18th November 2024 - Ingleborough
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.0 miles
Total ascent: 2453 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Clapham-Clapdale Farm-Trow Gill-Little Ingleborough-Ingleborough-Simon Fell-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Long Scar-Long Lane-Clapham
There were two reasons that it was a good job that I'd booked today off work. The first, the weather during the weekend was pretty lousy, and the second, it gave me the unexpected opportunity to have a walk in snow. I decided on a walk up Ingleborough from Clapham as it's one that I've done in the snow several times, but more importantly that's where I knew there was some. It was checking the Ingleborough Webcam that had alerted me to the snowfall, and it turned out to be really localised, with just a few of the neighbouring fells, such as Penyghent, having a cover. It must have been that the overnight rain had been heavy enough in this particular area for it to become cold enough to turn to snow before it cleared. Whatever the reason, it's not going to last and who knows when I'll next get a chance. The forecast was for a fine autumn day, but with high cloud making any sunshine hazy, and it thickening during the afternoon so that it would become quite dull and overcast. It turned out to be decent day. The wind was quite light so there wasn't much wind chill, and with the sunshine quite bright at times and excellent visibility I had great views from the summit of Ingleborough.
From the NP car park in Clapham I walked through the village and onto the track to Clapdale Farm, signposted for Ingleborough. I followed this up to Clapdale Farm, then went through the farmyard and onto a path down to the track that leaves the Ingleborough Hall Estate. I turned left here and walked along the track to Ingleborough Cave, where I picked up the path up Trow Gill and onto the open moor. The path up Little Ingleborough was then taken, and then on up to the summit of Ingleborough, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way to the eastern end of the summit plateau and took the path down and up to the top of Simon Fell. From the top of Simon Fell I retraced my steps to the bottom of the descent from the eastern end of Ingleborough, and took the Dales High Way trail down Simon Fell Breast and to Long Scar. From Long Scar I made my way back to Clapham down the track of Long Lane.
Total ascent: 2453 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Clapham-Clapdale Farm-Trow Gill-Little Ingleborough-Ingleborough-Simon Fell-Dales High Way-Pennine Bridleway-Long Scar-Long Lane-Clapham
There were two reasons that it was a good job that I'd booked today off work. The first, the weather during the weekend was pretty lousy, and the second, it gave me the unexpected opportunity to have a walk in snow. I decided on a walk up Ingleborough from Clapham as it's one that I've done in the snow several times, but more importantly that's where I knew there was some. It was checking the Ingleborough Webcam that had alerted me to the snowfall, and it turned out to be really localised, with just a few of the neighbouring fells, such as Penyghent, having a cover. It must have been that the overnight rain had been heavy enough in this particular area for it to become cold enough to turn to snow before it cleared. Whatever the reason, it's not going to last and who knows when I'll next get a chance. The forecast was for a fine autumn day, but with high cloud making any sunshine hazy, and it thickening during the afternoon so that it would become quite dull and overcast. It turned out to be decent day. The wind was quite light so there wasn't much wind chill, and with the sunshine quite bright at times and excellent visibility I had great views from the summit of Ingleborough.
From the NP car park in Clapham I walked through the village and onto the track to Clapdale Farm, signposted for Ingleborough. I followed this up to Clapdale Farm, then went through the farmyard and onto a path down to the track that leaves the Ingleborough Hall Estate. I turned left here and walked along the track to Ingleborough Cave, where I picked up the path up Trow Gill and onto the open moor. The path up Little Ingleborough was then taken, and then on up to the summit of Ingleborough, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way to the eastern end of the summit plateau and took the path down and up to the top of Simon Fell. From the top of Simon Fell I retraced my steps to the bottom of the descent from the eastern end of Ingleborough, and took the Dales High Way trail down Simon Fell Breast and to Long Scar. From Long Scar I made my way back to Clapham down the track of Long Lane.
Route map
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Frosty roofs and grass as I leave Clapham by the track up Clapdale
Following the track up Clapdale to Clapdale Farm..
and then up Trow Gill..
