2016 09 08 Settle Triple Trigger


 

Under threatening skies six set off from Settle : Ron , Dave & Les joined by our honorary worker on a day off Anne & Robert from Harrogate making his South Pennine debut . Through Langcliffe we headed for the impressive Hoffmann Kiln in an old lime works , the structure so large it resembled the size of a small fort & we were able to walk thorough a part of it . At Stainforth the rain arrived for the next four miles , increasingly heavy as we slogged up to Pen Y Ghent & took what little shelter there was for the first stop , alas with no views as the mist had also come down for good measure .

We headed down to Horton as the rain eased off , skies brightened , views of Ingleborough opened out as the clouds lifted & the sun came out for the remainder of the day . At Horton Les left us to cut short for home on the Ribble Way ; the remaining five following the three peaks route before heading to Sulber Gate . Here we turned into one of the most impressive landscapes in the Yorkshire Dales , Crummack Dale , pausing to admire the lofty views across this limestone wilderness before dropping down to cut through on a grassy path . Before Beggar’s Stile we headed up to follow the amazing airy rim of Moughton Scar with fine views opening out in all directions , including Pen Y Ghent which of course had now decided to shake off the earlier clag . We had a second stop by a wall to shelter from the wind , then onwards curving around the rim & limestone edges to take a faint path then cross rough ground to reach the second trig : feeling generous ( it happens ! ) I even allowed Anne to stop & climb on the trig pillar to have her photo taken .

The underfoot conditions were tricky to negotiate in places with an occasional faint path , at other times rocky uneven limestone slabs ; but the views were simply awesome in an other worldly environment – Ron likened it to a lunar landscape – with stunning far reaching views of the Peaks & just a few isolated small trees bent double by strong winds which seem a characteristic of this exposed plateau . Eventually we headed down a steep gully near a hidden quarry & headed through a farm to join a pleasant grassy path , before heading uphill across the grain of the land to reach our third trig on Smearsett Scar . Another photo opportunity for Anne ! For a few miles Robert had been struggling to keep up & decided to cut his losses – Dave kindly offered to take him back to Settle on a more direct route ( thanks Dave ! ) . And so six had become three !

From the summit we followed the edge & took a precipitous zig zag descent on a steeply terraced hillside to join a lovely grassy path as the mid afternoon sun really cranked up the temperature . A brief final stop then a fine walk passing Giggleswick Scar with distant views across to Pendle Hill & a short section on the Ribble Way to emerge at the road bridge & back to the cars before 1630 . Once the early rain cleared a stunning walk in good company with some of the finest views you will find anywhere . 22.8 miles Ascent 3810 ft .

Ian