Weather: Cold - sunny spells and snow showers
Start/Finish: Near Ribblehead station on the B6255
Terrain: Fairly flat, muddy in places (to be expected in March)
Distance: 3 miles
Although only a short walk, this was our first 'true' walk of the year. We started by the roadside parking near Ribblehead Station, and took the footpath across Blea Moor near the juction with the B6479 to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. After a short distance this joins the main bridlepath to the viaduct.
At the viaduct, a path leads right up the hill, but we carried on the main bridleway underneath the viaduct itself to Gunnerfleet Farm. Ahead lies Ingleborough, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. From the farm, we took the path west alongside Winterscales Beck for about 1/2km to reach a more defined farm track.
From here we turned north to a point called Ivescar on the map, with Whernside in the background. Here we picked up a path heading east towards Winterscales and the railway line. Although muddy in places, the path is clearly defined and soon we reached a bridge taking us under the railway tracks. Once across the railway, the path meets a more defined route heading north/south - we turned south and headed back towards Ribblehead, where the last of the three peaks, Pen-y-ghent, could be seen in the distance.
Once back at Ribblehead, we re-traced our steps back to the car.
