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.
00270007 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270008 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrFurther along the views were getting better
00270010 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270011 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270021 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270018 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
Whernside Pano by Martin Hawer, on FlickrWe 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.
00270022 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270023 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270024 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrFurther on we cross the Aqueduct and get a good view of the lower waterfall in Force Gill.
00270026 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrAbout 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.
00270030 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrWhen 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
00270029 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270031 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270034 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270036 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270037 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270039 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrThe 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.
00270041 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270044 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270045 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrAt Bruntscar our knees were feeling the effects of six weeks of zero hill activity
so we decided to carry on to Ingleborough to try and loosen them up a bit and instead of going to the summit we'd do the climb up from 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
00270048 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrThe 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
00270049 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270050 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270053 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrAt the top of the climb we turned left and started on our way to Park Fell.
00270054 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270055 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270056 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270058 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrIt 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
00270061 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrPark 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
00270062 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
00270063 by Martin Hawer, on FlickrAfter our "lunch" (by now it was 2pm
) we set off for the Quarry at Gauber and then the track past the station that takes us back to the main road near The Station pub at Ribblehead, from the pub it's just a short walk back to the car.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
