Where is this walk?

Ingleborough from Ingleton

January 27, 2018

It is a straightforward climb to head for Ingleborough from Ingleton. There are no demons. However rather than return the same way drop down the northern flank and return via the limestone scars.

The Walk

In my eyes Ingleborough is the best and most interesting of the 3 Peaks. There is a good choice of ways to the top, fabulous limestone scenery and views across into the Lake District as well as the Dales themselves. Climbing Ingleborough from Ingleton is the most straightforward and safe way to the summit. It is almost impossible to get lost and only in the final 100 foot steep enough to cause any concern. The summit area is however large and featureless. It may need a bit of accurate compass work to find a safe descent in the mist.

However those who go up and then retrace their steps back to Ingleton miss the great appeal of this mountain. Therefore I carried on north west over the summit area before dropping North East in to the wonderful limestone pavements of Raven Scar. This is the ascent route of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. Here I stuck to the pavements and took a return route a few hundred feet above the road and between the two main scars. The only disadvantage being that the gradual descent at times reverted to a gradual ascent!

Ingleborough is one of the Dales 30 Mountains

Recommend

It is perfectly possible to start the walk in the centre of Ingleton but if you have transport save yourself a mile each way by driving to the parking area at the east end of the village.

Navigation Tips for Ingleborough from Ingleton

On the return cross the wall and leave the paved footpath at the foot of the steep descent via the stream. For the next one and a half miles it is a question of picking your own safe route. It is better to keep high and walk along the first level of limestone. Keep to the contour line and eventually you will bend south back to the outbound path.

13 Comments
  • Kimberley says:

    Hi I’m wanting to get some practise
    I’m for the three peaks in June. I have done penny Ghent few weeks ago I’m extreme fog and rain. Did ok for a first hike 2 1/2 hours, so I’m coming in three weeks to give Ingleborough a go. And rough idea of a route to follow and where to start. I’d prefer hard route up east route down.

  • David says:

    Did this in July 2022 with my 9 year old son. The wall that you have to cross after the limestone has been blocked off by a wooden fence and barbed wire. Rather than go back we made the precarious journey over the wall as per the gpx file and carried on.

  • lewdav says:

    Today we tried this, but failed to find a way around on the descent that would link us back up with the outbound path to follow it down back to Fell Lane where we had parked. As there was nothing obvious and we were mindful of available hours of daylight, we ended up following the path down to Old Hill Inn but then were left with a ~4 mile walk along the road back to the car which was miserable! My advice to anyone unfamiliar with the area would be to ascend the same way you descend unless you have transport to take you back to where you initially parked (assuming you drove in your own car). Especially because the aforementioned desending path down to Old Hall Inn on the North-Western face (marked on Google Maps) was icy (very hazardous on all the concrete steps) as the Sun only seems to rise high enough to hit the Southern face this time of year. Otherwise, great walk.

  • billy says:

    i am concerned about the last “100 foot steep climb” – is it an actual climb? or walkable? please give as much detail as possible xx

    • Jonathan says:

      The final climb is not hands on but steeper and a little rougher than what has gone before. There is a path up.

  • Mike says:

    Be aware that currently the path down from the summit to Humprey Bottom is closed with a diversion in place. There is also no clear path through Raven and White Scars and the terrain is challenging and time-consuming even in relatively good weather. We were also unable to find a way over the wall from White Scar back to the road and had to loop all the way back to Fell Lane. Our return from the summit took almost twice as long as the ascent. Great views, but a long day.

    • Jonathan says:

      The path is planned to open at the end of October and hopefully will be more pleasant. Yes the route through the pavements is trackless but wonderful scenery and finally just keep above the fell wall and follow it round to return to the outbound path. No need to cross any walls

  • Andrew Norris says:

    how long (time wise) to hike up from ingleton?

    • Jonathan says:

      Obviously depends on your own pace and the slowest member of your party but somewhere between 2 and 2 1/2 hours

  • Alan says:

    Would you recomend in low cloud to beginers

  • Ann Shaw says:

    Just discovered this website. Absolutely brill. Will be using it a lot for areas I have not yet visited. Cheers. Ann.

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