
This little walk was one we did at least a couple of times a year, with slight variations depending on how we feel on the day and it helps to keep the legs oiled.
We parked up at Ribblehead, in the layby where the butty van replenishes spent energy for the three peakers and we head off for Whernside using the Three Peaks footpath.
It's a well graded path all the way on this little route, the weather today was clear with a strong breeze, Whernside and Ingleborough had a bit of cloud covering their summits but this was being blown about, every now and then the tops would clear so we were hoping for some views

There were few people setting out from Ribblehead, no doubt it would get busier later on when the Three peakers started to arrive after their trudge from Pen-y-Ghent, when we set off there were about six people ahead of us.
It's a nice steady plod alongside the railway, the viaduct being the centre of attention initially.


Further along the views were getting better





We soon pass the signal box at Bleamoor and the little house for the signal man, the last time we were here there were some Hawks and an Eagle Owl on perches in the yard, not today tho', I wonder if they're still there.



Further on we cross the Aqueduct and get a good view of the lower waterfall in Force Gill.

About 1/2 km further up the path we reach the stile that goes over the fence this is where the Three Peaks path leaves the Dales High Way and heads for Whernside.
From here it's about an hour to the summit on an easy path, when we reached the ridge leading to the summit a thin layer of cloud prevented any really good views, it was great to be out so it didn't really matter.

When we arrived at the top there was nobody about, within five minutes we were joined by six people and as we left the summit there were at least the same number just arriving, it was going to be a busy hill







The plan from now on was to carry on along the three peaks path and see how we felt when we got to Bruntscar.
The path along the ridge off Whernside was as we remembered, when we started going down the steep side the path has been pitched, it wasn't like this the last time we were up here, a lot of work has been done to reduce erosion and it doesn't look too bad, we found the pitching a wee bit difficult to maintain a good walking rhythm on the descent, I can imagine the steps are a bit high on the ascent, we'll have to give it a go someday.



At Bruntscar our knees were feeling the effects of six weeks of zero hill activity

Humphrey Bottom and turn left for Park Fell.
The walk from Bruntscar to the Hill Inn is on tarmac for the majority of the way so you can increase the pace a bit, there are good views of Ingleborough as you walk, steadily getting closer.
and Whernside looks good too

The Hill Inn was one of my favourite watering holes in my caving past, it was full of character and full of character's, I've had a few really good nights in there, especially when people come in with instruments and start singing folk songs after a few pints of Theakstons. Its changed a bit since then, I haven't been in for years but I do know the fire place has been taken out, It was one of those fireplaces that was original, complete with nooks and crannies where you could hang your socks and other bits of clothing to dry after a days caving or a soggy walk, It was one of those places that linger in the memory for all the good reasons.
It would have been nice to nip in but beer and hills don't go together for me nowadays so we carried on for Humphrey Bottom along the Three Peaks Path (it's a strange name "Humphrey Bottom"

The walk to H B is steady, the climb up to the ridge from there is a real thigh cruncher, I've never enjoyed it but today it really got to me, I think we're going to have to get out in them thar hills a bit more often

Humphrey views



At the top of the climb we turned left and started on our way to Park Fell.




It was very windy along this section, we were hoping to sit and have lunch up here but decided to wait until we found a bit of shelter and it was cold too, just a reminder that winter's coming


Park Fell is just a lump with a trig point and pretty exposed so we carried on and started the descent still hoping to find a sheltered lunch spot, it wasn't until we were at the bottom of the steep bit that we decided to stop and have something to eat.
Lunch Views


After our "lunch" (by now it was 2pm

We had a good day out, our legs feel a bit creaky at the moment but at least it shows we've done something, we'll just have to do it a bit more often
