The Great Pennine Way Adventure – Day 6 – Friday 7 August 2009 – Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale - 15 miles

Bogs fallen into: 0
Bus drivers chatted up: 0
Invincibility rating: so high it’s off the scale

What an amazing day it’s been! I was on top of Malham Cove at 7.45 am this morning and was in fact debating whether to carry on at all as it was so peaceful and beautiful that I just wanted to carry on sitting on top of my slab of limestone, drinking in the view. And then I saw them ….. more people! Time to move on …..

Things were very familiar today – the Trailtrekker route to be precise – up Watlowes Valley towards Malham Tarn, and then on to Fountains Fell. I had forgotten how tough this stretch was – how on earth I managed to complete the Trailtrekker I have no idea? Probably drugs and adrenaline! (Codydramol before anyone shops me to the rozzers.)

I was working to a pretty flexible schedule today so had plenty of sit downs – the views were too good to waste by not looking at them.

From Fountains Fell, I had the biggest challenge of the day – Penyghent – and she didn’t disappoint. (I didn’t see a single other walker today until this point – this Yorkshire Peak was covered in them!!) It was such a blast to get to the top, although the scorching sun didn’t really help matters. How lucky am I though?

Tourist Info back in Norwich had been working overtime again and had ascertained that, if I didn’t want to spend three hours in the Crown Inn in Horton in Ribblesdale, then I needed to be at the railway station by 3.30 pm. So on reaching the top of Penyghent, I sat for maybe twenty minutes but then had to make a concerted effort to leave my perch and head down the valley to the train. I’m consoled though by the thought that I’ll be back to climb her again.

I made it to the station with twenty minutes to spare for my train to Settle – where I called a taxi and arranged to meet at the Naked Man in ninety minutes – it’s a café before you ask! I then had a lovely jaunt around Settle, buying even more postcards that probably won’t get written, more provisions and a coffee and cake.

Back to the campsite for shower, dinner, a cuppa and more of my lovely chocolates that Panda and Lisa had bought me for my birthday and then a quick zip back to the cove for another look – I just can’t resist it!

Yep, a truly amazing day and I really am a very lucky girl …..