All walks are circular from Clapham
The A walk, led by Kenny & Mandi, is what Wainwright considered this route to the summit of Ingleborough to be the finest walk in the Yorkshire Dales, and it’s easy to see why. The 11.5 mile hike offers spectacular views and plenty of sights to see along the way. One notable example is Trow Gill, a wooded limestone gorge believed to have once been an underground cavern whose roof collapsed, creating the gorge we see today. Others suggest it was simply a glacial meltwater channel. Ingleborough is renowned for its cave systems, with Gaping Gill being the most impressive. This 98-metre deep pothole opens up into a huge chamber 31 metres high, 25 metres wide, and 129 metres long. The beck that flows into Gaping Gill holds the record for the longest unbroken waterfall in England, and the water resurfaces at Ingleborough Cave. The Allotment, an area on Ingleborough’s slopes abundant with potholes, also boasts other notable caves, such as Juniper Gulf, 128 metres deep and 244 metres long, and Long Kin East. However, the real reward on this hike is the breathtaking views from the 723-metre summit. Whernside, standing tall and proud to the north, dominates the valley alongside its smaller neighbours, Great Coum and Gragareth. Ribblehead Viaduct sits in the valley between Ingleborough and Whernside. To the east and further afield, the unmistakable outline of the Lake District peaks and Morecambe Bay can be seen.
Difficulty: The path to the summit is very steep and sections of it are on loose scree and rocks. The descent is more gradual but there is one small, steep section leading down from the summit that is uneven. The rest of the route consists mostly of a mixture or grassy and gravel paths. These can become muddy after rain and it will be slippy in places. There is a stream crossing on the descent that presents no issue when at low levels but in spate can widen considerably. There are a few stiles along the route.
11.5 miles with 2200 ft of ascent Map Gpx download Elevation profile
The anticlockwise B walk, led by Geoff, is via Austwick, Wharfe, Beggars & Thieves, Long Scar and Long Lane.
9.5 miles with 1050 ft of ascent Map Gpx download Elevation profile
The C walk, led by Danielle, starts on Thwaite Lane then via Nappa Scar to Crummack Lane to turn SE to Wharfe. It then turns SW along Wood Lane to Austwick and back to Clapham.
7 miles with 850 ft of ascent Map Gpx download Elevation profile