Pen-y-ghent.....the start of Spring....

The forecast was glorious for the day a couple of weeks ago, and, rarely, it was a weekend when Claire wasn't on-call - part of the reason for our lack of getting out recently has been Claire doing some on-call weekends (thus freeing up most of the rest of Spring and Summmer). I wanted a break from marking books and preparing lessons so we set the alarm and headed up to the Dales.

Pen-y-ghent from Brackenbottom

It's not actually that far to the Dales from ours - only about 1 1/4 hrs - and so we didn't need a crack of dawn start. Upon arriving at Horton it became obvious that we weren't the only people with the idea of going up Pen-y-ghent that day. We did manage to find a parking spot on the road next to the campsite and, having got boots on etc, we headed off. Given Pen-y-ghent's name (it means Hill of the Wind) and the fact it was still March we had brought along fleeces etc...it soon became evident that they were redundant in the extreme; it was a glorious day, as can be seen. It was also painfully obvious that other people were taking advantage of the glorious day. Our ascent of Pen-y-ghent was slow, due to lack of exercise and fitness in the most part. The lower section was like a procession and it got worse when we joined the Pennine Way and the path through the escarpments. Those who were zooming along earlier now slowed right up and it actually became quite frustrating. Claire put in a spectacular burst of speed to overtake some of the pink perspiring person's on a section where there was a choice of two paths - but suffered for it a bit higher up.

The summit was utterly heaving and so we wasted no time in carrying on. Bizarrely, once over the summit and starting the descent the number of people thinned out on the spot. Going down thus became a nice pleasant late morning walk - with lovely weather and views over to Ingleborough.

Looking to Ingleborough from the descent path.

Lunch at Hull Pot was another great idea - only 300 metres of the main path (and on the path round towards Foxup and Halton Gill) it was almost like being in another world with hordes of people wandering off the hill and turning left for Horton  - almost robotically. We were able to bask in the sun with rolls, cake and hot ribena and enjoy our lunch - before joining the hordes for the descent to Horton....followed by pints of tea at the cafe (and being able to sit outside) and a gear fix at the Rohan shop....