Joining the stationary queue of traffic on the M5, I was wondering whether I should have heeded the AA's advice and stayed at home this weekend. Never! How could I miss the opportunity of a weekend away in the Howgills with SMoG? The promise of good walking/biking/climbing, and evenings of socialising was worth every minute spent getting there!

Sadly, my digital camera packed up while in the Pyrenees, so you will have to put up with my lyrical and wordly descriptions of our weekends activities...

The highlight was our "Two Peaks Traverse". After a complicated car shuttle we started walking from White Shaw Moss at the head of Deepdale valley straight up the side of the hill to Whernside. Arriving at the top we found quite a number of other people which was a surprise after having had most of the hillside to ourselves. To celebrate the millennium, a pair of stone seats have been placed looking out toward the best views, but you've got to get in early to get a seat it seems! It was a very cool and claggy morning and off in the distance we could see Ingleborough, looking very ominous with its scarred shoulder and helmet of cloud.

Descending steeply off Whernside we headed for Chapel-Le-Dale, where an old church doubled as a cafe complete with cream teas. We resisted the temptation as the sun was out and we wanted to make Ingleborough while we still had the energy. Climbing through the scars we had a brief lesson in the geology of "shake holes" which are apparently a good indication of a cave system underneath. The path to the top of Ingleborough was well trodden and had been recently laid with recycled stone steps. This made the 45 degree climb to the top much easier! From the top we had fantastic vistas of the surrounding countryside and appreciated just how far the Three Peaks walk is.

In anticipation of tea and cakes the final descent to Ingleton was somewhat hurried, but we did take the time to appreciate the location of Crina Bottom, a remote farmhouse with huge decks, good views, and a lovely garden. If only...

Anyway, now its Tuesday morning its back to the real world of commuting, office hours, and office buildings!

What else happened...

• Walking up over Howgill Fells from Howgill, via Breaks Head, and the Calf.
• "Rambling" up the Dent and Deep dales, looking for the waterfalls promised on the map.
• Mountain biking around Whernside; limestone pavements above Twistleton scars leading to a steep descent down Scar End. The road up to the head of Kingsdale was a relief! Around Foul Moss where Foul Injuries occurred into a final rip snorting descent into Dent.
• Mountain biking over the Howgill Fells, including The Calf and Bowderdale.
• Mountain biking over Grange Scar
• Climbing on Hutton Roof and Farleton Crags

Last Updated: 13 Oct 2005	© Slough Mountaineering Group	contact us