David Matthews
Professional Mountain Leader

'Limestone Discovery'
Special Day Trip in the Yorkshire Dales
 

The Limestone Discovery Day

The Limestone Discovery day has been specially created to introduce you to the unique scenery of the Yorkshire Dales around Ingleton.  The day has been planned to provide excellent examples of this wonderful geological landscape in a fairly easy day, but which includes an ascent to the summit of Ingleborough at 2373 ft.  In terms of its geology, Ingleborough is often regarded as the most interesting mountain in England, and the Limestone Discovery trip really demonstrates this.

The day begins at the Hill Inn on the North West side of Ingleborough, on the road between Ingleton and Ribblehead.  Within a few minutes of walking we are seeing the evidence of the industrial and agricultural past, with a fine example of a lime kiln, with fields divided by walls made from the local limestone.

In another 100 metres, our first curiosity, a fine example of an erratic boulder left standing on a small stone pedestal by the last glacier to sweep through this beautiful valley.

We continue to Great Douk cave, a collapsed cavern that has formed a deep crater which (in summer) resembles the rain forests of South America. Scrambling down to the cavern floor we find the entrance to a popular cave system, and a deep pothole, a truly atmospheric place.

Our journey then takes us across one of the finest examples of a limestone pavement in Yorkshire, with clints and deep grykes, runnels that have formed over millions of years to create wonderful and weird patterns and shapes.  Gazing down into the formations we find natural gardens where unusual ferns and plants grow in their protective habitat.  This is a really fascinating and inspiring part of the day, and the images remain in the memory for ever.

Our next stop is Middle Washfold, where streams disappear underground to join the many miles of caves and potholes under Ingleborough, carving beautiful patterns in the limestone. We take a brief exploration by wriggling through the deep rift to follow the water a short way, with daylight visible above us all the time, to emerge a short distance away. 

For non cavers this provides a real insight into the underground world, without going in the dark.  Children love this place and become amazed at this little adventure.  This is a good opportunity for a refreshment break.

Above us towers the mighty Ingleborough, and we walk towards it, leaving the limestone behind and walking on duckboards over the wet bogland.  Eventually we come to the steep zig-zag route through the gritstone layer that takes us up to the Swine's Tail, and onwards through another layer of a limestone to the summit, where again the rock changes to gritstone. The huge plateau allows magnificent views over the Yorkshire Dales, with limestone escarpments and pavement areas stretched out in many directions.

On the summit we find the round circle remains of a Roman encampment and try to imagine life for a Roman soldier here two thousand years ago, sitting where he sat to take our lunch.

After lunch we set off from the summit in a south of east direction towards Ingleton, clambering down the rocks that form the distinct escarpments that give this side of the mountain its distinctive shape.  Before reaching Crina Bottoms we turn off towards the North to circumnavigate the steep end of Ingleborough on the lower limestone layer.  This takes us to the opening of Meregill Hole, one of the huge potholes that plunge deep into the ground, passing lots of enormous shakeholes on the way.

Eventually we walk through another area of limestone, with pavements and boulders to explore, through a small nature reserve and back to the starting point at Hill Inn.

The Limestone Discovery day is taken at a leisurely pace to allow lots of opportunity to really appreciate the unique and strange beauty of the surroundings, with close up, hands on contact with the environment. Children and young people will be utterly fascinated by the experiences of the day, and for everybody there is a real sense of wonder. Add to this the personal achievement of reaching the summit of Ingleborough.  This really is a first class day out.

For those who are fascinated by this unique geological landscape, but perhaps not feeling fit enough to venture to the summit, a shorter day is no less interesting.

Booking

This trip can be booked by a small party, a minimum charge of £80 for up to 4 people, and £15 per person thereafter.

Participants are expected to provide their own transport to the start of the walk and carry their own lunch and refreshments, and spare clothing etc.  You should be equipped for a full day in the hills, with appropriate footwear, clothing and rations.

Telephone: 07867 - 594135 or email d.matthews@hillwalks.co.uk