Pennine Way - Day 7: Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale

Old Waterfall

To Mahlam cove, what used to be one of the biggest waterfalls in the UK, 80m high and 300m wide. We always miss the best bits. But now dry, I guess unless it rains an awful lot. We had fun looking and playing with a couple of dogs who were walking a lady.

Underground stream

Unfortunately, the only way from the bottom of the Cove to the top is up. So, dutifully up we went. Limestone pavement, rocks and all of the other karst features abound. Talking of features. The Deathly Hallows Part One had a scene here. So definitely worth the trip. To stand where the great Harry Potter stood.

'Arry wos 'ere

We went caving.

Well, we climbed up to a hole in the rock. Luckily, there was no one home. 

Superman

The scenery was breath-taking, quite literally. Limestone cliffs, dry valleys and then for some strange reason a tarn (English for lake) all squeezed in. I know what you are thinking, 'cos we did. How do you get a lake in limestone stone country? But, not only is it on limestone it is the ‘highest freshwater lake in England’ (Wikipedia). To me this implies that there must be a salt water lake higher. 

Does anyone know where?

FYI.

The sign says, the lake sits on a well placed bed of Silurian Slate, good old Silurian Slate. My favourite. Luckily it was there. Because if it wasn't the lake would empty and the fish would die. Which might be serious. 

Caving a la us

Again the sign said 'endangered lake trout'. If its the lake that is endangered then if the fish die who cares - there are plenty more. If the fish are endangered then we should make sure that no one moves the Silurian Slate.

The weather, has turned English again, and we are surrounded by fog. There could have been some mist too – but it was hidden by the fog.

Malham Tarn

The grouse continued to scare the shit out of us by taking off at our feet. I would say repeatedly, but I don't think it's the same ones.

There were birds everywhere. Mainly, red grouse (lagopus lagopus scoticus – some relative of the Slow Fowl Mouthed Scottish Octopus I think). Soon the grouse would be celebrating the Glorious Twelfth. Though possibly not the Glorious Thirteenth.

The other birds we saw were destined to be collateral damage.

Old Church

LOST

Not us. Pen-y-Ghent, the only Welsh mountain in England, loomed up a head. The sides seemed impossibly steep and the top very flat. The weather was British. With low clouds coming and going. We debated whether or not to climb it – but in the end – it was there: so we did.

Breathlessly we got to the top where … where … the views were totally obscured by the clouds which were being blown passed at a fair old rate. But we are being there and doing that so shouldn't complain.

On the way down we saw a big something off to the right. It was big and looked interesting. But we were tired – the road we were walking on was hell and we still had a few km to go so we gave it a miss. 

Therefore, we missed Hull Pot. Look it up.

Note to self: next walk be more German.

A window

Much to our surprise. Horton in Ribblesdale was full. Thanks to the Three Peaks Challenge. 

Eventually, we got places in The Bunk House. Sharing with three ladies who, were not so pleased. 

The bedroom consisted of five  triple bunk beds. The bathroom was separate.

But in, what must be one of the all-time oversights in tourist accommodation design, the shower doors were glass. So, ladies first. 

But the food in the Golden Lion was good.

And the old church opposite was old.

And poorly lit

30/7		Cumulative
Distance Walked	23km	138km
Start Point	Malham
End Point	Horton in Ribblesdale
Via	Mahlam Cove. Limestone heaven. Harry Potter location.
General Comments A geologist’s heaven. Us and the Melon A shock

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