Lose Hill, Win Hill and the Great Ridge to Mam Tor

After a really enjoyable day in the Yorkshire Dales at the start of the month, I arranged to meet Shaun for a 12 mile walk in Derbyshire. He was keen to keep his walking regular as he was in training for the coast to coast walk of 192 miles. 

Although I’ve walked many parts of the Dark Peaks, I’ve never been to Win Hill.

So this was a first for me. 

We’d be starting from Hope and heading to Lose Hill first, then across the Hope Valley before climbing Lose Hill, walking the Great Ridge past Hollins Cross to Mam Tor, then descending towards Winnats Pass before walking through Castleton and following a path through farmland back to Hope.

I arrived in the village of Hope about 9:30am with a new addition to my kit. An Osprey 33L rucksack, lighter than my old one, more comfortable and more expensive at £89. 

Shaun was in the Courtyard Cafe having ordered a full English breakfast, so I met him there and had a brew before we set off.

Walking out of the village north along Edale Road, Shaun tells me we are to rendezvous with a forum member called Mad map Kedge, aka Kerry around lunchtime as she was unable to make the start.

We crossed under the mainline railway-line linking Sheffield with Manchester and headed up the steep lane to Twitchill Farm, before finally reaching grass.

From the farm its a pretty stiff climb up the hillside and up to the 462m peak of Win Hill. From here excellent views down below us to Ladybower Reservoir to the north and Stanage Edge to the east could be seen, but it was a little hazy today.

Shaun views the peak 'Lose Hill' in the distance from the lower slopes of Win Hill

 Approaching Win Hill

Shaun poses by Win Hill Trig point 463m

Shaun and I were soon heading for our next waypoint which would be Lose Hill across the valley. We could have just retraced our steps back into Hope village but a well planned walk requires a new scene at every turn, so we walked along Hope Brink and should have turned west before meeting the old Roman Road. But we had continued to chat away and completely missed our turning point. Fortunately it wasn’t long before the mistake was realised. However, access to Lose Hill from the east is limited so when we did head down towards the valley floor we were way too far north, without an alternative route, finding ourselves at Edale End and Upper Fulwood Farm.
Some road walking was now required and Shaun called Kerry to explain we were erm.......temporarily misplaced and would be late meeting her. 

Kerry was okay about it as she was being entertained by watching a wedding party at the nearby Losehill House Hotel & Spa from a distance.

Having gone under that mainline railway line again, we picked up a path by Norman Farm and this followed the River Noe.

Working our way across the valley

It was almost 2pm before we finally met up with Kerry, we then had our introductions before the three of us continued up the ridge to Lose Hill.

Shaun and Kerry on the ascent to Win Hill

The three of us at Lose Hill trig point at 476m

Although this was March, it was a mild day although a little hazy, but the ridge we were about to walk looked fantastic in the sunshine. A nice steady pace with plenty of stops for a bit of artistic photography.

As Shaun is an ex professional photographer he got a little creative while we walked the ridge.

Mam Tor trig point at 517m

Leaving the modest summit of Mam Tor, the ridge continues on along Rushup Edge

Sharing some Polo mints as we crossed Windy Knoll

Looking down on Winnats Pass

From Winnats Pass we dropped into the village of Castleton and made our way over farmland along Peakshole Water back into 'Hope' and finished the 12 mile walk with a pint and a bite to eat in 'The Old Hall Hotel'

Yorkshire 2 Peaks

Mark, me, Peter, Andy, Dave, Karl, Ruth, Shaun, Carolina and Sue

A meet up from a walking Forum I’m a member of had been arranged in Yorkshire for early March, and as I had put myself forward for a long weekend of walking in Wales during the summer, I thought this meeting in Yorkshire would be a good chance to meet a few new faces before finding myself sleeping in a hostel with complete strangers.

We were to meet at some road side parking near Ribblehead for a 14 mile circular route taking in two of the three Yorkshire peaks walked in the charity challenge done by thousands to raise money, Whernside, and Ingleborough.

Shaun was the only person I knew from a previous meeting in Derbyshire. He was bringing two friends with him, Ruth and Andy. 

The guy organising the walk was Mark, but It’s quite funny at times when meeting people from a forum for the first time as many members will use a different name online, usually to protect their Identity, and Its usually only when you meet these people that you find out their real name. So when I met Mark for the first time I only knew him as .......Fat Goat!!!
Mark was joined by his walking friend Peter a more senior chap and his dog Scally. Also at the meeting was Dave, Carolina and a couple Karl and Sue. 

After getting our introductions out of the way, we all booted up and had a group photo before heading towards the viaduct of Ribblehead and Whernside beyond.

We're off !!!

The weather was cool, overcast and cloud was hugging the summit of Whernside.

