Yorkshire Three Peaks. 29 - 30 JUNE 1990
Participants:
John Killick
Anne Killick
Richard Killick
Simon le Gassicke
Barry Swindells
We reached the Golden Lion at Horton by lunchtime on the Friday and contacted Peter Bayes at Pen-y-Ghent Cafe, the rendezvous point for the 3 Peaks. He is also the tourist officer and arranged bed and breakfast accommodation for the Killicks and Barry. Simon and family were staying in the camping ground at Stainforth.
On the Saturday, we checked in at the cafe on a wet overcast morning and set off on the standard route by climbing Pen-y-Ghent first. This was covered in cloud but on the descent the weather cleared and we had good views of the Dales. The next and longest section is very muddy and sadly eroded in places. It was cold and wet again by the time we reached the Ribblesdale viaduct and we were glad to slip in the pub for our lunchtime break. The route to climb the next and highest peak, Whernside, involves a swing out to the north, again because of erosion problems. This increases the total distance which is now estimated to be 23 miles. We reached the summits of Whernside at the same time as a dramatic storm complete with thunder and lightning. We became quite cold and wet and the descent was very slippery and muddy. However, the weather cleared and we were provided with views of the sea to the west in the area of Morecambe Bay. We were grateful for another break at the strategically placed pub at the bottom of the pass before we climbed the final peak, Ingleborough.
The weather had cleared by this time to give us a beautiful evening walk. Extensive board walks have been placed on the approaches to control erosion but the final scramble up the peak is steep with the risk of loose stones becoming dislodged. Again there were extensive views from the summit but on the long return to Horton we were again drenched at the end of our 12 hours' walk including the two pub stops.
The following day it was raining heavily but each group, Simon & family, the Killicks and Barry did separate tours at the beautiful Dales before rendezvous at the delightful town of Skipton. It was a good week-end under suitable conditions to initiate 4 new members into METHS.
(J.K. )
Three Peaks Walk website: www.threepeaks.net
National Park website: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
© WDYFO,
2014