Day 6 Kirkby Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale

 An amazing day today, yes surprised at the end by my Daughter and Grandson. My Brother joined us for today’s leg as it was my birthday. This was our favourite leg so far with stunning scenery and great weather. We walked 18 miles and 3,300’ of ascent.  As we started from our accommodation in Kirkby Malham

we returned to the Pennine way and immediately took a steep Hill turn past some pretty properties 

then over uneven fields

I was forced to wear a birthday badge

crossing a small stone slab footbridge and passing the turning to Janet’s Foss and Gordale scar to reach Malham. Very soon leaving the village we encounter the incredible Malham Cove this famous limestone theatre the sight of an ancient waterfall is now home to Peregrine Falcons and climbers.

The ascent of the steps beside the Cove doesn’t actually count as one of the two tough climbs up today, but it certainly had us breathing heavily as we climb out of the limestone valley below.

The top of the cove is just as impressive and was used in part of the Harry Potter films

We walk down dry valley to Malham tarn

which is unusual a lake in a porous limestone country we eventually reach tenant Guild farm and the foot of fountains fell where we take an obvious path. This leads up 900 foot of ascent and incredible views all around as we reach the top of the climb,

we get the sight of Pen-Y- Ghent,  meaning ‘hills of the winds’ this is one of the Yorkshire three peaks and our next target.

 Descending from Fountains fell we then follow a country lane which provides a perfect panorama of the profile of Pen-Y-Ghent which we will be shortly ascending. At its base the climb looked ferocious and quite daunting, but it wasn’t quite as difficult as it looked but was very steep and had a few scrambles.  

At the top we get the poster out to remind everyone we are raising money for’Mind’ and earning every penny 🥵🥵

From the trig point the path down to Horton in Ribblesdale on the other hand it is quite jarring and hard as it is to support the hundreds of thousands of three peakers who use it every year, it’s quite a difficult on the knees and feet

But the views were still beautiful 

eventually arrive at our pod in Horton in Ribblesdale which had been decorated by Faith. 

Today’s route