A walk in limestone country - March 1999

Walks with a Camera © Geoff’s Pages 2011

Tim had a "significant" birthday looming, and the question arose "what shall we do to celebrate?". Last time, we had drunk champagne (from plastic cups) on the summit of Scafell Pike. This time, we decided to return to our Yorkshire roots, and have a walk up that county's finest mountain. Our route began in Clapham, where, tripping over Alan Bennett (not "literally") in the village shop, we stocked up with provisions for the day. Paying the nominal toll for the private path through the grounds of Ingleborough Hall, we headed up the wooded path above Clapham Beck, past Ingleborough Cave and into Trow Gill, a magnificent limestone gorge. From Trow Gill, the path winds up a narrow dry valley. A stile over the wall takes the path past the hole which marks Bar Pot, and on to Gaping Gill, that amazing hole which swallows Fell Beck, in the highest (but not often seen) waterfall in the country*. The route to the summit is now plain to all, climbing up to Little Ingleborough (time for lunch) and on to the main summit. The view from the summit is extensive, particularly on a clear day such as this one. I looked down to Ribblehead, hoping for a photograph of the viaduct, but for what seemed an age, a band of cloud put it in the shade, until for just a few minutes, the cloud shifted away from the land immediately beyond, presenting the

arches as a clear silhouette. We were now descending, and heading in an easterly direction on the path which, ultimately, could take us to Horton in Ribblesdale. Limestone Pavements and Pen-y-GhentWe had followed this route up Ingleborough on a four day circular route a few years previously. Today, we turned right off the main path to head towards Norber, crossing extensive limestone pavements on the way. Ingleborough was now in cloud, but some fine views opened up towards Pen-y-Ghent, another of Yorkshire's "Three Peaks". We soon arrive at Norber, home of the famous "erratics". Huge blocks of stone were carried to the area by glaciers in the last ice age, dumped there when the ice melted. In the years following, the limestone base of the moor has been eroded, except under some of these blocks, leaving them in some cases perched precariously on small pedestals. The one depicted here is a particularly fine example - hard to believe it wasn't placed there deliberately. Lastly we descended from the moor towards Thwaite Lane, which took us back to Clapham, entering the village through a short tunnel under the grounds of Ingleborough Hall. What a great day it had been - ideal conditions for both walking and photography - as good as it gets! * In August 1999, we took advantage of the annual winch meet of the Craven Pothole Club, and descended into Gaping Gill - a truly fantastic experience!