Yorkshire Dales Walks
Pen-y-ghent
Date: 10th April 2011
Distance: 7.4 miles
Ascent: 1693 feet
Time: 3 hours 20 mins
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: SD807725
Walk Summary:
Another visit to Pen-y-ghent this time with an enjoyable variation in ascent via Long Lane and Churn Milk Hole.
Route Summary: Horton in Ribblesdale - Brackenbottom - Dub Cote - Long Lane - Churn Milk Hole - Pennine Way - Pen-y-Ghent - Pennine Way - Horton in Ribblesdale
Pictures:
1. Zwartbles sheep near Dub Cote
2. Some daffodils at Dub Cote
3. Pen-y-Ghent from Long Lane
4. Standing in Churn Milk Hole
5. An attractive yellow flower growing in Churn Milk Hole
6. Pen-y-Ghent
7. Lisa on the final section of the climb on to Pen-y-Ghent
8. The trig point on Pen-y-Ghent
9. Lisa standing above Pen-y-Ghent side
10. The broken limestone of Horton Scar
Walk Detail: With this walk Pen-y-Ghent once again edged ahead of Whernside as the mountain I'd climbed the most often. To vary things slightly we didn't take one of the usual routes from Horton via Brackenbottom Scar or Horton Scar. Instead we carried along the road at Brackenbottom on to Dub Cote and from then to Long Lane.
It proved to be a nice variation without which I would not have seen for the first time the rather distinctive breed of black sheep near Dub Cote which, upon further research, I've discovered are called Zwartbles and which are native to Holland.
Other highlights of this route included the view of Pen-y-Ghent itself from the top of Long Lane as well as the chance to go down into the large shake hole called Churn Milk Hole. In the latter I found some attractive yellow flowers growing. Knowing very little of wild flowers I'd be grateful if anyone could identify them for me (see picture 5 below).
The finest part of any walk up Pen-y-Ghent from this side is the final climb itself which was accomplished with only a couple of short stops. The summit itself was fairly busy so we crossed over the wall stile to find a quiet spot to enjoy a little snack.
The descent from Pen-y-Ghent to Horton via the Pennine Way is quick and enjoyable. We made the short detour off the path to look at Hunt Pot but for once I omitted the slightly longer detour to Hull Pot which I'd seen plenty of times before.
I have to admit that when Lisa suggested we do this walk my heart sank a little, not because I don't like Pen-y-Ghent (quite the opposite in fact) but because I had been up it so many times. As it happened though I couldn't help but enjoy the walk given the company and the fantastic weather.
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