YORKSHIRE DALES FELLS

When Dad met Uncle Bob, they had about the same number of Wainwright Fells to climb, so where they overlapped they did them together. Before too long all had been climbed, and so they had to decide where to now walk together. Dad lives on Morecambe Bay and Uncle Bob in South Yorkshire, so it seemed logical to walk in Yorkshire as this is a halfway point for them both. So the challenge to climb all the fells in the Yorkshire Dales was born. An intial listing of 75 tops was found, which formed the basis. These were finally completed on 31st March 2009, the last one being Nateby Common (Tailbridge Hill). As walks have been devised to reach these summits, in some cases others have had to be crossed to reach them, or others were noted from the maps and detours made to take them in. So currently our listing is 114, but who knows more may be discovered and the list may lengthen over time.

Currently the individual climbed status of each member is :-

Last updates - 24th July 2011 - Norber, Crummack Dale & Moughton from above Austwick

We let out a cheer, when Dad said we would be walking with Uncle Bob. We met eventually up Crummack Lane out of Austwick. I say eventually, because Dad did not realise he should have gone on beyond the track to Sowermire Farm, so he drove back to the village. Stupidly too, he had forgotten his mobile!! Uncle Bob had rung Uncle Brian, who of course told him Dad had set off. By now however Dad had learnt from a local man that he should have gone further along the lane. He was just about to set off again when Uncle Bob arrived down in the village. He then rang Uncle Brian, to say all was well. Dad got a justified telling off when he got home about not taking his mobile!! After profuse apologies we drove up again got ready and set off. Walked down the lane a little way to take the stile right and climb up to the ladderstile on to Norber & Nappa Scars. We did not climb all the way to Thwaite Scar, but turned north along by the wall and fence to pass above the farm in the valley and onwards. Dramatic views of the dale and the scars, and across to Moughton. Dropped down a little and crossed to another wall which we followed round under a hill. Where this climbed up we followed it, to walk on joining the path from Clapham, and on to Sulber Gate. Here we took the gate right to descend and cross Thieves Moss and then along Moughton Scars. This area is covered with extensive and spectacular limestone pavement. The cairn on an overhang with a drop of serveral hundred feet below was dramatic, if slightly unnerving, but we kept our cool. Then we rounded the scars and turned along the other side of the valley following a narrow trod, to cut up left, soon reaching the summit of Moughton, for the second time. We had lunch here by the cairn and Dad took our picture at the cairn. Whilst walking round above the valley we had enjoyed wonderful views of Pen-y-ghent, and in the opposite direction Ingleborough, Lords's Seat & Park Fell. It was a great day to be out!! We now walked in a bit of a circle to take in more of the cairns on the fell, and see where people have stood up thin limestone rocks like standing stones. We ended up at a tall cairn, that would have taken some building. Then we took a bearing and crossed to come down eventually to Studrigg Scar (we had ascended by this route last time). This gap in the scar had once eons ago been a waterfall. A narrow trod wound its way down to lower ground and then we crossed to a stile and over a field to a gate to the path through the dale on this side. Walked left to take the track right down to the wash dubs. By these we crossed the ford, and walked on, to join the track to Crummack. Here turning left it was not far to come again to the cars. An interesting day and wonderful views. Then they went to Elaine's at Feizor for tea and cake. Great to be out with you again Uncle Bob, and thanks for suggesting the route.

27th March 2011 - Pennine Way, Plover Hill, Pen-y-ghent & Brackenbottom from Horton in Ribblesdale

Great to have Uncle Bob's company today. It was dry throughout, cloudy at first but with sunnier at times from mid morning. Little wind and warm enough for Dad and Uncle Bob to walk in a long sleeved t-shirt. We met at Horton in Ribblesdale, Uncle Bob arriving in his new car that he had only picked up on Friday. Very impressive and he is justifiably proud. Dad took his picture standing by it . The plan was to climb Pen-y-ghent, a repeat of our walk in December 2006, but at Uncle Bob's suggestion we did it the opposite way - better really as it saves the long slog up to the foot of the steep nose of Pen-y-ghent and then the very steep climb to its summit. So, walking right from the car park, we took the path left signed to Foxup. This is Horton Scar Lane, and forms part of the Pennine Way. The good track undulates over the landscape across Horton Scar with Pen-y-ghent ever present to the right. At the gate where the Pennine Way turns right to climb to Pen-y-ghent summit, we continued ahead on the footpath, to soon reach the huge hole of Hull Pot - Dad and Uncle Bob gingerly peered over the vertical drop. Then over Horton Moor, passing through Swarth Gill Gate, to come to the junction, where a finger post points right reading 3/4m to Plover Hill. Now the real ascent started as the boggy path climbed the side of the fell. After a while this became steps where the path had been repaired and these led steeply up to the more level ground of the wide flat top of the fell. The steps were near the edge at times so quite exposed. We followed the wall to the corner, then right to the ladderstile, which we took, like last time, to be the top. There is no spot height and the top is wide and flat so the summit is somewhat indefinite. Over the unclimbable wall is a small cairn, which may mark the summit, but it cannot be reached. Here we stopped for lunch in the lee of the wall looking towards Pen-y-ghent, as we munched our sandwiches, sitting beside Dad and Uncle Bob. Then on following the wall over the boggy ground to climb the fell. Just below the top we went through the gate in the wall and on to the trig point on Pen-y-ghent. Not many people at the summit when we were there, so we got to sit on the trig point for our picture. Our pal, Little Eric, like us, has now done the Three Peaks. Then followed the steep rocky rough descent of the nose of the fell. There was a procession of people coming up, and Dad gave way to them. It allowed Dad to take his time and negotiate the worn steps safely, as it would be easy to slip and fall. So finally we were down to the gate in the wall. As we looked back we recalled the icy and dangerous ascent we made in December 2006. Taking the gate in the wall, we then followed the good track that undulated over Brackenbottom Scar and eventually down to the road by the hamlet. The road was then followed right into Horton. Then we all went to Elaine's at Feizor and Dad kindly took us in too. Dad and Uncle Bob had tea and a delicious beef burger with chips. Dad then had lemon meringue pie and Uncle Bob took a slice home for Aunt Ann. Elaine was surprised and pleased to see them and chatted a while. A cracking day out!

For all 2009 updates see - Tetley's blog

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