Pen-y-ghent

Saturday 29th March 2025

Leader: Alan Schofield

Number of attendees: 14

The morning was fine and sunny as our party left Horton-in-Ribblesdale to take the Pennine Way towards Pen-y-ghent. Our destination was not the summit, but the band of limestone cliffs at around 1900 feet, where Purple Saxifrage grows.

Where the path turned south towards the summit of Pen-y-ghent, we stopped and visited the west-facing limestone cliffs. Here we found the main target of the day, Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia). The cliff face had many splashes of purple where the plant was growing. Many lay within reach of study and photography. Other plants were found in the area, including Blue Moor-grass (Sesleria caerulea). After taking our photos, we ate our lunch.

After lunch we ascended further up the hill. Then we headed north, over a stile and left along the side of a wall, to arrive above the same rock face we had explored before lunch. Here, in a sheltered hollow, was more Purple Saxifrage. We were also able to compare the features of Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride), as they we both growing in the rocks.

Most of the party then set off back to Horton, while two members headed to the summit.  We had a steady descent and arrived back at our cars by the late afternoon.

Text and photographs by Ian D