Swaledale Outdoor Club

> Home > Newsletter > Walking > Whernside

Whernside

Heavy snow and wind the previous day cast some doubt on the planned walk. Elaine rang me (twice) concerned that if we got to Ribblehead and more snow came we may not be able to get back. I told her not to worry! On the day the road conditions had improved and the forecast reasonable. I was joined at the Leyburn rendezvous by Elaine (who was still worried), Linda, Eileen, Liz, Margaret and Dave. We piled into two cars for the drive to Ribblehead. We arrived during a cold wintry shower so togged up in full waterproofs and donned woolly hats and gloves amid comments about the usual wet weather on my walks.

We set off to the viaduct, then followed the railway line towards Blea Moor pausing where the bridle-way to Winterscales branches off to give a choice of routes - a low level valley walk or the summit which was shrouded in low cloud. No-one would admit to being a wimp so the summit it was. We crossed the railway over the aqueduct carrying a large stream running off the fells near the tunnel entrance. Quite a canny bit of Victorian engineering. Now ascending more steeply, snow covered the path and the way to the summit could be seen rising into the mist. The path soon joined a wall running along the top of the ridge leading to the summit and became progressively covered by more and deeper snow drifts, some as deep as the wall was high. Fortunately other walkers ahead of us had made a track through or over the drifts making them a little easier to traverse. As we approached the summit we met several people coming down and the summit shelter was occupied by yet more. On the summit nobody took up my suggestion to dance naked around the trig point. I think it was too cold!

We did not linger long as the low cloud prevented any views and the brisk wind made it quite chilly. We continued some way along the ridge, meeting a number of others coming up from Ingleton. It's surprising how many crazy hikers one meets on cold, misty and windswept mountains. After half a mile or so we located the path down to Bruntscar. The steps were steep and covered in snow but a couple of giggly girls wearing padded over-trousers found it fun to slide down on their backsides. I will not name them to save embarrassment but if you ask Eileen or Elaine they may enlighten you. Having descended some distance we had left most of the snow and cold behind and a convenient wall gave sufficient shelter for lunch.

A little further down we joined the bridle-way contouring along the valley, via Ivescar, to Winterscales. It was then only a short way along a farm track and under the giant arches of the viaduct back to the cars. There had been no further snowfall in the valley and the roads were still clear so Elaine did get back home - well I did tell her not to worry - and there was a shovel and salt in the back of my car just in case!!

At eight miles the walk was a little shorter than that programmed but it was hard work in the deep snow on the top although fun in a perverse kind of way. Thanks to the girls and Dave for being good company, making the effort to come out and make it a worthwhile journey.

Alan Turner

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003