The pace of the group was steady on the approach to the Yorkshire fell, but once on the hill it slowed as our organiser Mark took up position at the back of the group with Peter.
I chatted away with several of the group while crossing the railway line following the Three Peaks challenge route up to Force Gill Waterfall and stopped at this point to take photos and allow the back markers to catch up.

Ruth, Dave and Shaun capturing the waterfall at Force Gill

Mark and Peter taking up the rear

We were soon walking into the clag and only a faint view of the nearby tarn on Greensett Moss could be seen as we neared the summit of Whernside at 736m. Plenty of stops were needed to allow the group to stay together.

A catch up stop, I don't think Andy was in any Pain, just the way it looks

The group spreads out a little on the easy path 

Whernside Tarn seen through the mist

Dave patiently waiting for the group

Whernside summit 736m

Not much of a view at the summit of Whernside, so after the obligatory trig point photo’s, we soon all walked on south towards Brocket Holes Pasture. I was thinking this is going to be a late finish if we are to complete all 14 miles.

A misty mile

The slippery path from Whernside summit

As we made the descent of Whernside, we all quickly realised the stone stepped path was treacherously slippery. As we carefully negotiated the stone I heard a squeal from behind me. It was Ruth, she’d slipped and twisted her knee.

We all gathered round to offer help while Ruth sat on a step, Shaun brought out and applied a spray from his first aid kit, while I offered a knee support from my first aid kit which she used.Ruth pulled on the support, but was clearly in some pain when she stood up.

As we made the slow descent helping Ruth, I was momentarily distracted, looking behind me at Ruth, I lost my footing, then balance, and in a split second I was tumbling down the hillside.

The funny thing was, my spare drinks bottle flew out of my rucksack into my hand, I really didn’t know much about it. Fortunately I didn’t hit anything and was unhurt, so the group were able to laugh about my acrobatic display and duly awarded me 8.5 points for artistic impression.

Leaving the path, we picked our way down off the fell on safer rough ground 

We all made it down Whernside without further injury. Picking a spot at the foot of the fell to take a break. We had covered 6 miles now and there was one or two tired legs.

Frustratingly the cloud on Whernside started to lift revealing probably fantastic views we wouldn’t see today.

Brews all round, and a well earned break

Ruth was clearly not able to continue, which was a shame as she was bringing a lot of humour to the group. As Peter is a local man to these parts, he volunteered to drive her to his house and wait there for Shaun to finish the walk as she'd car shared with him today.

The organiser Mark decided he’d had enough and the other ladies echoed this by suggesting the pub. Although this sounded a good idea, five of us decided to continue. 

So at Chapel-le-Dale the group split and Shaun, Dave, Karl Andy and myself continued towards Ingleborough.

Heading for Ingleborough in the distance from Philpin

Shaun, Dave, Andy myself and Karl

It was a laugh a minute with this guys

It was quickly suggested we open up the pace and stretch our legs after such a steady walk, which we did, leaving the rest of the group to head to the pub.

Guys on a mission

Quick breather

Andy setting a steady pace towards Ingleborough

The path up to Ingleborough was a good stone slab one for most of the way and a steady climb but the last section was a bit steep, and a stop was suggested before the last push to the summit trig point. 

The groups last stop before this steep climb

Beautiful views across to Whernside

Last push for Ingleborough summit

Almost at Ingleborough summit 

It wasn’t long before we were once again over 700m as Dave and I were the first to reach the true top at 724m.

Ingleborough summit

The last time I was here, my boots were giving me so much pain I couldn’t enjoy the day. Today I’d done 10 miles and all was good. I felt fine and found the company good, five is a good group number, enabling interactions with everyone.

Backtracking a little, we headed for Simon Fell. The summit proved a little too elusive, as Shaun and I tried to find it, maybe a fellow purists Shaun also likes to reach the true summit, while Andy was happy to be roughly in the vicinity, and didn’t see the point of our efforts.

Leaving the summit of Ingleborough, Simon Fell and Park Fell ahead

Dave heading for Simon Fell

Looking back to Ingleborough

Park Fell was our next target, just over 12 miles into the walk, it was a proper trig standing at 563m.

Park Fell summit 563m

From here I had a chat with Andy about football. Him being a Hull City fan and myself being a Man City armchair supporter there was a little bit of fun banter. We also talked about the Walking Forum's awning which Andy started.

The walk down the grassy steep hillside threatened to give one of us a damp backside as a secure footing wasn't always possible. Once down off Park Fell, it only left the group to walk Gauber Rd back to the parked cars.

A tricky descent off Park Fell

It had been a good day, my feet were aching a bit but I had walked 14 miles.

This was a great set of people and hopefully I will meet a few of these guys in the future.

Ruth took a few weeks out to rest her knee as it was a bad twist. The knee support I gave her helped, and I would see it again in a few months from now when we met once again.