Dales 30
Personal Journey

Ingleborough

Route Options
Height

723m (2,372ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Simon Fell

Height

723m (2,372ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Simon Fell

Gallery of Ingleborough

Limestone walking
Limestone walking
Entering Trow Gill
Entering Trow Gill
Approaching Gaping Gill
Approaching Gaping Gill
Gaping Gill
Gaping Gill
The ridge to Little Ingleborough
The ridge to Little Ingleborough
Ingleborough from Little Ingleborough
Ingleborough from Little Ingleborough
Ingleborough Nature Reserve
Ingleborough Nature Reserve

Jonathan’s View

"Ingleborough is many people’s favourite mountain in the Dales...and with good reason. The approaches to the mountain are all good, have variety and are completed by a satisfying summit plateau. The bedrock is limestone which by its nature brings two major advantages; not only are most of the paths relatively dry in most conditions, but the exposed rock gives a fresh, vibrant light adding significantly to the views. A shelter, 2 large cairns and a trig point adorn the summit of Ingleborough.

The walk up from Clapham is undeniably the best approach to Ingleborough and possibly the best route up any of the Dales 30. Woodland, Trow Gill, Gaping Gill liven up the ascent, as does the pretty southern ridge leading to the summit plateau. The descent is also full of interest, mainly for the outstanding views towards the Forest of Bowland and the easy gradients. 

Most climb Ingleborough as part of the 3 Peaks Challenge. This undervalues the mountain. It is not a mountain to be climbed just once as there are a number of excellent routes."

Routes up Ingleborough

There is a choice of routes up Ingleborough . They are shown on the map and described below. The GPX file describes my favourite route.

click the image to see a larger version of the mao

My Favourite Route

From Clapham via Gaping Gill

Height to Climb

561m (1,840ft)

O/S Explorer Map
Parking

SD 942773 Buckden, Car Park

  1. Turn right from the car park in Clapham, cross the river and join the wide track (signposted to Ingleborough Cave). The initial walk is through pleasant woodland beside the lake of Clapdale (small charge) before emerging in to open land after 1 ½ km. Ingleborough Cave is to the left but the route carries on heading NNE. The path then turns sharply WNW in to Trow Gill, a narrow cavern with a mini scramble at its head.
  2. Emerging from Trow Gill the countryside opens up a little but there are still steep slopes to your right. After 200 metres there is a stile to the left, take it and head NW climbing towards Little Ingleborough. A short detour to the east/right before the steeper climb is worth taking to view the spectacular Gaping Gill. The climb from Gaping Gill eventually arrives at the airy perch of Little Ingleborough a narrow grassy ridge which heads north to the summit plateau. The path emerges at the east end of the flat, rocky summit plateau 250 metres ESE of the large cairn, trig point and cross shelter.
  3. From the summit walk ENE along then plateau before arriving at the northern scar edge. At a large standing stone and smaller cairn drop on to the rough path for 100m . Where the path obviously divides take the right fork heading for Horton. Follow the obvious path for nearly 3km until it crosses a stream.
  4. The path divides. The main route continues to Horton, the right path heads south, initially along a wall. This path is simply fantastic, a grassy lawn surrounded by vast expanses of limestone pavements which you follow for 1 1/2 km where it meets a more major path, the Pennine Bridleway. Turn right and follow the route past a prominent cairn as it starts to descend to the steep valley which you initially walked up.
  5. Before dropping in to the valley a wide track to your left (Long Lane, and it feels it!) contours above the valley bottom. Turn right after 2 1/2km to drop down in to Clapham.

The ridge to Little Ingleborough

Alternative Routes

From Ribblehead

Ribblehead 14 ½ km (9 miles)

  1. From the 7 junction below Ribblehead follow the road for 1 .25km to a right turn at the old station cottages. Follow the track for 200m to the steep slopes of Park Fell. Climb it to the summit Trig Point.
  2. To the north of the Trig Point a path skirts the steep northern slopes of the Ingleborough massif but heading south west for nearly 3km until arriving at stile and meeting a fully repaired path. The steep slopes to the right is your descent. To climb Ingleborough continue steeply up the path to the summit plateau. The highest point is at its far/westerly end marked with a Trig, cross shelter and a large cairn.
  3. Return to the stile and descend initially steeply. Whernside and Ribblehead viaduct can be clearly seen in the distance. Follow the obvious track (part of the 3 Peaks challenge route) through some lovely limestone scenery before arriving at a road at the Old Hill Inn.
  4. Cross the road to the west of the inn and join a farm track heading towards the viaduct. At the stream leave the track and follow initially a footpath then another farm track back to the viaduct and your start.

From Ingleton

The direct route from Ingleton is probably the most popular way up and down Ingleborough (and the easiest for those with no navigation skills). Simply join a wide track heading west from the B6255 road as it exits the village. It is an easy gradient and heads directly to the summit plateau, steep only right at the end.

The descent can be varied by heading north from the summit and exploring the wonderful limestone pavements above Raven Scar.  It is trackless but a geologists delight

The Dales 30 Book

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Each of the 30 mountains includes the following:

A full description of the Best Route

A personal view of the mountain from the author

High quality, colour photography

A sketch map showing the route & alternatives

Facts and anecdotes about the mountain and the nearby area

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