Pennine Way

Malham → Horton in Ribblesdale

Distance: 15.82 miles
Ascent: 963 metres
Duration: 6 hours 24 minutes

Limestone country
« Not walked | Not walked »

Malham Cove and Pen-y-Ghent are two of the Yorkshire Dales' big-hitters. Today's walk started at the former and finished at the latter; it was bound to be a gem.

Unfortunately the weather was also characteristically Yorkshire. While it remained dry, low cloud and high winds reminiscent of our walks across the moors earlier in the week meant that we didn't get the classic views that postcard creators crave.

In fact, although our guidebook has promised views of Pen-y-Ghent for days, we didn't see it until we began the descent of Fountains Fell, the preceding hill. As we reached the summit of Fountains, the mist cleared briefly to unveil the challenge that was up next, before hiding it once more.

And what a challenge. Climbing the southern ridge is an exciting way to ascend Pen-y-Ghent: a tough, stepped approach with a short section of light scrambling. With the wind doing its best to throw us from the rock, our hearts raced until we finally reached the summit plateau, the highest point along the Way so far. After a brief shelter from the wind, we took the long, slow, gentle track down the hill and across the moor to Horton.

Today we've enjoyed the best limestone scenery despite the weather.