Settle-Ingleton Weekend
(See photos)
The annual club event was our Settle to Ingleton weekend. Saturday April 11th was cold and very windy but clear with wonderful views of the Western Dales. The start was almost too comfortable with coffee and tea served with toast and marmalade by the Falcon Arms Hotel in Settle. The 30 Ripon Runners split into two groups for the run into Stainforth taking the high route to the East of the main road. Descent was via the picturesque stepping stones over Stainforth Beck. The groups recharged their glycogen stores and rehydrated before setting off for Austwick, again avoiding roads as much as possible.
So fired up were the majority of runners after refuelling at Stainforth that they missed Mike’s detour to look at Stainforth Force waterfalls and heading off in the wrong direction had to be pulled back by an heroic run by Matt Holt. After this mini-saga the group got back on track, passing up and through a pleasant section of low fell, which is mainly grazed. The path, wending its way through the ancient woods of Wharfe and Oxber with their carpets of primroses, eventually descends into Austwick.
Austwick was then the starting point for Saturday’s highlight, the ascent of Ingleborough (724m) Many of us are familiar with the Eastern approach but few had ascended this way before, over the lime stone escarpments passing many glacial erratics, poised precariously on lime stone cliffs. The summit was VERY windy but fortunately served with a large shelter. The descent starts off over surprisingly steep and rocky ground then gives way to what must be one of the finest downhill routes I’ve ever encountered, near on 4 kms of track straight into Ingleton itself. Late afternoon running into the Westerly sun, distant views of Ingleton and the sound of curlew across the fells. Magical!
The hostel at Ingleton coped with 30 thirsty, sweaty and hungry runners with ease, an ideal base for group such as ours. The Youth Hostel is walking distance from the pub, served us an excellent evening meal and had its own wine and beer store. No wonder we all slept so well, bar the snoring but to name names would not be in the spirit of the weekend!
Sunday was so different, unremitting rain all day meant the walking and running groups were quickly soaked shortly after leaving Ingleton. At about 2km along the back road to Clapham the two groups split up, with the runners ascending Ingleborough Common into the clag to take a look down Gaping Gill. Only snow and ice would have put off this hardy lot! A welcome descent from Gaping Gill out of the weather, down Trow Gill and past Ingleborough Cave saw the runners meeting up with a few of the walkers just to the east of Clapham.
From Austwick walkers and runners took the same route back to Settle via the delightful hamlet of Feizor with its stupendous scenery and surrounding countryside. Arriving back in Settle feeling very cold and tired the runners (completing 15 miles) and the walkers (12 miles) were soon revived in the bar at the Falcon Arms.
Such weekends are only possible because Mike Pennock spends hours poring over maps then venturing out on the hills himself to check routes and alternatives, all for your enjoyment. With many thanks to Mike, Tim and the transport team for making the weekend such a success.