Ingleborough from Horton to Ribblehead

Walk 6 By car/train or train: Horton to Ribblehead via Crummack Dale and Ingleborough (723m) - 9 or 10 miles - 4½ hours. This is an excellent trip using the 3 peaks walk from Horton Station and returning to Ribblehead via Souther Scales and Park Fells. There is an option to walk to Moughton Scar above Crummack Dale which will add a mile. Back to Ribblehead

Ingleborough trig point	Whernside from Ingleborough

From Horton Station take the footpath at the end of the Northbound platform (towards Ingleborough). The obvious path crosses several fields through a couple of stiles and starts to rise into more open limestone scenery. Pass through a new gate and visitor information board. As the track climbs slightly upwards there is a slight left hand turn marked with a cairn and then through a gap in a broken down wall. After a short while a signpost to Austwick will be encountered in the open country at Sulber Nick

At this point is is possible to make the detour to Moughton Scar which will add about a mile. Take the left hand path (signposted Austwick) until Moughton Scars, a limestone pavement is reached. There is a good view of Crummack Dale from here. Negotiate the rocks on the top of Moughton Scars until the footpath from Austwick to Thieves Moss is encountered. This weaves it's way through the pavement bearing right and eventually climbing to a gate at the top of a hill. Passing through the gate, turn right and after ½ mile turn left at Thieves Moss to rejoin the well defined path to the summit of Ingleborough

Moughton Scar	View down Crummack Dale

If taking the direct route to Ingleborough, carry straight on to Thieves' Moss. The path starts to climb more steeply uphill and after levelling out after the stiles look down towards Gaping Gill at the bottom of a small stream. The path rounds a should of Simons Fell and the final approach to Ingleborough is seen straight ahead. This is fairly steep in two stages the latter being almost a scramble over the rocks to the plateau at the top. In mist the summit windbreak and cairn can be difficult to spot and some navigation may be required particularly with finding the route off!

Pen-y-ghent from above Horton	Whernside from Southerscales Fell
View across Souther Scales Fell	Pen-y-ghent

From the summit retrace steps almost exactly but after the first rocky descent branch slightly left towards towards the Hill Inn. After a short while pass through a gate and turn immediately right (across small a stream) to maintain the contour around Souther Scales Fell. Follow the high level grassy path across Souther Scales Fell. This crosses a stile and continues across open fell descending slight and then upwards to reach Park Fell where there is a another stile. Follow the wall around the top. The trig point is on the other side of the wall. However do not pass through the gate at this point.

The path then descends very steeply down a grassy slope with the wall on the right to reach a gate. Go through the gate and bear diagonally left across the pasture eventually to meet a wall at the left hand side. Follow the wall downhill for 300m or so until a stile is reached. Climb over the stile and cross the rough pasture with the wall now on the right [this is now Access area and so there is no defined footpath]. Eventually this reaches two large gates forming a sheep compound. Passing though these gates bear slightly to the left to pick up the Natural England waymarked trail and pass through a gate. Take care not to get too close to the quarry edge. The path descends to reach the quarry floor from where it is an easy walk to the quarry entrance [through the nature reserve] and the quarry access road. Upon emerging at the main road turn right and thence under the railway bridge to reach Ribblehead and the pub and railway station.

Horton Station

©John Carey 2010

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This page was last updated on 13-May-2020