Summary

Summits Achieved

Preface

Allen was tapping away on Dad's laptop, while Shaun was scrutinising a map, with one of the Wainwright guides open beside him.

"What are you on with?", asked Grizzly, who had strolled in with Little Eric in tow.

"I'm checking the weather for the weekend", replied Allen. "It looks to be good too."

"I think it is likely that our next Lakes walk will be to do Gavel Pike and Cofa Pike, so I am looking at the route options", said Shaun, putting the map aside and picking up Wainwright's Eastern Fells book. "Whatever, it is likely to be a hard walk, the problem being Cofa Pike, as it is not really on the preferred route, and will likely mean 500ft of steep rocky ascent, to then descend the same way."

"It will certainly be good to get that walk out of the way once and for all", said Grizzly with feeling.

Just then Tetley strolled into the room, and seeing the book that Shaun was reading, said, "we will have to put that walk on hold for a week or so."

"How come?", asked Allen.

"Dad has just been chatting to Uncle Bob, and they have arranged a walk in the Yorkshire Dales. We are going to walk round Crummack Dale and then up on to Moughton."

"Super", cried Grizzly. "It is really interesting round there, and it will be great to be in limestone country again, and just as importantly walking with Uncle Bob."

"Can't wait", called out Little Eric. "I have not walked there before, and Moughton will be another Yorkshire Dales summit ticked off."

"I think a mug of tea and biscuits are the order of the day", said Allen.

"OK tea belly", replied Shaun laughingly, as he unscrewed the top off the flask.

The Walk

Uncle Bob had told Dad that we would meet along Crummack Lane out of the little village of Austwick. This was for once a lane that Dad was not familiar with, so perhaps we can forgive him a bit for the confusion that occurred.

However this could have been obviated considerably had Dad not forgotten to take his mobile phone. 'Stupid boy', as Captain Mainwaring would have said!!

We drove up the lane, as far as the access to Sowerthwaite Farm, there being no apparent parking places, so we returned to the village, hoping that Uncle Bob had not arrived. He had and not being able to raise Dad, instead phoned Uncle Brian, who told him we had set off. By now, Dad had learnt from speaking to a local gentleman that he should have driven on along where the lane is unsurfaced, and we were just about to set off again when Uncle Bob arrived down in the village. Dad rang Uncle Brian, to say all was well, and then said, "Bob I am so sorry for the confusion, please accept my apologies."

The day was mostly sunny, and for once a summery feel to it.

Ready and with us safely tucked in the rucksack, Shaun looked at the map saying, "we should walk down the lane a little way and then take the stile right. It will be signed Norber."

The path continued along Norber Brow on a shelf, the ground falling away to the left, and views ahead to Nappa Scars. "Such a typical Dales view with the limestone scars and the stone walls", commented Grizzly.

Dad was ahead of Uncle Bob, and took this shot as he walked along this section.

This path eventually led to a large ladderstile. Here we met a lady Dad had seen setting off earlier from Austwick, and they stopped to chat. She had had a spinal surgery, so was taking care when out walking. Dad mentioned Elaine's at Feizor. She said, "what a nice cafe it is. I go quite regularly and in fact was there last Thursday."

Beyond we continued to climb, and Little Eric called out, "look at that large boulder seemingly standing on a plinth."

"That's one of the so called Norber Erratics", replied Tetley. Then showing off his knowledge, he continued, "the boulders are dark grey Silurian rock, but lie on a bed of white limestone, so are therefore not native to the place that they have come to rest. They have in fact been moved here by the movement of a glacier that once filled Crummack Dale. It has been established that the source of these boulders can be traced to an area half a mile up the valley and at a slightly lower level."

"Thanks for the lesson, pal", replied Little Eric, "you are clever."

It had been planned to climb to Thwaite Scar, but due to the delay caused by Dad not finding the correct start this was abandoned, so we just turned north along by the wall and fence.

The dale was spread out below us with Crummack Farm surrounded by trees.

"We will eventually walk along the rim ahead over Thieves Moss", said Shaun, who was consulting the map.

"What is the distant hill?", asked Little Eric.

