~Settle to Horton~
4th May 2013
Moughton
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Hellifield Railway Station
A firm plan to catch the 09:39hrs service to Carlisle from Hellifield and get off at Kirkby Stephen for a walk to Nine Standards Rigg.
River Ribble at Settle
The train was full when it arrived at Hellifield and I stood in the aisle with many others. Many seats in one of the three carriages were reserved for a coach party joining at Settle. As we arrived at Settle and I saw 60+ folk on the platform, I disembarked, not wanting to witness the chaos!
Izzy the Dog |
Route to Feizor |
Izzy is with me today and I chose a route to Feizor from Stackhouse. Owing to the change of plan, I didn't have the right map with me, but this is familiar territory. Drizzle plagued us on the walk to Feizor.
Feizor
Wet man and dog sought comfort in the "Dogs and Muddy Boots Welcome" cafe in Feizor, now known as Elaine's Tea Room.
Elaine's Tearoom |
Feizor Cottage |
The cafe is excellent for walkers and cyclists; lots of tables and a good menu.
To Higher Bark House
Moughton
The farmstead of Higher Bark House is partially hidden and the bulk of Moughton lies ahead with Pen-y-Ghent shrouded in low cloud. It really is a a dull day, not what was in the forecasts I studied.
The Tree
"They" say you can navigate by the tree's shape - more branches on the south-facing side? More moss on the north-facing side of walls?
~~~~~
I had it mind to climb Pen-y-Ghent, but as we got closer I went for a walk up onto Moughton, preferring to stay out of cloud.
Dry Rigg Quarry
A gritstone quarry, the aggregates primary use being roadstone. From the road and railway line, it looks like an abandoned quarry, but from above you see the full extent of the hole in the ground and the crushing plant.
Moughton Top
No map, but a general feeling of the need to head north and the knowledge that the long wall runs roughly north/south and keeps walkers away from the quarry cliffs that run along the hills above Horton.
The Wall
Following the wall for a very long time and eventually meeting the route up Ingleborough, we then turned right (sout-east) for Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Ingleborough in Cloud |
Route to Horton |
Straightforward walk down the hill to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Colas Railfreight |
Freightliner |
Freight trains filling the slots between passenger services.
Horton-in-Ribblesdale Railway Station
Beautifully maitained by a volunteer gardener from the Friends of the Settle & Carlisle Railway. I met the gardener with his fork and bucket. A Local Hero!
Ancient & Modern
My return train leaves Hellifield and heads for Skipton. This was also a busy service, but observors may notice four carriages, that's one more than the northbound train earlier in the day.
Walkers: Me & Izzy The Dog
Time taken: 4 hours 35 minutes over a distance of about 10 miles.
Route: Settle Railway Station, Stackhouse, Feizor, Higher Bark House, Moughton Nab, Moughton, Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
Weather: Dull with early drizzle and later lifting cloud, but no sunshine.
Refreshments: Breakfast sandwich at Elaine's Tearoom, Feizor. Excellent!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©
Take me back to the start ....