An early night yesterday due to incoming rain, but excellent night’s sleep! Woke at 1ish to listen to the owls calling in the dark, but fell back aslumber. Woke at 5 as per usual. Made cup of tea and heated up the oats I had put to soak the previous night
We set off walking at 7, as we have a long 18 miles to do today, including the ascent of Ingleborough which is the walk’s highest point
Head north to rejoin the route at Warfe. This is a very nice little cluster of stone houses
When we reach the old clapper bridge over Austwick Beck near Crummack we are at the halfway point of the route. It is also the point at which the climb up Ingleborough begins to get serious
The cairn at Long Scar, with Ingleborough in the background. Today is the first day without sunshine, but the rain that was threatened doesn’t look like arriving, there is very little wind, and the cloud is high up – so all is well and we are happy
Last night’s rain has brought out all of the slugs, which are in abundance.
Chris gets his observation badge for spotting this little chap. Either a Smooth or a Palmate newt, we’re not entirely sure, but he/she wad stuck in an amphibious torpor waiting for the sun to raise its body temperature and carry on to wherever it was going
We had the summit of Ingleborough to ourselves for a while. It was not in the cloud and the rain had cleared the air
The steep descent from the summit is on an excellent path constructed of giant paving stones
Refilling with water – there was no point in carrying up more than we needed
An even steeper drop off the ridge, and along a mostly paved path to Chapel-le-Dale. We were meeting a lot of people heading up the other way, some doing the three peaks, others just families out for a walk.
Stopped at St Leonard’s church in Chapel-le-Dale to rest and refuel,
a lovely little church
The lowland route to the railway at Blea Moor was a new route for me and much better than the parallel path I have used when doing the three peaks walk
We came across this excellent sculpture by the trail. Apparently it was stolen in 1983 and thrown into 30 feet of water in a nearby pot hole. Subsequently recovered and put back in its rightful place
New born lambs by the path
The trudge round the shoulder of Whernside turned into a long gruelling slog. The miles were eventually beginning to take their toll on our legs
The lush green of Dentdale comes into view, much to my relief. Still looks a long way to go
But step by weary step, we eventually arrive at our destination and make straight for the George and Dragon for a celebratory beer before pitching our tents at the Conder Farm campsite
The campsite owner tells us that if we have any problems with the newly refurbished showers then to simply move to another one which should work
I’m not sure I want to see what the old showers looked like
Toilet not too appealing either. I don’t think that the high sheen on the floor is due to a lot of polishing
Needless to say, I used the next door shower as I was in need of freshening up,
quickly put up the tent before returning to the pub for the evening
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