Out of Trow Gill and onto the open moorland, and Ingleborough comes into view..
Starting the ascent of Little Ingleborough
The silhouette of Pendle Hill in the distance when I look back
Pendle Hill in the distance from Little Ingleborough
The line of fells in the far distance is the Lake District, while closer on the right is Gragareth with a bit of snow on it
Leaving Little Ingleborough and heading for Ingleborough
Simon Fell to my right
Looking back to Little Ingleborough with Pendle Hill in the distance
and across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
Looking back to Little Ingleborough as I reach the summit plateau
A snow covered Simon Fell to the east
The cross shelter appears as I head towards the summit. I'm going to take in the views from the edge of the plateau before making my way to it.
Looking east along the northern edge of the plateau to Dodd Fell Hill, Yockenthwaite Moor, Buckden Pike, Plover Hill and Penyghent
A weak and watery sun shines on the summit plateau
In contrast, looking across Chapel-le-Dale to Whernside. Apart from a dusting of snow on it, I can't see any anywhere else. The snowfall was really localised.
The high cloud thins and allows some brighter sunshine
Looking across Chapel-le-Dale to Twisleton Scars, with the Lake District fells in the far distance. I think I can make out a dusting of snow on the highest ones.
A frozen puddle provides a foreground for a view across to Simon Fell
At the trig point on Ingleborough
Ingleton below with Morecambe Bay in the distance
Little Ingleborough below, with Pendle Hill in the distance
Looking south across Ingleborough Common to the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Little Ingleborough below as I make it back to the eastern end of the plateau
Simon Fell to the east
and looking across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
Having my lunch at the cross shelter. Thicker high cloud has made it look cold and bleak.
Even more so when I walk out to the trig point and take in the view across to the distant Lake District fells
Lunch had and since I've got the time, I'll take a few more photos from the edge of the plateau. Looking east along its northern edge to Yockenthwaite Moor, Buckden Pike, Plover Hill and Penyghent.
Lake District fells in the far distance beyond a snow-dusted Gragareth, with Great Coum on the right, and Twisleton Scars below on the other side of Chapel-le-Dale
Looking across Chapel-le-Dale to Whernside and the Ribblehead Viaduct, with the Howgills, Wild Boar Fell, High Seat, Great Knoutberry Hill, and Great Shunner Fell in the distance.
Bright sunshine as I take in the view across Simon Fell. Looks like it was worth my while staying up here a bit longer.
At the top of the path up from Little Ingleborough
Looking across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
and across Little Ingleborough to Pendle Hill in the distance
Lake District fells in the far distance
Views across the summit plateau. A bit of sunshine makes so much difference..
Leaving Ingleborough I take the path down from the eastern end of the summit plateau
The path across Simon Fell Breast. I'll return to here after visiting Simon Fell.
Heading for Simon Fell..
Looking back to Ingleborough..
A tiny cairn marks the top of Simon Fell. Looking north to Great Coum, Whernside and Great Knoutberry Hill.
Gragareth and Great Coum, with some of the Lake District fells in the far distance to the left of Gragareth
Ingleborough from Simon Fell
Looking across the summit wall to Pendle Hill in the distance
Heading back towards Ingleborough and there's a great light as the sun breaks through the cloud..
Looking back to Simon Fell
Heading down the path across Simon Fell Breast
Little Ingleborough to my right
Looking back to Ingleborough
and across Ribblesdale to Penyghent and Fountains Fell
I've left the path to Horton for the one to Long Scar, and fortunately there's a path to follow through the limestone pavement
Looking back to Ingleborough and Simon Fell
A zoom-in across Ribblesdale to a snow-covered Penyghent and Fountains Fell
Approaching the large cairn on Long Scar
Ingleborough from Long Scar
and looking across the top of Crummack Dale to Penyghent, Fountains Fell, and Moughton
Leaving Long Scar I take the track of Long Lane back to Clapham..
