2019 03 31 Fountains,Plovers and Penny's
Photos from Pendle Pete
With an earlier start than most of our Social Walks at 8am, we set out from Langcliffe Village CP into classic limestone country of the Mid-Ribble Valley and Craven district of Yorkshire.
Today was a very murky start and I have used photos from my recce of this walk back in May 2018, with a few taken on the actual date with the group, in case you missed the views?
Another healthy turnout of twelve eager beavers so us striding uphill out of the village and onto the moor top of Langcliffe Scar.
Across Black Hill to the road at Capon Hall Farm, left along the road briefly to the first junction and then right all the way over Knowe Fell to the road at Tennent Gill Farm.
Joining here with the Pennine Way and just above the farm sheltered from the cold wind, we had our first break of the day and a welcome burst of sunshine.
A long steady climb to the top of Fountains Fell followed and unleashing Norman who was by now chomping at the bit, off he shot to the top in double quick time.
The group became spread out on this our second climb of the walk but in the knowledge no one would wander from the clear distinctive path, we all rejoined together again at the top with friend Norman.
On the decent down the opposite side to Penyghent Gill, it was with mist returning and blocking our view of Penyghent Mountain.
Turning right and heading further north, we followed the beautiful valley of Penyghent Gill almost into Littondale, coming out onto the road above Halton Gill.
A half mile along the road, left and onto the footpath around the flank of Plover Hill, with views to the head of Littondale and down beyond Halton Gill towards Wharfdale.
Passing above Foxup and looking across to the small Hamlet of Cosh with the range of hills on Cosh Inside for a fine background.
It was at this point we had our lunch stop, with the sun being very obliging for us again.
Eventually, taking a path left and up for our third and biggest climb of the day, onto Plover Hill.
We where encountering lots of bird activity along the way which is always nice, Lapwing, Curlew, Snipe, Oyster Catcher and Skylark etcetera.
Across the very pleasant top of Plover Hill and then the final gentle rise to the trig of Penyghent.
From here we where heading back and southwards, down the tricky rocky decent of Penyghent’s big end.
At the bottom we picked up Wainwright’s Pennine Journey Path coming out of Horton, crossing Overdale and stopping for our afternoon break before dropping down into Stainforth Village.
Out of the village and onto Stainforth Scar, taking the steps up through an attractive wood to Lower Winskill Farm and finally down the lane back into Langcliffe.
Led and reported by Pendle Pete.
