Dales 30
Personal Journey

Pen-y-Ghent

Route Options
Height

694m (2,277ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Plover Hill

Height

694m (2,277ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Plover Hill

Gallery of Pen-y-Ghent

The Hole in the Wall
The Hole in the Wall
Oswald's Parish Church, Horton
Oswald's Parish Church, Horton
Pen-y-Ghent the climb
Pen-y-Ghent the climb
Pen-y-Ghent summit area
Pen-y-Ghent summit area
Trig Point on Pen-y-Ghent
Trig Point on Pen-y-Ghent
Erosion Control near the summit
Erosion Control near the summit
Hull Pot
Hull Pot
Limestone Scenery near Hull Pot
Limestone Scenery near Hull Pot

Jonathan’s View

"A proper little mountain. Shapely and isolated from its neighbours Pen y Ghent provides an inspiring outline from any direction, particularly when approaching Horton in Ribblesdale from Settle. I always enjoy it, it is an easy day (or half day) when it is climbed on its own whilst for those on the 3 Peaks challenge it is an encouraging start to a long day.

Pen y Ghent is in fact a 1 mile wide ridge with the Dales 30 summit of Plover Hill marking the southern end. The views from Plover Hill are even better than Pen y Ghent with an excellent perspective of the 3 Peaks Challenge and good views in to lovely Littondale. Regardless of any desire to tick the summit it is worth the extra effort to visit its summit.  

It is unusual in the Dales for a climb to include any kind of rock scrambling but Pen y Ghent does. After joining the Pennine Way at the hole in the wall the climb is steep, rocky with a couple of places where the use of hands becomes helpful. The children love it and so does the child in the rest of us!"

Routes up Pen-y-Ghent

There is a choice of routes up Pen-y-Ghent . 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 Horton in Ribblesdale

Height to Climb

540m (1,770ft)

O/S Explorer Map
Parking

SD 808725. Large National Park Car Park to the north of the village.

  1. The Best Route (from Horton in Ribblesdale)
    1. From the car park walk south along the road to the church take the track next to the graveyard, cross the river, pass the ex school and head along the lane to Bracken Bottom Farm.
    2. From Bracken Bottom the newly paved path climbs steadily through undulating terrain and limestone outcrops before arriving at the ‘Hole in the Wall’ and joins the Pennine Way. The climb from here to the summit is steep and rocky but with no great gremlins. There is one point where hands are definitely helpful but the summit plateau is soon reached.
    3. ADDING PLOVER HILL. The summit plateau/ridge stretches for 2 km to Plover Hill. The main path crosses the wall at the summit but for Plover Hill keep to the left of the wall and head north for 1 km to the col before the path bends in a north easterly direction and the small summit cairn. From the ladder stile next to the small summit cairn of Plover Hill head north along a path before a steep descent leads towards an obvious bridleway (Pennine Journey). Turn left and follow the path for 3km to the spectacular collapsed cave at Hull Pot.
    4. DIRECT DESCENT FROM PEN-Y-GHENT. From the trig point head North West and then North on a wide, well used path. After 1 1/2km the path turns west and drops steadily too the meeting of paths near Hull Pot.
    5. FOR BOTH. Go through a gate heading towards Horton next to a 4 way signpost. This continues on a rough farm track for 2.5km back to the village.

Oswald's Parish Church, Horton

Alternative Routes

From Dale Head Farm (the East)

10.5km (6.5 miles)

395m (1,295 ft)

A track leads north west then north from Dale Head Farm (Rainscar) on the Stainforth to Halton Gill (Littondale) minor road. It joins the Best Route at the Hole in the Wall before carrying on to the summit.

Follow the broad shoulder north to Plover Hill then pick a route east from here down the hillside to meet the road a few km north of Dale Head Farm. There are no walls on this part of the descent.

Helwith Bridge

An easy up and back of Pen-y-Ghent from the excellent pub at Helwith Bridge. Cross the B6479 and take the farm track opposite heading NNE. After 2km it meets the climb of Pen-y-Ghent from Dale Head Farm to the east. Head north up the scramble to the summit and return the same way.

The Dales 30 Book

Buy your 132 page, full colour, guide to the mountains of the Dales. As well as a personal guide for your challenge, it can provide inspiration for your trips to the Dales.

Buy Now

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

Get In Touch

Join Us On:

Explore

Useful Links

© The Dales 30 2026. All rights reserved. Website by Freshspace.