Pennine Way - Gargrave to Horton-in-Ribblesdale
This is the second of two days walking the Pennine Way, having walked from Hebden Bridge up to Gargrave on the previous day.
Today the plan is to walk from Gargrave (where I have stayed overnight), up to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Although, in the end I do skip the section heading over Pen-y-Ghent, with the walk having taken a little longer than expected - and to ensure that I catch my preferred train home, and not push into the final trains of the day.
Making an early start on the way out of Gargrave, I head up through town, and then head up on a minor road, heading up north, passing numerous dog walkers on the way.
After about half a mile following this path, I head off the road, and start heading through fields on a stretch that takes me through to Eshton Moor.
Not far beyond here, I pass alongside the road, and meet up with the River Aire - which I will now follow up to Malham.
It is a pretty river to walk along, and this section reminds me a lot of the section heading down from Carlisle along the Cumbrian Way. On the way I meet some inquisitive, but easily scared cows, and pass by Airton - which is a small village, with what looks to be a massive former mill, looming over the river as it passes by.
From here the path follows the river up to Hanlith, where the path turns onto the local roads, and climbs steeply up towards Windy Pike.
Having made it past Hanlith, the final stretch heading into Malham begins, and having gained height the views are much improved, looking out over pretty countryside and then with Malham Cove coming into view further along the way.
Here the best of the walking for the day begins, and there is the opportunity to split the walk and stay over in Malham - in which case you can spend some time exploring the area around Malham, before heading onwards on the following day.
As we arrive into Malham though, everything starts to get very busy again, and we have quickly gone from having no one about, to having a mass of people all over the place.
The path heads up on the road north out of Malham, and then pulls off to the right, as it heads up into Malham Cove.
Heading towards Malham Cove |
Looking out from the top of the steps |
At the top, the path heads along the top of the cliffs - and although it is hard to find where you should be walking, you can just make whatever route you decide to follow along the top. You can walk up close to the cliff edge, but you can equally stay a long way back - and you are not forced up against the edge of the cliffs at all.
Starting up through Ing Scar |
The second cut we pass through |
From here the path continues to generally head north, and here starts to head on towards Malham Tarn - passing over the road and entering an Area of Shake Holes.
Great Close Scar |
Continuing on, the path heads round on the north side of the lake, past Malham Tarn House, and then along the house drive - through a cut in the rock - to just before Home Farm. Here the path turns to the right, to once again head north.
Looking across the valley on the way up Fountains Fell |
After a very long climb, the path makes it over the top of Fountains Fell - and then starts a descent down into the valley below. Having made it over the top, Pen-y-Ghent comes into view across the valley and grows in size as you head down the hill.
Looking at Pen-y-Ghent from the road |
By this point we have shed about 240 meters from the top of Fountains Fell, and after following the road for a section it is time to turn off to the right along a track towards Fawcett Moor. Although we have shed a lot of height from Fountains Fell, the climb to Pen-y-Ghent is bigger than the one back up to Fountains Fell - with the peak of Pen-y-Ghent lying 26 meters above the peak of Fountains Fell.
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