Walk 2

Having noted the need for younger company, Alex very kindly agreed to join us two oldies for the 3 Peaks walk. Pen y ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough - walked at our August Bank Holiday Meet in Austwick. The thinking was that we must be so fit after Slovenia that this would be a doddle - probably 10 hours or so!

Compared to the first walk, the planning was almost military in precision. Alex had bought himself a new map - just as well, really, as the old one Lucy and I had didn't show the path between Pen-y-ghent and Whernside! He had also run off a route from the Web so we were amazingly well equipped. Thanks Alex!

We used Horton in Ribblesdale as the base (good car parking and good pubs for the hoped for evening meal!) and zoomed up Pen-y-ghent, rapidly overtaking tourists who were finding just the one peak a bit trying!

Having got off Pen-y-ghent we were glad of Alex's map, although even then we went slightly wrong and I began to wonder if the whole day would be spent trying to negotiate bog, heather and tussocks! One couple were just standing in the middle of it all, clearly without a clue, or a compass, between them. Anyway we regained the path and all was plain sailing from then on to the Ribblehead viaduct. A bit of a dilemma here - should we emulate Lucy's previous trip and call in for a quick one at the pub or just nonchalantly stroll on by. Surprisingly, and fortunately, we passed on the opportunity.

We took the longer, but far better graded approach up along the railway line and over the bridge before the tunnel mouth to ascend the ridge. We put a bit of a spurt on at this stage as time seemed to be ticking by and it was pretty well a paved path to the top.

The trouble is, of course, that as with all mountain walking, no sooner are you up than you have to come down again! Right down to the valley bottom with yet one more pub and a tea bar to tempt you! But we are made of sterner stuff!!!

The way up Ingleborough is also well paved and we made excellent time to the "cliff" face, at which point I professed to be being more than a little tired and crawled up it. But this was last one and it really was all downhill back to the car.

The whole trip took about 10.5 hours with 3 lunches (apparently smashing the previous SMOG record by at least an hour and a half - they must have had two pints in each pub!) and finished with a really great steak in Horton - where we were greeted with the cheers following GB winning the men's 4 X 1 relay. And were we knackered!

Enough said - mission accomplished and a great day had by all.

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