Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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5th December 2021 - Ingleborough

Walk Details

Distance walked: 9.3 miles

Total ascent: 2127 ft

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

Time taken: 5 hrs

Route description: Ingleton-B6255-Clapham Old Road-Grey Scars-Ingleborough Common-Little Ingleborough-Ingleborough-White Scars-Crina Bottom-Fell Lane-B6255-Ingleton


I was hoping that the snow of last weekend would survive to this one, and it did, but only on the high fells, so I decided to climb Ingleborough from Ingleton. To make the walk longer, and a bit different from what I've done before, I tried a new route of ascent. After leaving Ingleton I walked along Clapham Old Road and then took a path up access land to Grey Scars and then up Ingleborough Common to Little Ingleborough. It wasn't too bad and it's a way up that I'll use again. Going that longer way up also gave the weather a chance to improve. It was forecast to be a windy day with a strong northerly blowing, but with it easing a little during the afternoon, and a mixture of cloud and some sunny intervals. Climbing into the wind in the morning was tiring work. Unfortunately the cloud that was covering the top of Ingleborough when I left Ingleton never properly cleared and I didn't get any views to speak of from the summit. It was only on the summit of Ingleborough and the uppermost slopes of the fell that the snow was firm, elsewhere it was soft, so I can't imagine it lasting much longer.
​
From where I parked in Ingleton I walked through the village and onto the B6255 road to Ribblehead and Hawes. I left this for Clapham Old Road on the right, which I walked east along until I reached the junction for Cold Cotes. Just past the junction I left the road up a track on the left to reach a gate to get onto access land. I then made my way up the hillside on a fairly clear path to Grey Scars, then up to a sheepfold that's on the map, and then up Ingleborough Common to the plateau between Ingleborough and Little Ingleborough, from where I made my way to the top of Little Ingleborough. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way across to Ingleborough, where I stopped for lunch at the cross shelter. After a walk around the summit plateau hoping that the cloud would clear so that I could get a view, I took the bridleway that heads down to Ingleton, leaving it before it reaches Crina Bottom to head out onto the limestone pavement of White Scars to take in the great view of Ingleborough from there. I then returned to the bridleway, followed it past Crina Bottom and down the track of Fell Lane to the B6255, and a walk along this road took me back to Ingleton.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Looking back to Ingleton as I leave it behind on Old Road
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Heading east along Old Road past Slatenber
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To my right, the Forest of Bowland in the distance
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At the junction of Old Road with the turning for Cold Cotes, and this is where I leave the road for access land
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After a walk up the hillside from the road I reach the limestone pavement of Grey Scars and my first view of Ingleborough
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Looking northwest to the snow covered hills of Gragareth, Great Coum and Whernside
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From Grey Scars there's a clear path to follow up the moorland of Ingleborough Common
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This sheepfold provides me with some shelter from the wind for taking a break. I can make out the southern fells of the Lake District from here.
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White Hill, Wolfhole Crag and Ward's Stone in the Forest of Bowland in the distance
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As I continue my ascent snow starts to appear on the ground. To my right I can make out Pendle Hill in the distance.
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A cloud capped Ingleborough ahead
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Looking back to the Forest of Bowland in the distance
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The final climb up Ingleborough Common takes me past a prominent cairn that I could see from some distance away..
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Looking back to Bowland Knotts, White Hill, Wolfhole Crag and Ward's Stone in the Forest of Bowland in the distance, from above the cairn
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Cloud is still covering the summit of Ingleborough as I reach the plateau between it and Little Ingleborough. I'm going to head to Little Ingleborough first, maybe the cloud will lift in time for my climb to the top.
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Penyghent on the other side of Ribblesdale
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A snow covered Simon Fell
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Ingleborough from the top of Little Ingleborough
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Thwaite and the moors around Settle to the southeast
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Penyghent and Fountains Fell on the other side of Ribblesdale, with sunshine on the limestone pavement of Sulber and Moughton
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Heading for Ingleborough
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Looking back to Little Ingleborough
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Simon Fell as I climb up onto the summit plateau
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Looking back to Little Ingleborough as I reach the summit plateau
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Whernside, Ribblehead and Great Knoutberry Hill from the eastern end of the summit plateau. There doesn't seem to be much sunshine around.
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Just a few minutes later I'm at the summit and I have no view
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After a stop for lunch, the cross shelter was definitely needed, I'll have a walk along the edge of the plateau and see if I can get any views. I might get lucky if the cloud breaks .
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This was all I got. Little Ingleborough from the southern edge of the plateau.
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It's a bit bleak as I cross the summit plateau
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In contrast, green fields and sunshine below as I descend the path to Crina Bottom and Ingleton
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I leave the path to Crina Bottom and head out onto the limestone pavement of White Scars
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The snow covered fells of Gragareth, Great Coum and Whernside
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A great view of Ingleborough, especially in this light from the low sun..
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A cloud topped Ingleborough from the bridleway past Crina Bottom
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Heading down the track of Fell Lane to Ingleton
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To my right I can make out the southern fells of the Lake District, especially Dow Crag and the Old Man of Coniston
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The snow topped fell of Gragareth behind Twisleton Scar End
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Ingleton in sight

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