Classic Mountain Hike, Ingleborough in Winter

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: An ice axe could be useful for this outing. It is not essential but if you’ve got one it will be worth bringing it.

Route: Ingleborough via Trow Gill and Gaping Gill

Meet at: Yorkshire Dales National Car Park, Church Avenue, Clapham, North Yorkshire LA2 8EQ. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.

Public toilets in car park at start of walk. Optional social visit to a local pub or cafe afterwards.

Ingleborough is an impressive looking mountain rising to an altitude of 724 metres in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It is well known as one of the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks and is the second highest in the entire county. It towers over the nearby village of Ingleton and its distinctive bulky profile dominates the eastern skyline when viewed from the mountains of the Lake District 40 miles away. Our line of ascent will eschew the normal tourist paths from Ingleton and will instead follow a more wild and adventurous route from the outlying village of Clapham taking in some splendid geological features along the way.

The full day will include a steady hike passing the highly picturesque Ingleborough Cave before ascending through the spectacular limestone gorge of Trow Gill and then on to open the fell where we will be able to look down the dramatic 100 metre deep pothole of Gaping Gill from where a steep pull up rugged terrain will take us to the summit of Ingleborough followed by a descent via Simon Fell Breast then over some incredible limestone pavement on our way back to Clapham.

Photos from our previous winter ascent of Ingleborough can be seen here:

https://www.meetup.com/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/35104989/

Difficulty: Non technical mountain hiking though the likely presence of at least some snow and ice will make things a bit more challenging. Suitable for beginners and dogs.

While this is a technically easy outing, Ingleborough can be a fairly serious place in winter and is not to be underestimated.

Experience Required: Some previous mountain hiking/scrambling experience is advised.

Duration: Approx. 16 km with height gain of approx. 650 metres.
Estimated time 5 to 6 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS 98 Wensleydale & Upper Wharfedale 1:50,000 scale.

As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.