Yorkshire Dales Walks
Pen Hill
Date: 19th August 2006
Distance: 7 miles
Ascent: 1460 feet
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: SE064884
Walk Summary:
A return visit to Pen Hill, this time forsaking the peaty summit for a walk along the top of the crags.
Route Summary: West Witton - Green Gate - Stony Gate - Black Scar - Pen Hill - Pen Hill End - Penhill Farm - Witton Steeps - West Witton
Pictures:
1. Lisa walking up Stony Gate
2. Pen Hill
3. In my poncho
4. Looking west across Hazeley Peat Moor
5. On Pen Hill Crag
6. Looking east along the edge to the beacon site
7. The beacon site
8. The large cairn on Pen Hill End
9. Looking across Melmerby Moor to Coverdale
Walk Detail: After the disappointment at not getting out for a walk the previous weekend due to work commitments I was determind to get out regardless of the weather. As it happened the weather was not as dire as predicted and apart from a brief shower it was quite nice for walking.
I was anxious about the weather though as we started and as I was also over eager to get going I probably did not relax properly until we got close under Black Scar. I was initially distracted from my worries by a tiny frog Lisa had spotted. Then it started to rain properly.
Ironically this actually made the walk more memorable than it might have been. This was because for the first time we both put on our ponchos. We both looked ridiculous, I laughed louder and harder than I have for ages and Lisa was in a similar state of mirth. By the time we’d stopped laughing to actually get the ponchos on the rain had begun to ease off and by the time we got on to the ridge it had practically stopped.
For once I was not too bothered about visiting the trig point and I was certainly not bothered about making the detour to the highest point on Hazeley Peat Moor so we stuck close to the top of Pen Hill crags which was far more rewarding. It is a shame Matt and I missed this stretch on my first visit.
After a brief chat with a local lady on access duty we walked on to the beacon site and on to the large cairn where we enjoyed our soup and admired the large patches of purple heather below us. The walk back was mainly via the road but was pleasant enough.
Although a short walk revisiting a previous ramble there was enough difference about this to make it worthwhile and it was definitely much needed and helped me to relax (for the rest of the weekend at least!).
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