Introduction

Pennine Way 2006

      > Day 1
      > Day 2
      > Day 3
      > Day 4
      > Day 5
      > Day 6
      > Day 7
      > Day 8
      > Day 9
      > Day 10
      > Day 11
      > Day 12
      > Day 13
      > Day 14
      > Day 15
      > Day 16
      > Day 17
      > Day 18
      > Day 19
      > Final Thoughts

Links on Walking Places

Tuesday May 9th Day 7
Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale 15 miles

What can one say about a perfect walking day, superb weather, fantastic scenery and good company.

After a very good breakfast cooked by the man of the house we set off at 9.00 am. As it was so early it was perfect peace as we entered the footpath into Malham Cove. We were the only ones there. We all felt strong as we climbed the fairly steep side of the cove and up on to the limestone pavement above and soak up the fabulous views from the top. It was then through the dry valley around Malham Tarn and on to the start of the climb up Fountains Fell which proved to be very steady with no problems at all.

Malham Cove in the morning mist

We had an early lunch before the top talking with P and P discussing the merits of GPS. At the top of Fountains Fell the whole panorama of the valley and across to Pen-y-Ghent was spread out before us. Absolutely fantastic. We all still felt fairly good, even after the road walk down to Dale Head. The heat and the blustery wind made the last bit of the climb to the summit of Pen-y-Ghent quite tricky. At the top there were lots of photos and laughs. The hardest part of the day was the long descent into Horton. These stony lanes are hard on tired sore feet with lots of dodging onto the edge strips of grass for a softer landing.

Looking down the Aire valley from the top of The Cove

The PW enters Horton right next to the Post Office so it was ice creams all round. The Knoll B and B was next door in a lovely old house but the muck spreader had been in the field behind so the aroma was quite strong. Poor old Pete and Pat had to walk another mile and a half to their bunk house. Pete and Eirlys received their parcel of clean socks, shirts and underwear so they will smell sweeter for the next few days. After baths and showers it was down to the Crown Hotel for our evening meal which was very slow in coming but very tasty once it got there. Peter J spent the whole evening extolling the flavour of his steak pie only to be told by the landlady at the end of the meal that he had just eaten pheasant pie which he doesn’t like. Big stick and his missus were staying at the Crown so chatted to them for a while.

One of the hard days of the Pennine Way was under our belts and we all felt good and full of confidence.

The dry valley above The Cove

Stone Man on Fountains Fell

Group shot on Pen-y-ghent

Looking back on Pen-y-ghent on the way to Horton
 

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