LIMESTONE COUNTRY

Among the many books written by Alfred Wainwright, is one entitled 'Walks in Limestone Country' and further qualified on the cover with the words, 'The Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent areas of Yorkshire'. The book was published in 1970, before the reorganisation of the county boundaries, the consequence of which is that the walks and summits are now spread over three counties - Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire. There are 34 walks detailed, not all of which take walkers to summits, but of those that do there are a total of 12 summits to be attained and in fact many of the summits were climbed as part of the Yorkshire Dales challenge. However as a separate challenge Shaun, Tetley, Grizzly and Allen completed it on 14th February 2009 climbing Giggleswick Scar. Little Eric, who was only adopted on 1st March 2008, completed them all on 21st February 2015 by summiting Smearsett Scar. Southey, knowing he will not complete the Lakeland challenges, asked if we would repeat some summits so he could complete this challenge. As we write this on 13th February 2017, he has just Whernside to summit. This was achieved on 25th March 2017, to his delight.

 

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

 

Last updates -13th November 2021 - Feizor Thwaite, Smearsett Scar etc

A glorious late autumn day with plenty of sunshine and little wind. Such a contrast to the wet day yesterday. Despite Dad having had a very busy week he decided to go for a walk, and do this walk again, to our delight. Before setting off he went into Elaine's getting the 'what are you doing here, it's not Monday'. Had had tea and was pleased to see and chat to Molly and Scarlett two of Sharon's daughters. Then with us safely tucked in the rucksack off we went taking the path to Stackhouse up through the gate climbing gently. The views were good to Ingleborough that was under cloud all the time. . Just before the first stile took a track left to wind up hill to the locked gate that Dad climbed. In a few yards we were at Dead Man's Cave. Now wandered across heading slightly right for the small cairn marking the summit of Feizor Thwaite. Picture time. Fine views of Pen-y-ghent. On now to the Celtic Wall. and then dropped down to the valley. The gate in the fence here is now locked too, but it is access land! Crossed the Stainforth path. Steeply then to Smearsett Scar, taking in the fine views all round. We sat on trig point for our picture. Now along the scar, meeting two gentlemen and Dad had a chat. They too were unhappy about the locked gates. On to the large pile of stones at Pot Scar and picture time again. Continued to come by the wall and cross the stone step stile. Here went left to the unnamed 318m summit. This is the small grassy rise where Dad first added to the small cairn he had built on the first ascent, then we sat for our picture. This summit stands immediately above the hamlet, we have decided to give it the unofficial name of Feizor Nab. Descended to Feizor Nick then returned through Wharfe Wood and Oxenber Wood and along Hale Lane. Refreshment time and we got to go in to as usual. Dad had mince and onion pie with chips and carrots and red cabbage. Then blackcurrant crumble and custard and of course tea. Lovely!! Truly Dad's second home in Yorkshire.

10th April 2021 - Ingleborough from Clapham

Dad wanted to see if he could still get up on the fells. So on a sunny calm day that felt more like winter than spring, we set out from Clapham taking the signed route up the lane that leads to Clapdale Farm. Sheep about here and Dad got a couple of shots. Descended to Clapdale Drive, onto the level track past Ingleborough Cave. After the next gate we soon came to the narrow defile of Trow Gill, making rough rocky climb. Two ladies were ahead. They rested so Dad had a little chat, and we were spotted, and commented on the first of a number of times today! The path narrow and more rough and rocky now led on by a wall to eventually reach a double stile over the wall. Here the view opened out and we could see the summit, and the steep climb that first faced Dad up Little Ingleborough. So followed the path that after a while started the ascent. Large sections have been repaired and paved and formed into steps. The climb got ever steeper, but Dad plodded on with a few stops, and finally the cairn on Little Ingleborough was reached. There was a group there, one lady clearly from the balloons celebrating her 30th birthday. Dad called out Happy Birthday. The final ascent is less steep and Dad walked on eventually being behind the birthday girl group, but this helped to pace him, and there we were at the summit plateau. Walked across to the trig point, where we sat on top for our picture. A lady kindly offered to take Dad with us too. She liked idea of us going walking. Little Eric was her favourite! So walked across to the cross shelter and sat to rest and we sat out too. This got Dad into conversation with as they said, "Three lovely ladies from Burnley." Dad had to explain about us and our different characters. Again Little Eric was their favourite. They asked to take our picture. We are never shy! The views were super today and Dad took a few shots. We returned the same way. Although Little Ingleborough is not a summit there is a nice cairn and Dad agreed to take our picture there. Two couples were there and one lady suddenly said, "Are you Stag?" Dad replied, "yes, they are". She had read some of my stories and told us that through the website they had discovered Elaine's. We deduced too that some of our adventures had given here ideas for walks as she leads a group. Descending we deviated to view Gaping Gill. Here we encountered the birthday group, one lady saying "I like the teddies". At Trow Gill Dad took care descending and not for the first time today was glad he had his stick. At Clapdale Drive, we decided to walk the toll path through the woods to Clapham. Dad was honest and paid the £1 fee. Not sure everyone does. A grand day out, thank you Dad. Rounded off now by going to Elaine's where Dad had mince and onion pie with chips and vegetables, and two cups of tea.

Tetley

For all updates see - Tetley's blog

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