Day 21 - Tuesday 28 May 2019
Chapel le Dale to Clapham (15.5 miles)
Awoke to clear skies and no rain - what a contrast to that of our arrival here last night. As stays go this was right up there with the best - Sabena & Colin have run the Old Hill inn for many years and are clearly very good at what they do. The Inn is steeped in history - Winston Churchill used to stay there for hunting & fishing holidays. If you are in and around Ingleton, Ribblehead or Hawes then call in - you will not be disappointed. Before we left we said our goodbyes and met Moose the Springer & Madge the Turkey.
We retraced our steps back to Bruntscar where it started to rain, however thankfully it was only a shower. On we went past the farm buildings out on to Scales Moor where grassy swathes stretched out in front of us interspersed with limestone pavements which in mist would make navigation tricky as the paths on the other side would be less evident.
Above Twistleton Scar the route descends nice & gradual to Ingleton and we accessed the town via Oddies Lane as we did not wish to visit the Waterfalls this time. We headed for a seat outside St Mary's Church and as Fudge and I waited, Angie popped over the road to the Co-op to buy some stuff for our Dinner tonight as we did not fancy eating in the village pub in Clapham. After a quick bite to eat we walked through the village to start the long transit up Ingleborough, firstly via Fell Lane. Having ascended Ingleborough a few times, we had never walked up it from Ingleton therefore this was unfamiliar territory to us.
Fell Lane soon turned into a track and this is easily followed and can be seen snaking away ahead but as expected steepens markedly for the last ¾ mile. Arriving at the summit plateau, we had it all to ourselves and spent a bit of time up here before heading off in the direction of Little Ingleborough where it started chucking it down and didn't stop until we passed to the right of Gaping Gill. The remainder of the walk into Clapham was a delight via Trow Gill and the entrance to Ingleborough Caves, shortly turning off to descend into the village via Long Lane and the Clapham Tunnels. Prior to checking in at the B&B we had a quick drink in The New Inn over the road before heading to Bridge Cottage where we were warmly welcomed by the lovely Isobel. After welcome Tea, Walnut Cake and a small bucket of treats for Fudge we sorted out kit & admin and had a bite to eat before turning in. Another superb days walking.
We retraced our steps back to Bruntscar where it started to rain, however thankfully it was only a shower. On we went past the farm buildings out on to Scales Moor where grassy swathes stretched out in front of us interspersed with limestone pavements which in mist would make navigation tricky as the paths on the other side would be less evident.
Above Twistleton Scar the route descends nice & gradual to Ingleton and we accessed the town via Oddies Lane as we did not wish to visit the Waterfalls this time. We headed for a seat outside St Mary's Church and as Fudge and I waited, Angie popped over the road to the Co-op to buy some stuff for our Dinner tonight as we did not fancy eating in the village pub in Clapham. After a quick bite to eat we walked through the village to start the long transit up Ingleborough, firstly via Fell Lane. Having ascended Ingleborough a few times, we had never walked up it from Ingleton therefore this was unfamiliar territory to us.
Fell Lane soon turned into a track and this is easily followed and can be seen snaking away ahead but as expected steepens markedly for the last ¾ mile. Arriving at the summit plateau, we had it all to ourselves and spent a bit of time up here before heading off in the direction of Little Ingleborough where it started chucking it down and didn't stop until we passed to the right of Gaping Gill. The remainder of the walk into Clapham was a delight via Trow Gill and the entrance to Ingleborough Caves, shortly turning off to descend into the village via Long Lane and the Clapham Tunnels. Prior to checking in at the B&B we had a quick drink in The New Inn over the road before heading to Bridge Cottage where we were warmly welcomed by the lovely Isobel. After welcome Tea, Walnut Cake and a small bucket of treats for Fudge we sorted out kit & admin and had a bite to eat before turning in. Another superb days walking.
A much better view of Ingleborough today than that of last evening.
We would be up on the top in a few hours but first we were off to Ingleton.
We would be up on the top in a few hours but first we were off to Ingleton.
