24th February 2024 - Ingleborough
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.5 miles
Total ascent: 1913 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Selside-South House Farm-Sulber Nick-Sulber-Pennine Bridleway-Sulber Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Dales High Way-Ingleborough-Simon Fell-Park Fell-Colt Park-Selside Shaw-Selside Shaw Old Lane-Selside
I decided to head to Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales for my walk today in the search for snow, which resulted in me going for a route that would take in Ingleborough. The one that I went for wasn't new, I first did it in April 2022, there was snow on the tops that day as well, but I did add to it a little to give more time for the cloud that was on Ingleborough to clear. The forecast was for a fine winter's day with light winds, at least during daylight hours. I set off from Selside in Ribblesdale with plenty of blue skies and sunshine. Some cloud built up through the morning which covered the tops for a while and then cleared, but during the afternoon it gradually clouded so that it was pretty dull and overcast by the time I was heading back to Selside from Park Fell. In the light winds and sunshine on Ingleborough it didn't feel cold and the snow was quite soft, I can't imagine it will last for long.
From where I parked on the track just off Selside Shaw Old Lane in Selside I followed the track west and then south onto the moors. At the end of the track I kept on the footpath south past Gill Garth Farm and Borrins Farm to briefly pick up the Pennine Bridleway, before leaving this for the footpath up to South House Farm and then onto the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve. This was where I reached access land, so I made my way up to the trig point just above. After taking in the view I made my way south across access land to reach the footpath from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Sulber Nick. I then followed this path west through Sulber Nick and across Sulber to reach the Pennine Bridleway, which I followed south through Sulber Gate towards Long Scar to pick up the Dales High Way path north and across Simon Fell Breast up to the summit of Ingleborough. After taking in the view and having a stop for lunch I made my way to the eastern end of the summit plateau, descended, and then made my way northeast onto Simon Fell. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the wall northeast then northwest from Simon Fell to reach the path along the edge, which I took north to Park Fell for a visit to the trig point there. I then descended the northern slopes of Park Fell to Colt Park, where I picked up a public footpath south across fields and then down and across Selside Shaw to Selside Shaw Old Lane. A short walk south along this road and I was back to where I parked just outside Selside.
Total ascent: 1913 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Selside-South House Farm-Sulber Nick-Sulber-Pennine Bridleway-Sulber Gate-Pennine Bridleway-Dales High Way-Ingleborough-Simon Fell-Park Fell-Colt Park-Selside Shaw-Selside Shaw Old Lane-Selside
I decided to head to Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales for my walk today in the search for snow, which resulted in me going for a route that would take in Ingleborough. The one that I went for wasn't new, I first did it in April 2022, there was snow on the tops that day as well, but I did add to it a little to give more time for the cloud that was on Ingleborough to clear. The forecast was for a fine winter's day with light winds, at least during daylight hours. I set off from Selside in Ribblesdale with plenty of blue skies and sunshine. Some cloud built up through the morning which covered the tops for a while and then cleared, but during the afternoon it gradually clouded so that it was pretty dull and overcast by the time I was heading back to Selside from Park Fell. In the light winds and sunshine on Ingleborough it didn't feel cold and the snow was quite soft, I can't imagine it will last for long.
From where I parked on the track just off Selside Shaw Old Lane in Selside I followed the track west and then south onto the moors. At the end of the track I kept on the footpath south past Gill Garth Farm and Borrins Farm to briefly pick up the Pennine Bridleway, before leaving this for the footpath up to South House Farm and then onto the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve. This was where I reached access land, so I made my way up to the trig point just above. After taking in the view I made my way south across access land to reach the footpath from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Sulber Nick. I then followed this path west through Sulber Nick and across Sulber to reach the Pennine Bridleway, which I followed south through Sulber Gate towards Long Scar to pick up the Dales High Way path north and across Simon Fell Breast up to the summit of Ingleborough. After taking in the view and having a stop for lunch I made my way to the eastern end of the summit plateau, descended, and then made my way northeast onto Simon Fell. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the wall northeast then northwest from Simon Fell to reach the path along the edge, which I took north to Park Fell for a visit to the trig point there. I then descended the northern slopes of Park Fell to Colt Park, where I picked up a public footpath south across fields and then down and across Selside Shaw to Selside Shaw Old Lane. A short walk south along this road and I was back to where I parked just outside Selside.
