Pennine Way 2024 - Day 7: Malham - Horton in Ribblesdale

 

Distance: 14.7 miles       Total:  105.12    (Tracklog: 13.05)    Steps: 29,740

Things seen: not much animal life but the Cove, the Pavement, the tarn, and Pen-y-ghent, make for an interesting day

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Malham Youth Hostel was very comfortable, except for the herd of elephants in the room directly above mine. Herds of elephants really should not be allowed in youth hostels.

I set off by 8.30am and guess what, it was raining! During the morning the rain was intermittent,  sometimes heavy, sometimes light with the occasional gap. About 12 it stopped most of the time, just the odd shower, to annoy.
First stop was Malham Cove, always an impressive sight. Then a tramp up the endless steps to the limestone pavement at the top. This is also impressive in its way, clints and grikes,  but it is very slippery when wet and needs care.
Then a stroll around Malham tarn, that great rarity in Yorkshire, a natural lake. Then a steady trek to the foot of Pen-y-ghent, via Fountains Fell, at 668m (2192ft) itself not to be sneezed at.

When I got to to Pen-y-ghent it was raining again, and poor visibility. I looked at it and thought, maybe not today. I have been up it twice, and down it twice, and perhaps that is enough. So I walked round it and went down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and put the tent up in the campsite there. 

Malham Cove, an imposing sight

The limestone Pavement, with its clints and grikes. Very slippery, when wet!

A carved wooden hare, with the Tarn behind

And a fish... 

the summit of Fountains Fell, with a fine view all around

Pen-y-ghent - you climb up the sharp bit on the left.