40 in the Dales...

The day started like this.....this was the Monday and Claire and I decided to walk up Pen-y-ghent (in the clouds) from Horton where we were staying so we could avoid using the car. The Crown Hotel was our base - very good too AND  a lovely log fire!!

The morning was overcast and a little breezy. It seemed further than I remembered past the school at Brackenbottom before we turned uphill..however turn we did and we plodded very slowly up. Neither Claire or I were on especially fine form and we wandered up towards the junction with the Pennine Way. Crossing the stile we REALLY became aware of the wind. We had been walking into it, however we had been quite well sheltered by the mountain itself. In the crosswind it was actually quite arkward.
Towards the summit the path zigzags through the crags - and walking with our back to the wind was actually quite tricky; it was quite hard to maintain control. Claire said; with some justification I think, that it was the strongest wind she had seen in England (Scottish winter being a different kettle of fish). Luckily; the summit is well endowed with wind shelters on either side of the wall and so we could sit down, have a banana and take stock.
The original plan of the day had been to go along to Plover Hill and thence down to the path from Foxup that goes around the mountain. However; that would commit us to a 1 1/2 mile walk in the crosswind  - so we elected to follow the PW descent towards Horton Scar Lane.
Once on this descent, the wind dropped noticeably and it was pleasant walking until the lunch stop; where the path swings left down Horton Scar Lane and descends to Horton. The weather was getting better the whole time so we elected to detour via Hull Pot, which looked as impressive as ever. A lovely walk in the sunshine (although with the wind still) took us down to Horton. The views back, as can be seen, were very good.

Given the lovlelieness of the day, we elected to have a couple of mile stroll along the river Ribble (after a tea and cake at the Pen-y-ghent cafe!!); which gave the opportunity for more photo's - which can be seen here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/102361192587557786751/40thBirthdayInTheDales

The actual birthday was less eventful - a stroll along Blea Moor and a chance for Claire to admire the Ribblehead viaduct....and for me to bemoan the missing tea van from Ribblehead - the one that was always there...