen-y-ghent.
Ascending Horton Scar Lane looking to the familiar flat top of Ingleborough.
Views to the north.
Pen-y-ghent taken from Horton Scar Lane.
It's busy on the hill today, walkers ascending Horton Scar Lane.
Gate and twin ladder stiles above Tarn Bar testament to the popularity of the hill.
Near Hunt Pot looking to Pen-y-ghent.
Even on a grey day the views over Ribblesdale are quite excellent, a storm sweeps towards Settle.
Above the cliffs on Pen-y-ghent Side with views to Cosh Outside.
From the upper slopes of Pen-y-ghent views to Ingleborough.
On the ascent the eye is constantly drawn to the massive scar of Hull Pot, off my route today but well worth a visit, specially after heavy rain.
On the summit of Pen-y-ghent looking to Potts Moor above Littondale.
Fountains Fell over Silverdale.
Silverdale and Littondale as seen from the steep slopes of Pen-y-ghent.
Views over Gavel Rigg and Overdale from the steep descent down Pen-y-ghent Nose.
Looking back up the second easy scramble.
Descending Brackenbottom Scar looking north.
Seen across the scars of the appropriately named Limekiln Pasture Whitbar Hill, passed at the head of Horton Scar Lane.
The high skyline of Whernside seen across upper Ribblesdale.
Views to Park Fell and Whernside, the trees mark Douk Ghyll Scar and cave.