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Ingleborough
Ingleborough has always been my favourite hill in the Dales ever since I first climbed
it as a child of about three or four. Back then it seemed like the climb went on
forever, and last week when I climbed it for the umpteenth time it again seemed
like the climb went on forever. Guess that's what happens when you're pushing fifty
and love all the wrong sorts of food.
Anyhow, what of the hill. Well it towers majestically above Ingleton, reaching a
peak of 2373ft, with a Millstone Grit top that's about a mile in circumference,
flat as a pancake and can be one
of the windiest places on the planet. Fortunately the local mountain rescue team
built a cross shaped shelter on top to celebrate the Coronation, so whichever way
the wind's blowing you can at least find some shelter. The
flat top used to be home to a massive Hill Fort for the Brigantes, but the Romans
did their usual number on it and there's no obvious remains left today.
The views are fantastic, and those nice chaps from the mountain resue team left
an inscribed plate on top of the shelter so you can tell what you're looking at.
On a clear day you can see the golden sands of Morecambe Bay, the mountains of the
Lake District, the foothills of Lancashire, Whernside, pen-y-ghent and much of the
rest of the dales.
Routes Up
1. Fell Lane (about six miles)
This has always been my favourite route. You can either park in Ingleton (which
is well worth visiting) or drive through the village and park on the little free
car park at Storrs Common just NE of Ingleton on the B6255 (SD 701 734).
From there a short walk on the road, either North or
South brings you onto Fell Lane which is a broad, easy track for about half its
length and then at the farm changes into slightly rougher going. About half way
along there's a memorial bench, which is something I really wish people would stop
doing. While I sympathise with the families, a park bench is just incongruous in
such wild country. Surely a charitable donation or a tree would be so much more
suitable.
Once past the farm the track becomes rougher and steeper and there's been a great
deal of work done to counter the effects of erosion. And I have to say it's been
well done as it fits in really nicely with the surroundings. The final couple of
hundred feet are a stiff climb but still easy going before reaching the summit.
2. Clapham.
The route from Clapham is another gentle ascent, and has the advantage that Clapham
is a gorgeous little village which is well worth seeing in its own right. The firat
part of the walk is through the woods alongside Clapham Beck. This is actually a
chargeable route but well worth it as it brings you out at
Ingleborough Cave . This is one of the better caves in the Dales and well
worth a look round, and it's open from Spring to November.
The route continues up Trow Gill and passes very close to Gaping Gill which is a
pothole leading to the largest underground chamber in the British Isles. There's
no public access, but on Spring and August Bank Holiday weekends caving clubs will
winch you down for a small fee. I did it many years ago and have never forgotten
the experience.
Passing Gaping Ghyll, you then have a rough but well marked route across open countryside
leading to the summit.
3. Horton in Ribblesdale.
This is the longest route up but has a lot going for it. For openers, it begins
next to the railway station which is on the fabulous
Settle to Carlisle Line and has a really good service in Summer. Don't expect
to see the famous viaduct though as that's at Ribblehead, the next stop on
the line.
The route climbs through the limestone crags and pavements on the Western side of
Ribblesdale and then across open moorland to the summit. This is a great walk, but
only in good weather and gaiters are essential in anything other than a drought.
Images of Ingleborough
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