Holiday - Yorkshire Day 7

Yorkshire Holiday Day 7

Sunday 12th June

This morning we got up bright and early and had a look at the weather as we had decided to walk up Ingleborough.

We made ourselves some lunch and packed our bags and set off to Clapham.  We started walking just after 8:30 and set off up 'Long Lane'.  We carried on through a couple of fields and then met up with the main path up Ingleborough just before Gaping Gill.  We made a little diversion to look at Gaping Gill cave entrance.  It is Brittain's highest unbroken waterfall as the shaft is 100m deep!

After a look at the Gaping Gill we continued up and got on the top of Little Ingleborough.  A little further on we had a stop and took some photos.  This one is looking back at Little Ingleborough.

We carried on up and eventually made it to the top.  We had a walk round the plateau and found a spot to have some lunch!  Even though it was not quite 12:00!  

  

On the way back down we were just about to have a look at a cave entrance we saw on the way up when we saw a caver about to disappear down a hole.  We stopped and chatted about the cave entrances around where we were.  This was the entrance to Bar Pot that inks into the Gaping Gill System.

Further down the hill we took the route through Trow Gill.  An interesting gorge that is bolted for climbing.  All hard routes so not somewhere I will be climbing soon!

Our next stop was at Ingleborough Show Cave.  We gt there just before 14:00, nicely timed for the next tour.  We were the only 2 on it!  The guide was very knowledgeable and after we had informed him we were cavers he said it was much easier to explain things with technical terms!

  

We were lucky with the weather and had a really good day.  Back at the cottage we made ourselves some dinner and had a relaxing evening.

Holiday - Yorkshire Day 6

Yorkshire Holiday Day 6

Saturday 11th June

This morning we had a look at the weather and decided what we were going to do today.  The weather looked iffy but we decided to drive to Ingleton and investigate Twistleton Scar.  It was dry so we thought we would give it a go.  We parked up at the farm and filled in the farmers book and paid the fee and set off up the hill.

We made our way to what we thought was the Main Area.  We got the book out and started to try and match up the climbs.  They matched the text a bit but tho photos looked all wrong.  Tim had decided which one we would start with, but while I was trying to make sense of the book I turned back a page and it all made sense!!  We weren't quite far enough a long the rock!!  With new found details we chose a nice basic route to got warmed up and to get a feel of the rock. We climbed 'Waxwork' The deep set corner with a large tree mid-height - Diff.  

The top of the climb ended with a large limestone pavement  providing plenty of options for rigging a belay.   The limestone felt very different from the limestone we have climbed on before so we were both pleased we chose an easy route to start. 


The next climb we did was 'Just Looking' Up the recessed corner-crack - S.  Tim lead the route, it was rather short of hand holds at the start so he came back down after a bit to have a quick rest before making for the top.  Next it was my turn.  It was a hard climb and I felt very nervous and exposed.  I was very pleased when I made it to the top!

Back at the bottom we decided to stop for some lunch, the weather was beginning to look worse also.  We decided to pack our kit away just in case it started raining and we needed to make a quick exit down the hill.  We had been sat for about 5 mins and we felt a few sports of rain.  We decided to wait it out and see what way it went.  5 mins later we decided it was definitely time to leave!  We had a soggy walk back to the car.

We drove to Inglesport in Ingleton and made use of their cafe to warm up and enquire about other caves near by that are safe in the rain.

Back at the cottage we unpacked and dried off.  When it had stopped raining we went for a short walk round some of the farm land, we then played handbells till dinner was ready.

Tomorrow we are planing to get an early start and walk up Ingleborough hill via Gaping Gill.

Holiday - Yorkshire Day 5

Yorkshire Holiday Day 5

Friday 10th June

After I got rather burnt yesterday from too much sun and being poorly over night we had a lie in this morning.  It was also pouring with rain so we weren't rushing out anywhere!  We got up very late morning and had a tidy up in the cottage and then a think about what we were going to do for the rest of the day.  We had some lunch and then went out to Settle for some shopping and postcards.  This evening we went out for dinner at the Royal Oak in Settle followed by going to the ringing practice at Settle church.

Holiday - Yokshire Day 4

Yorkshire Holiday Day 4

Thursday 9th June

This morning we got up ad ready to go climbing.  We had arranged to meet my Uncle Tony at the Cow and Calf rocks car park for his first rock climbing experience.  We met just after 10.30 and started walking out to Rocky Valley.

First of all we scrambled up towards Buttress One.  Tim found a way up to the top and top roped Cooper's Slab, VDiff, 'The hanging slab is accessed from the left and climbed centrally, or near the arete.  Mild but poorly protected and often green'.  We climbed it near the arete, there was a lack of hand holds but at least the rock was quit grippy with some foot holds.  Photos below of Tony climbing and the look of relief on his face when he had got to the top.

We next made our way to Buttress Four and climbed Long Chimney Direct, HVD, 'Start right under the chimney and climb into a recess.  Use the thin cracks in the roof t get out right, then trend up and left to gain the base of the main rift.  Finish up this.'

Tony seemed eager to get climbing...

Doing well so far...

 Then he got a bit stuck!...

Tony came back down for a rest so I climbed next.  Just as I got to the top I saw Tony had found the easy route up!!  Tony and I came back down and found the start of an easier route along side that avoided the rubbish section he was unable to do.  