"High Green Field Knott", replied Tetley. "That was the scene of an adventure in October 2007." Yockenthwaite

"That was before I was born", replied Little Eric

Walking on we dropped down a little, then going diagonally right to come beside another wall, which was followed round under a hill. At a corner we climbed steeply left...

...joining the path from Clapham, and on finally to Sulber Gate. Here our route was right through the gate, which Uncle Bob kindly held open for us.

"Thank you, Uncle Bob", said Allen.

Below lay the extensive limestone pavement of Thieves Moss and rising distantly beyond Moughton, our summit objective.

Our route was down the steep slope to cross Thieves Moss, and then along Moughton Scars crossing more limestone pavement close to the edge of the scar. A cairn stands spectacularly on an overhang with a drop of several hundred feet to the valley below, seen here with Uncle Bob striking a pose. Little Ingleborough and Ingleborough form the backdrop.

Crossing a more grassy area, Tetley called out, "that's quite a striking view of Pen-y-ghent", as both Dad and Uncle Bob lined up the camera.

Hardly had we gone more than a few yards, when Allen said, "that's view to Ingleborough and Lord's Seat, is worth a picture."

"It doesn't seem like 10 months since we were all up there", remarked Grizzly.

"Uncle Bob, you spent quite a while taking pictures of Dad at Rawnsley's Leap, that he forgot to take our picture on the summit", went on Tetley.

"Now that's an unusual occurrence", he replied.

As we rounded the scars we came to a cairn. "Super view of Crummack Dale", said Grizzly, "The farm is in the trees, and behind above is where we walked earlier."

Following a narrow trod, we started along the valley side, but soon left this to cut up through more limestone pavement.

"Look at that stone", cried Allen. "It looks rather like a teddy bear with a flat face."

"I think so too", said Little Eric, looking imploringly at Dad, who lined up the camera. Continuing he said, "you can see the foot, paw and even an eye in the head."

By now we were most of the way up the hill, and it was just a short walk on to reach the summit of Moughton, with its trig point and large cairn.

As we tumbled out of the rucksack and headed for the cairn, Little Eric called out, "please take our picture, so that I can have a record of bagging the summit."

"Time for lunch", said Uncle Bob.

"Absolutely", we all called back, going to find a convenient place to sit, with the impressive view to Pen-y-ghent. There had been no one else here when we arrived, but by the time lunch was over the summit was busy with walkers.

To get down to the valley we had to make for Studrigg Scar, but Uncle Bob said, "let's walk in a circle of sorts to visit more of the cairns on the fell, which we did not see last time."

As well as cairns people had stood up thin limestone rocks like standing stones. Here is a shot taken low down of a cairn, with Pen-y-ghent dark in the background below the towering sky.

The circuit ended at a tall cairn, that would have taken quite some building.

Photo courtesy Bob Woolley (Uncle Bob)

From here we took a bearing, then crossing the limestone and grass, we eventually reached Studrigg Scar.

"This was our ascent route last time", remarked Tetley.

This gap in the scar had once eons ago been a waterfall.

It you look carefully at the left of the picture, you will be able to make out the narrow trod through the limestone that wound its way down to the lower ground. Continuing we crossed to a stile and over a field to a gate on to the path through the dale. Here we turned left. Uncle Bob was ahead of us, striding along between the walls and the verges thick with summer vegetation.

Soon we then reached a junction. "It's right here by the Wash Dubs and across the bridge by the ford", said Shaun. Information about the Wash Dubs, can be found in an earlier story when we visited this area.

Beyond the ford, the track led on to reach Crummack Lane, where we paused to look back to the scars on Moughton. Studrigg Scar, where we had descended, can be seen on the right side.

Then turning left, we climbed to soon reach the car.

"That was a very interesting day and wonderful views", said Little Eric.

"Thank you Uncle Bob for suggesting and planning the route, and great to be out walking with you", went on Grizzly.

"You are welcome. Good to have your company too."

"I guess it's tea now", said Allen.

"Too right Lad", replied Dad, "and of course we are going to Elaine's at Feizor."

Dad and Uncle Brian always go here on a Monday, so when Elaine saw him, she said, "what are you doing here?"

A big pot of tea was brought and cakes were enjoyed too, which rounded the day off nicely.

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