Sunday, 15th January 2012

Walk: Pennine Way, Sell Gill Holes, Ling Gill, The Calf Holes, Gayle Beck, (the infant River Ribble), Dales Way, Ribble Way, God’s Bridge
Start Point: Horton-in-Ribblesdale Grid Reference: SD 808 726
Distance: 13.8 miles Ascent: 1,680 feet
Time: 6.5 hours    
Weather: A cold dry day, with good spells of hazy sunshine.
Comments: The outward leg of the walk follows the Pennine Way for a time. The area around here has many limestone fissures, and we paused to check out the Sell Gill Holes, which are reported to be 200ft deep. Unfortunately, the area around the edge was very icy, so we could not get too close. We continued on the Pennine Way, passing the gorge of Ling Gill, and a very nice packhorse bridge to Cam End, where we joined the Dales Way. This short stretch of the Dales Way follows the course of an old Roman road and crosses Gayle Beck, which is the beginning of the River Ribble. At the Hawes road, we left the Dales Way, in favour of the Ribble Way for the return leg. We followed the Ribble Way for the next four miles or so, passing God’s Bridge, (a thick slab of limestone over Brow Gill Beck). At Sell Gill, we left the Ribble Way and followed a series of field paths to New Houses where we joined the minor road back to Horton in Ribblesdale. The walk was attended by nine walkers plus the leader and a good day was had by all. The day was only marred by Phil accusing the leader of being a stingy Yorkshire man for avoiding the car parking fee!

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

The group gathers . . .

 

in the car park (but where is the leader?)

 

Looking across frozen fields to Pen-y-Ghent, with the River Ribble in the foreground, from the car park

 

An icy section of the Pennine Way . . .

 

from where we can see Ingleborough in the distance

 

What a contrast - no ice in sight

 

Kath tries to photograph the bottom of the pot hole . . .

 

while John prefers the high adrenalin icy ledge approach . . .

 

but the opposite bank gives the best view

 

Looking back on Horton in Ribblesdale

 

At an un-named stream . . .

 

the water disappears into more pot holes - with very icy surrounds

 

Ling Gill notice . . .

 

and looking into Ling Gill

 

Icicles along the banks of Ling Gill . . .

 

with their own reflections

 

Ling Gill Bridge . . .

 

with good views upstream . . .

 

as ice forms on the surface of the water

 

The group continues on the Dales Way . . .

 

towards Ribblehead viaduct

 

Gayle Beck Bridge . . .

 

a narrow route over Gayle Beck . . .

 

but the sheep prefer the alternative route

 

Ingleborough peeps out behind Park Fell

 

A new design for a mirror??!!

 

The sun catches the flanks of Whernside

 

Lunch finished and it's time to move on

 

Crossing back over Ling Gill Beck

 

Garry inspects God's Bridge . . .

 

a stone slab over the Brow Gill Beck . . .

 

and a view beneath the bridge

 

Limestone escarpment at Over Ground

 

A frosty Coppy Gill

 

Ayers Rock (or is it Pen-y-Ghent at sunset)

 

A final view of Pen-y-Ghent from the car park

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