Pen-y-ghent, Plover Hill, Darnbroock Fell and Fountains Fell

[Rodhumphreys]

Much better weather for this second attempt at a long, four-top Hewitt circuit. Virtually no wind, with relatively high cloudy skies. Starting from Rainscar and up to the top of Pen-y-ghent in just over 30 minutes. Rather a pleasant walk over to Plover Hill, although frequently wet underfoot. Plover is interesting as the top is marked by a small pile of stones in a field off route. Then a rapid descent to the North East to pick up the Pennine Journey bridleway heading north to Foxup. Given that I had started at 9.10am on a Monday morning in December it was perhaps not surprising that I hadn't seen a soul yet, but passing through Halton Gill (nice village, no pub, honesty box for parking), I managed a 'good morning' to the one person I was to see all day! A nice firm walk along the quietest of roads towards Litton, turning off just before the village at New Bridge to cross the river and gain height on the bridleway which skirts Darnbrook Fell,

Then the fun starts, a faint path next to the wall rises sharply to the edge of the plateau, and then a search for the trig point using the little red arrow on my OS mobile app. Not the most beautiful of tops, but the cairns on Fountains Fell were clearly visible. So, following the wall, and another faint tread (hardly a path), a good 25 minute slog to the Pennine Way intersection. Now we're talking grim, the weather had finally closed in on a mining landscape, and once again, a search was initiated for an appropriate pile of stones. Well at least the promised rain hadn't arrived yet. I'll bet this is a beautiful walk in spring!. Back to the Pennine Way and a quick descent down to the road and back to Rainscar. All the time promising myself that I'll think twice before I do another one of these 'two big climbs' adventures.