Bentham to Ribblehead via Ingleborough
Walk 2 By train: Bentham to Ribblehead via Ingleborough (723m) - 10 ½ miles - 5 hours Back to Ribblehead
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Souther Scales Fell
From Bentham Station proceed along the road into the town. Turn right at the main street and then left along minor road (towards Ingleton). After 1/4 mile (after road junction) look for footpath on right. Follow path across field and then well signed path across golf course (watch out for flying golf balls!) to reach Dumb Tom's Lane. Cross lane and field to reach Aspland Beck situated in a dip surrounded by gorse (look for footbridge). At other side of beck cross further fields, eventually reaching Fordales House and thence along minor road to Ingleton (3 miles from Bentham).
Bentham Station
At the main road turn left and then right to pass through Ingleton village centre. At double bend in main street turn right to join the Hawes road (towards White Scar Caverns). As road leaves Ingleton look for well defined track on right (Fell Lane) which will then be easily followed steeply to Crina Bottom. After passing the buildings on the left the track becomes a path climbing directly to the top of Ingleborough.
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Ingleborough from Crina Bottom
From the summit start to follow path downhill towards Hill Inn for a short
while but at gate bear right (across small stream). Follow high
level grassy path across Souther Scales Fell and then onwards to Park
Fell (2½miles). This is one of the best fell walks in Yorkshire.
The path then descends very steeply down a grassy slope to reach a stile.
After crossing the stile bear diagonally left eventually to meet a wall
at left hand side of field. Follow the wall downhill for 300m or so until
a stile is reached. Climb over the stile and take a bearing just to the
right of Ribblehead station [this is now Access area and so there is no
defined footpath] crossing large pasture and then limestone karst to reach
drystone wall and a new gate. The gate was recently installed to give
access to the Viking settlement [actually in the limestone karst]. Pass
through the gate into now disused Ribblehead Quarry. Take care not to
get to close to the quarry edge end keep to the path with quarry on left
passing though another gate eventually to reach the floor of the quarry.
The quarry is now a nature reserve and the path to the way out is clearly
way-,marked passing through the old workings. From the nature reserve
gates and information board follow the track down to the main road turning
right to pass under the railway bridge with the Station Inn immediately
beyond.
NB This walk can only be undertaken commencing from stations between
Leeds and Skipton plus Hellifield as it involves going out on one line
and returning on the other
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Looking across Souther Scales Fell from Ingleborough summit
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An unusual view of Whernside from Ingleborough summit
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Ingleborough looking back from Souther Scales Fell