But first of all we had to regain the path near Bruntscar
Ribblehead Viaduct
We were here yesterday - this time we are off to Scar End
The start of the transit over Scales Moor
Ingleborough takes on a different shape as we head across the limestone pavement on Scales Moor
The limestone pavement on Scales Moor
It was turning out to be a cracking day - at this point we were hoping the weather held until we were down off Ingleborough
With Fudge on the limestone pavement
It clearly gets a bit blowy up here
St Mary's Church in Ingleton - a suitable lunch stop
There are lots of these old signs hereabouts - nice to see them looked after
Lunch over it was now time to head for Ingleborough........
....and up we go
Crina Bottom with Ingleborough ahead
Descending the lower slopes of Ingleborough - all relatively easy for now
Looking over to our outward route over Scales Moor with Gragareth behind
The gradient increased as we approached the summit of Ingleborough
Looking back down our ascent of Ingleborough
Angie approaching Ingleborough's summit - Fudge is already there
Angie & Fudge at Ingleborough's summit Trig Point
Ingleborough's Cross Shelter
The Toposcope on the summit of Ingleborough - it is located in the centre of the cross shelter
Heading for Little Ingleborough
The cairn on the summit of Little Ingleborough
The descent of Trow Gill - Fudge is wondering why we are fannying about at the top when there is exciting scrambling to be done.
Now a dry gorge, Trow Gill was possibly once an underground cavern formed by waters which now take an alternative route through the Ingleborough Cave & Gaping Gill cave system. At some point in time the roof of this cavern is believed to have collapsed - Trow Gill being the suggested result (though other theories have the ravine as simply a glacial meltwater channel).
Now a dry gorge, Trow Gill was possibly once an underground cavern formed by waters which now take an alternative route through the Ingleborough Cave & Gaping Gill cave system. At some point in time the roof of this cavern is believed to have collapsed - Trow Gill being the suggested result (though other theories have the ravine as simply a glacial meltwater channel).
The lower part of Trow Gill
Looking back up Trow Gill - easily negotiated however care needs to be taken when the rock is wet as it was today
Ingleborough Caves
Ingleborough Cave (formerly known as Clapham Caves) is a show cave where the water from Gaping Gill resurges. That part of the cave which is open to the public follows a fossil gallery for some 500 metres (1,640 ft). The passage is spacious, and well decorated with stalagmitic formations. Beyond the show cave, the fossil gallery continues until it meets the main stream. The water can be followed upstream through passages under Trow Gill to where it emerges from a sump at Terminal Lake which has been connected by divers to Gaping Gill, and followed downstream into Lake Pluto which has been connected by divers to Beck Head Stream Cave. A connection has also been made with Fox Holes, a cave near Trow Gill. A small stream in the show cave drops into a rift called the Abyss. An underwater connection has been made between the passage at the bottom and Beck Head Cave, the resurgence for the Gaping Gill water.
Ingleborough Cave (formerly known as Clapham Caves) is a show cave where the water from Gaping Gill resurges. That part of the cave which is open to the public follows a fossil gallery for some 500 metres (1,640 ft). The passage is spacious, and well decorated with stalagmitic formations. Beyond the show cave, the fossil gallery continues until it meets the main stream. The water can be followed upstream through passages under Trow Gill to where it emerges from a sump at Terminal Lake which has been connected by divers to Gaping Gill, and followed downstream into Lake Pluto which has been connected by divers to Beck Head Stream Cave. A connection has also been made with Fox Holes, a cave near Trow Gill. A small stream in the show cave drops into a rift called the Abyss. An underwater connection has been made between the passage at the bottom and Beck Head Cave, the resurgence for the Gaping Gill water.
Looking to Robin Proctor's Scar
St James Church in Clapham
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A bit posh for us but they let us in with Fudge so the least we could do was sample their Cider - and very nice it was too.
Isobel at Bridge Cottage was a lovely host - she even provided Fudge with his very own treat bucket & water bowl
Day 21 Data
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Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent |
15.5 miles
261.2 7hrs 40mins 2706ft (825m) |