Day 50: Pennine Way - Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale

Day 6 on the Pennine Way, and a few big climbs today. Although there was another big milestone to divert my attention to.  

• Date: 9 May 2024
• Start: Malham
• End: Horton in Ribblesdale
• Miles: 15.4
• Total miles: 658.9
• Accommodation: Cragg Hill Farm

For the first time, I woke in the campsite with the first climb of the day glaring at me, up to the top of Malham Cove. The cove itself was rather special though. 

I climbed the steep steps to the top and through a dry river bed, with limestone everywhere I looked. At this point my phone got signal again giving me the news I was hoping for, I’d met my fundraising target!

It was very murky at the top and as I walked around Malham Tarn. The path around the tarn took me to the first big hill I was climbing over today, Fountains Fell. 

The climb was long but not too steep, as the clouds began to disperse as I climbed to the top. 

The descent was steep however, and I knew my next mountain was in front of me, I just couldn’t see it behind the clouds. 

Then it came into view, Pen-y-Ghent, a mountain that I’ve actually climbed before as part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge I did with my friend Vik a couple of years ago (we did all three in 9 and a half hours). 

The climb to the top is ridiculously steep and you need to scramble for a bit of it. Passing others is quite dangerous, and what I witnessed shows that. A woman and a man were passing each other, and the man lost his footing and fell. There were screams from the people around us as he landed with half of his body off the side of the ledge. He was one lucky man, coming out of it with just scratched knees. Everyone paused for a bit then continued the small distance left to the top. 

After a spot of lunch at the top, my favourite, cheese and crackers, I carried on with the dreaded descent. I’ve done this before, so I know how horrible the path is on your knees. Today was no exception. 

I made it to the bottom and to Horton in Ribblesdale, where I am camping for the night. I get to look at Pen-y-Ghent all evening. I did the usual campsite activities before doing some laundry, as it was such a nice evening, and some planning for the rest of the Pennine Way.