Route map
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Simon Fell ahead as I follow the track from Selside up onto the moors..
..which then turns to the left to head south across fields towards Borrins Farm
Simon Fell and Park Fell above
Looking across Ribblesdale to Cam Fell..
..and to Penyghent, as I pass Borrins Farm
Looking back to Simon Fell and Park Fell behind Borrins Farm
Making my way along the footpath through South House Farm
Penyghent and Ribblesdale from the trig point above Brae Pasture Nature Reserve
Looking across Ribblesdale to Cam Fell and Birkwith Moor
Heading for Sulber Nick and this is just a small part of the limestone pavement that makes up this part of the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve
Looking back and I can make out the bright white of the trig point
Ingleborough has its head in the clouds as I take the footpath through Sulber Nick. I think I'll extend my planned route a little bit to give it more time to clear.
Looking back through Sulber Nick to Penyghent
Leaving the path to Ingleborough I'll take the Pennine Bridleway south to Long Scar
Heading south on the Pennine Bridleway to Sulber Gate
There's a great view across Thieves Moss and Ribblesdale to Penyghent from Sulber Gate
and across the head of Crummack Dale to Moughton
Looking back north along the Pennine Bridleway. It's a nice late winter's morning.
The large cairn on Long Scar appears ahead. It's my cue to leave the Pennine Bridleway for the Dales High Way path to Ingleborough.
Ingleborough is free of cloud as I start to head towards it again
Looking across the limestone pavement of Sulber to Penyghent and Fountains Fell on the other side of Ribblesdale
Heading for the top of Ingleborough on the path across Simon Fell Breast
On the eastern edge of Ingleborough's summit plateau. Before stopping for lunch I'll walk along the northern edge of it and take in the view. Below is the path to Humphrey Bottom, with Simon Fell beyond.
Looking back down the path across Simon Fell Breast to Penyghent on the other side of Ribblesdale
and across Chapel-le-Dale to Whernside and Ribblehead
Twisleton Scars on the other side of Chapel-le-Dale, with Gragareth on the right
Great Coum, Whernside, Chapel-le-Dale, Ribblehead, and Blea Moor
The cross shelter, summit cairn, and trig point from my lunch stop at the hospice ruins on the western edge of the plateau
Looking down across White Scars to Ingleton below
My favourite photo of the day. Looking along the northern edge of the plateau to Simon Fell.
Little Ingleborough below
Almost back at the eastern end of the plateau, and where the path up from Little Ingleborough reaches it
At the top of the path to Little Ingleborough, which is the way to Gaping Gill and Clapham
Simon Fell from the eastern end of the plateau
Leaving Ingleborough I take the path down from the eastern end of the summit plateau, and towards Simon Fell..
Great Coum, Chapel-le-Dale, and Whernside to my left
Looking back to Ingleborough
A small cairn marks the top of Simon Fell. Looking north to Great Coum, Whernside and Great Knoutberry Hill.
Ingleborough from Simon Fell
Cam Fell and Birkwith Moor ahead of me as I head northeast from the top of Simon Fell
I then follow the wall northwest towards the edge of Simon Fell
and then the path along the edge to Park Fell..
Looking southwest along the edges of Park Fell and Simon Fell to Ingleborough
At the trig point on Park Fell. Looking down Ribblesdale to the left of the eastern slopes of Simon Fell.
Simon Fell and Ingleborough
Looking across Ribblesdale to Penyghent
A steep descent from Park Fell down to Colt Park
I leave access land at Colt Park Barn and the limestone pavement of New Close Rocks
Looking back up Park Fell
From Colt Park Barn I take the footpath south into the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve..
On the footpath across Selside Shaw with Penyghent on the other side of Ribblesdale, as I head back to Selside