29th September 2011 - Walk No.606

Area:	Yorkshire Dales	Ascent:	590feet
Walk No:	606	Time:	4hours 15minutes
Date:	29th September 2011	Parking:	Ribblehead
Distance:	7.75miles	Weather:	Fine, sunny and very warm

For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

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It was another fine & sunny morning but after the slight disappointment with the haze yesterday we decided to give the Yorkshire Dales a go today. It was a late start as we both had appointments at the Doctors and consequently it was 10:45hrs when we arrived at Ribblehead. Because my neck had started playing up a bit the previous day we opted for just the one rucsac and that only contained food and water. Unfortunately by the time we reached Chapel-le-Dale I was in agony once again with the pains that radiate out from my neck across my shoulders which seem to be aggravated by very warm weather. Anyway after a stop in the Hill Inn for liquid refreshments I was able to plod back to Ribblehead.

Route Map

Whernside and the Ribblehead viaduct from our parking place.

A short walk back along the road soon brought us to the track leading to the viaduct. Here we can pretend to the 3-Peakers once again.

Built between 1870 and 1874 by around 1,000 navvies it is a magnificent structure. More Info HERE

A freight train towing a long string of Castle Cement wagons passes over the viaduct.

Remembering those that built it and those that carried out major renovation work.

Unable now to pretend to be 3-Peakers our path took us under the viaduct with a view of the Ingleborough massif.

Our route followed the rough track to Gunnerfleet Farm seen ahead.

Looking into the sun at Ingleborough from the bridge over Winterscales Beck at the farm.

Looking up the track to Winterscales and the lower slopes of Whernside.

A look back towards Gunnerfleet Farm with Blea Moor behind.

One of the many old field barns with Whernside behind.

We next followed the track towards Ivescar.

From Ivescar our route followed field paths towards Broadrake & Bruntscar.

Broadrake.

Just beyond Broadrake we again joined the YD3P route where it descends off Whernside. However it was for only a few yards....

....as we carried along to Bruntscar.

Ingleborough, again directly into the sun.

A look back towards the viaduct as we make our way towards Ellerbeck.

Ellerbeck ahead with West Fell behind.

Whernside from Ellerbeck.

From Ellerbeck our route took us down towards Chapel-le-Dale.

A lovely patch of Limestone pavement which made a grand la'al buttie stop.

The Boggard or Bogart of Hurtle Pot .....More info HERE

By now my neck problem was giving me a lot of gyp but the sight of the Hill Inn below us helped.

St Leonards' Church at Chapel-le-Dale. It is a Grade II listed building built in the late 17th Century with some 18th Century additions. According to English Heritage it was vastly restored in 1869. Inside the church there is a white marble memorial which reads

TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO THROUGH ACCIDENTS LOST THEIR LIVES, IN CONSTRUCTING THE RAILWAY WORKS, BETWEEN SETTLE, AND DENT HEAD. THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED AT THE JOINT EXPENSE, OF THEIR FELLOW WORKMEN AND THE MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY 1869 TO 1876