After Tony's success we found a place to sit for some lunch.  We also looked to see what climb we were going to do next.  We walked on to Buttress Six and had a look at a climb called Holly Tree Route, Diff, 'A beginners route for those who like the feeling of exploration.  Follow grassy ledges to a better finish up the groove'.  It was an interesting route which had more grass holds than hand holds! 

Tony was doing well...

Until this point!  He found this section difficult without some extra foot holds.  So he took a break on the ledge while I climbed up to meet him.  I had brought with me a sling to clip on to provide him somewhere for his foot!  With this extra bit of help he made it to the top.

By now it was 17.30 and we were all ready to pack up for the day.  We scrambled back down to the main path and headed back to the car park.  We made it back just in time to say good bye to Tony before the rain started.

Back at the cottage we got freshened up, checked the kit over and got a Chinese take away for dinner.

Holiday - Yorkshire Day 3

Yorkshire Holiday Day 3

Wednesday 8th June

This morning we awoke to some very noisy sheep in the field behind us!  The plan for today was to go caving in Sell Gill Hole.  We checked the weather to make sure this was still a good plan and then got ready to go.  We sorted out the kit required in to a bag each in the order that we were going to need it.  We decided we would walk up in our wellies and furrys and carry our oversuits as it was going to be a warm walk.

We parked at Horton-In-Ribblesdale and got ready to set off.  There were other people setting off on walks but not in the same direction as us!  The cave entrance is right next to the Pennine Way path.

The walk up was hot so I was pleased to not have my oversuit on.  Once we got to the cave entrance we cooled down for a moment before getting ready to descend via the dry/Fossil Route (the LEFT entrance on the picture below).  

The trip consisted of 3 pitches leading to a large chamber at the bottom.  It was a good trip and we managed to take some photos too.  When we were de-rigging the second pitch I started to hear rain and thunder!  At this point I went on ahead and started to make my way out of the entrance pitch so we could get out before it became too unpleasant with water flow!  It is not easy to concentrate on changing over kit hanging on a rope when you are scared of the thunder and lightning going on above you!! We both got out swiftly and while packing our kit away the rain got worse and by the time we left there was a good amount of water flowing down the hole!

The walk back to the car was quite pleasant in the rain!  Made for a less sweaty walk!

Tim wrote a report up about the trip for the caving forum...

Wed 8th June 2016, Tim & Sas up North.

Having checked the BBC weather forecast and I will quote 'slight chance of an odd shower in the afternoon' myself and Sas parked up in Horton and headed up the long, steep, treacherous and tiring (well by Mendip standards) path to Sell Gill Holes. Several hours later we arrived tired, dripping in sweat and gasping for breath (what's all this walking more than 10 yards to the entrance all about?). We kitted up ready to descend the fossil route and dropped down the entrance pitch to find a stretched out rabbit who'd forgotten to deploy his parachute before landing. Then onto pitches 2 and 3 to find a vast array of bolts to knit from (I'm sure I counted at least 14 on one of the pitches but could only find a use for 5 or 6).

Once at the bottom we had a wander around, took a few photo's, went down to the bit where you have to start crawling in water (Mendip cavers don't do crawling, only skipping through chambers measureless to man), turned around, did the hokey cokey and headed back to the surface. Whilst de-rigging at the top of the second pitch angry skies were heard and we watched the entrance pitch change from dry to a slight dribble. Darn, my hair got wet. Having exited, we then trudged our way back down the long track to Horton accompanied by the 'odd shower' and heavenly rumbles. The 'odd shower' then continued for the next couple of hours!

Much fun was had.
Tim


A few photos....

Entrance:

Descending pitch 2:

Chamber at the bottom:

Ascending pitch 3:

Back at the cottage we sorted out our kit, got cleaned up and had something to eat.  We investigated the games room and had a game of Pool with some of the balls missing and attempted to play some table tennis - we were both terrible at it!!  

This evening we have made plans to met up with my uncle to take him climbing and had a relaxing evening.

Holiday - Yorkshire Day 2

Yorkshire Holiday Day 2

Tuesday 7th June

After a poor night's sleep due to the heat we didn't get up that early.  We eventually left the cottage around 11.  We set off towards Ingleton as we needed to collect a competition prize Tim had won. We then headed to Malham Tarn and Malham cove.  We parked in the car park and to my dismay there were cows everywhere!  Once we had walked to the Tarn we stopped and had some lunch.  

We next went down into the village of Malham and walked off to the cove.  It was very hot and muggy. Once more there were cows everywhere and either side of the path.  Down at the cove we saw a peregrine falcon in the trees.  There were also some climbers attempting a very difficult climb.  

On our walk back we started to get thunder and drizzle.  We called in at the heritage centre to pick up some information about local steam trains.  Back at the car we were pleased to get the air con on as it was very muggy.  Back in Settle we walked up to a crag we have in mind for some climbing later in the week.  While we were out the rain and thunder returned so we retreated back to Craggs Barn for a shower, dinner and to watch Montypython’s Search for the Holy Grail! More thunder and lightning and the air has cleared a bit thankfully.  We are aiming to go caving tomorrow in Sel Gill Hole.