Sulber - 1st November 2011

Walk: 10:15am to 3:15pm - 7.3 miles

Today’s plan was to head up Ingleborough, but via the route from Horton-in-Ribblesdale as we hadn’t been up that route before, although I believe it’s a common route up as it’s part of the 3-Peaks route. Last time we went up from Clapham, and the time before that from Ingleton so we would be attacking the fell from a new front. The forecast was for a cloudy morning followed by a sunny afternoon.

We left the cottage at 9:30am driving the short distance to Horton, but just as we left Settle the heavens opened, so after arriving in the car-park in Horton we sat there in the car for about 20 minutes until the rain had stopped. It always amazes me when you watch some people drive into the car-park, come and look at how much it is to pay, then drive off and park on a road. Today we saw 2 cars do that and then one guy walked backwards and forwards to his car twice as what looked like his son/daughter and their kids had parked in the car-park. All for the sake of £4!

The skies were grey so we put our waterproofs on, and set off along the track crossing the train-line at Horton station. I had expected as this was a popular route for there to be a good surface to walk on – I was wrong. Due to the recent rain, the path was a nightmare – either mud filled or slippy smooth rocks, it was taking twice as long to walk, and if I’m being honest having to look at where you’re walking all the time takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the walk. 

We persevered until we got to the area around Nick Pot (we had dined on the way), and then decided to change the route and not go up Ingleborough, as we had no idea how much more muddy path there was ahead. So we made a bit if a circle back on ourselves, then headed north at the Sulber ‘crossroads’ towards Borrins. The weather had also put us off a little as it had rained quite a bit, and although the forecast was for the weather to clear, the top of Ingleborough was in cloud so ‘mounting’ the summit didn’t seem that appealing at the time.

This section of the walk was much more relaxing, soft open grassy paths all the way to the buildings at Borrins. The sun was now breaking through and we could see Pen-Y-Ghent bathed in sunshine and looking an awesome sight - my wife always compares it to a crocodile laid amongst the hills. Instead of heading straight back down to the main road back to Horton, we took a slight detour around South House, but although the map showed a clear ROW, it wasn’t one with a footpath so we had to pick our way through the rocks and grass to get back to the road. Then just the 1 mile or so back into Horton, and by now the weather was glorious….but then again isn’t it always just as you’re finishing your walk.

So the day hadn’t panned out as we had planned, but we were out in the fresh air walking and that’s what matters most. We took a longish detour back so we could drop into the Daleswear Outdoors in Ingleton, but we didn’t buy anything which is probably a first. Then a massive coincidence as we headed back down the A65 to Settle, and as we passed the Little Chef I was sure I saw the car belonging to one of my close friends. We turned around and went into the restaurant, and it was – he was on his way from Sheffield to Scotland for a business meeting the following day. It’s a small world….


More photos can be found here