David on the summit of Pen-y-ghent . . . Pennine Way . . . Day 7
Pennine Way Day 7 . . . Kirkby Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale
. . . Saturday 8th August 2020
So the next morning on Saturday 8th August I was ready and eager to set off on Day 7 of my Pennine Way.
Last look back to the village of Kirkby Malham
The approach to the dramatic limestone landscape feature of Malham Cove
Pennine Way . . . Day 7 . . . Kirkby Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale
I followed the footpath that climbs up to the top of the cove where there is a fantastic view back down the valley from the limestone pavement. This large area of deeply eroded limestone pavement forms a strange pattern of 'clints and grikes' home to ferns and rare plants. Above the cove I entered the impressive dry limestone valley of 'Watlowes' walking towards Malham Tarn.
David in the dry limestone valley of Watlowes near Comb Hill
Malham Tarn . . . a lake at an altitude of 377 metres (1,237 feet) above sea level
As you have probably gathered I am totally fascinated by 'physical geography', especially glaciation. Geography was my 'main subject' when training to be a teacher!
I followed the obvious path that ascends 274 metres (900 feet) up onto Fountains Fell. The views as I climbed up to the stone cairns were fantastic! The outcrops of stone and warning signs about open mine shafts are evidence of the old coal mining workings on the summit plateau of Fountains Fell. The whole area is named after its original owners . . . the Cistercian monks of Fountains Abbey near Ripon. Fountains Fell possessed substantial coal deposits. The most active period of extraction was in the early 1800's when 1,000 tons of coal a year was mined. This required 10,000 packhorse loads to carry it away! Very little now remains of the coal industry on Fountains Fell and the shafts have mostly been filled in. The Pennine Way now partly follows the old miners track.
My first view of Pen-y-ghent and distant Ingleborough as I descended
from Fountains Fell . . . two of the Yorkshire Three Peaks!
Pennine Way footpath leading up to the southern 'snout' of Pen-y-ghent
Summit trig-point on Pen-y-ghent looking east to a distant Great Whernside
I waited at the Three Peaks Cafe for my lift to my B+B at Middle Studfold Farm. The cafe has been closed for a couple of years now . . . it used to be the official start / finish of the Three Peaks Challenge . . . it is 39.2 km (24.5 miles) to be completed in under 12 hours. Lynne and I did it with a group of friends many years ago. The start / finish is now from Chapel-le-Dale on the other side of Ingleborough. Jan soon picked me up to take me to Middle Studfold Farm for an excellent overnight stay. My evening meal was superb!
It had been a great day!
View back to Pen-y-ghent from Horton-in- Ribblesdale at the start
of Day 8 on my Pennine Way adventure!
Pennine Way Day 8 . . . Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Hawes . . . Sunday 9th August 2020
Looking back to Horton-in-Ribbledale and northwards ahead to the moors above Ribblesdale
Pennine Way . . . Day 8 . . . Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Hawes
My B+B 'Goats and Oats' next door to the 'Moorcock Inn' in Garside
Close-encounter with local livestock . . . early morning leaving Hawes!
Pennine Way Day 9 . . . Hawes to Keld . . . Monday 10th August 2020
So my first objective on Day 9 of my Pennine Way adventure was the ascent of Great Shunner Fell at 716 metres (2,349 feet). It is said to be the 'longest continual ascent' on the Pennine Way. I was already familiar with the walk as I did it as a training hike back in June. On the lower slopes I met and chatted with two couples who were walking on the four-day Herriots Way Path. I bumped into them again on the summit of Great Shunner Fell. While on the summit I filmed a short video/selfie of me singing . . . The Grand Old Duke of Lancaster (normally York!) . . . to send to my grandchildren on WhatsApp! I did explain to the other walkers what I was doing!!!
I chatted to these walkers doing the 'Herriots Way Path' on the lower slopes of Great Shunner Fell
Pennine Way . . . Day 9 . . . Hawes to Keld
David on the summit of Great Shunner Fell . . . 716 metres (2,349 feet) above sea level
I eventually made it into Keld . . . looking forward to a refreshing cold beer at my accomodation . . . Keld Lodge!
Thwaite and Upper Swaledale from Kisdon Hill
I hope you have enjoyed walking with me, virtually, on Days 7 to 9 on the Pennine Way from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Keld.
I have come to the conclusion, after walking on the Camino de Santiago for 47 days last year and on the Pennine Way for 20 days a few weeks ago, that I am now passionate about long-distance walking. I find it physically, mentally and spiritually totally refreshing and up-lifting. I am so excited about my next long-distance pilgrimage walk in the autumn of 2021 . . . I will be walking for 60 days on the Via Francigena Pilgrimage from Switzerland to Rome!
I agree with John Muir (1838-1914), the influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the USA when he said:
" I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to
stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was
really going in."
John Muir
*** I would love to hear from you either by commenting directly to this blog or by secure email as outlined in the 'Contact' section of 'Beyond the Sacred Mountains'.
Regards
David