27th December 2017 - Ingleborough

Walk Details

Distance walked: 8.6 miles

Total ascent: 2114 ft

OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas

Time taken: 5.5 hrs

Route description: Clapham-Clapdale Farm-Trow Gill-Gaping Gill-Little Ingleborough-Ingleborough-Little Ingleborough-Trow Gill-Clapdale Farm-Clapham

I'll start by saying that this was not the walk that I'd originally planned on doing today. My intention was to do a walk in the Peak District. However, heavy snow overnight further south had left cloud behind that was taking it's time to clear. Not wanting to do a walk under grey skies waiting and hoping for that cloud to clear I decided to do Ingleborough from Clapham. I know my last climb to its top was done just seven weeks ago but a cover of snow completely changes things. The cloud took its time clearing from this part of the Yorkshire Dales as well but the sunshine finally arrived about midday to give a clear and sunny afternoon with excellent visibility. I kept things simple by doing the route from Clapham via Trow Gill there and back. Finally, I must mention just how cold it was up there. The strong wind and subzero temperatures resulted in a severe windchill. It must be right up there as being one of the coldest days that I've ever been on the hills in.

I left Clapham by taking the track to Clapdale Farm signposted for Ingleborough. When I reached the farm I went through the farmyard and then down a path to the track that leaves the Ingleborough Hall estate bound for Ingleborough Cave. Past the cave I continued on the path up Trow Gill. Once out of Trow Gill I crossed the moorland to climb Ingleborough via Little Ingleborough. My route back was just the reverse of this.

Route map

On the track to Clapdale Farm

and making my way up Trow Gill..

Ingleborough comes into view. Blue skies ahead but the sun is behind cloud that is taking its time to clear away.

Fell Beck falls into Gaping Gill

On Little Ingleborough for the first time today. Sunlit Lake District fells in the distance.

The summit of Ingleborough awaits. The strength of the wind and the sub-zero temperatures are making it feel bitterly cold.

Looking across to Simon Fell. I think the cover of snow and frozen pools will provide plenty of photo opportunities.

Looking back as I leave Little Ingleborough and that's the cloud that's hiding the sun. It is slowly clearing.

Another shot across to Simon Fell

Looking back to Little Ingleborough as I reach the final climb to the summit

Snow and ice encrusted rocks

I've taken a break in the shelter of the wall ruins on the southeastern side of the summit. It was a relief to get out of the worst of the wind and it's strong enough to whip up any loose snow into spindrift. I think I'll go and see if the cross shelter is any better. That cloud is finally clearing.

One of several photos that I'll take looking northeast to Dodd Fell Hill, Cosh Knott and Plover Hill..

The shelter was a little better but it's into the wind again to continue my walk round the summit plateau. Distant snow covered Lake District fells beyond the Gragareth to Great Coum ridge.

and again from the trig point

I think this shot of the cross shelter, summit cairn and trig point looks the coldest out of the photos I took

In comparison, green fields below as I look down on Ingleton and out to Morecambe Bay

Pendle Hill in the distance behind Little Ingleborough

A frozen pool provides a subject for a couple of photos..

The hills around Settle in the distance

Penyghent and Fountains Fell on the other side of Ribblesdale

Back at the northeastern corner of the summit plateau and several more photos of the view looking northeast to Dodd Fell Hill, Cosh Knott, Plover Hill and Penyghent from the ice encrusted rocks......

The shapely looking hill in the middle of the photo is Cosh Knott. Normally it just blends into the background but with a cover of snow it really stands out.