INGLEBOROUGH
Ingleborough has various routes to the summit, it is the second highest peak in the Dales 3 peaks challenge.
I would class Ingleborough as the most difficult out of the 3, Clapham is the easiest but longest and still has some rough terrain, especially being over 4 miles to the summit, its worth remembering you are far from the car if the weather changes, in saying that it is a great walk.
INGLEBOROUGH from clapham
Yorkshire Dales
ROUTE ONE - EASIEST ROUTE BUT ALSO THE LONGEST
PARKING-CLAPHAM NATIONAL CAR PARK, NEAREST POSTCODE LA2 8EQ PAY AND DISPLAY
MILES-9 MILES approx. HEIGHT - 723M
ASCENT-650m approx.
FACILITIES- TOILETS, PUB AND CAFE IN CLAPHAM
TERRAIN-SOME RUGGED, WITH SOME STEEP AND ROCKY SECTIONS, MEDIUM/DIFFICULT WALK DEPENDING EXPERIENCE AND ROUTE TAKEN
Ingleborough has various routes to the summit but i will only include the ones we have done.
From the car park you head through Ingleborough nature reserve trail which is £1 per person but has excellent paths and signs.
You continue on the trail until you reach Ingleborough caves which is also worth a visit, no booking required, guided walks for a charge, also has toilets and ice cream at this stop off point, plus picnic tables.
Continue ahead after the caves you will see signs for Ingleborough and gaping gill.
The track raises as you go through the gorge, take extra care when wet as rocky section up the gorge that goes narrow towards the top and can be tricky. once at the top follow the well trodden path, you will see Ingleborough in front of you and as you get closer you will see Gaping Gill to you right which is worth a visit.
The path is well defined to the summit, which has a trig point and shelter.
You can retrace you steps to go back the way you came or use one of the various circular routes but please take a map.
This is one of the most interesting walks up Ingleborough, via a limestone valley, passing caves, gorge and good paths, it is also the longest out of the 3 we have done.
We have done Ingleborough 5 times and never had good weather near the summit, the weather is unpredictable within this area so always best to check and if in doubt turn back as the mountain Will be there another day.
INGLEBOROUGH from Chapel Le Dale
ROUTE TWO- SHORTEST BUT STEEPEST OF THE ROUTES
PARKING-LAYBUY ON LOW SLEIGHTS ROAD B6255 JUST PASSED SMALL STONE BUILDING BELONGING TO YORKSHIRE WATER
MILES-5-6 MILES approx. HEIGHT-723M
ASCENT-470m approx.
FACILITIES- NON ON ROUTE OR AT THE START BUT SOME NEARBY IN INGLETON
Ingleborough has various routes to the summit but this is route 2 that we have walked.
Next too the stone building there is a path leading towards Ingleborough, you follow a grass path but can see the path is well trodden. You go through various limestone rocks scattered in the fields, and will eventually come to a wooden boardwalk that covers the soggy ground below, after heavy rain this area would be slippery and wet, the path then begins to raise and you see the vertical climb in front of you up Ingleborough.
This section is very steep as it zig zags up the hill, take care when passing others as its quite narrow, once at the top of the rocky outcrop the path skirts to the right uphill towards the summit, across the flat plateau.
You can return the same way but we chose not too as Ariya was only 3 and we felt it was too steep as it was just myself and the 4 children.
After we had finished on the summit we back tracked to the steep section (which is called Humphrey bottom).
Instead of descending here we continued ahead to Souther scales fell, on a well trodden path. This section down is easy to miss so keep an eye on your left near the wall and you can walk down, it is steep but not as rocky as Humphrey bottom. When your on the path you just follow it down and join the original path ahead back to the car.
Again please take a map as this is a brief description
MORE DETAILS CHECK OUT AT DALES WALKS
https://www.daleswalks.co.uk/walks/ingleborough_from_the_hill_inn/
Yorkshire Dales