THE FOOTNOTES
Every print from Marking The Wild comes with its own trail story, this is yours.
Here you’ll find sketches, route details, reflections from the walk, and a few extra notes I couldn’t quite fit on paper.
Think of it as a companion to the artwork; a small way to step into the moment with me, and maybe take the journey for yourself.
Ingleborough: A Hill That Makes You Earn It
Ingleborough isn’t subtle. It stands there with its flat top and its layers of rock showing off, as if to say you already know what you’re getting into, so get on with it. And to be fair, you do. We wanted to enjoy one peak at a time so chose a route starting from the Chapel-le-Dale end of Low Sleights Road. The climb up has a steady, no-nonsense rhythm. Grass underfoot, then gravel, then stone flags, boardwalk and grass again. Nothing fancy but there are some peculiar boulder formations that seem other worldly. No woodland to hide in, no gentle warm-ups, just a clear line upward and a looming sense that the summit is watching how you handle it all.
You don’t float your way up Ingleborough on this route, you push ahead. There’s a bit of powering through, a bit of “who exactly asked for this,” and then the moment you settle in you see it; the path seems to fold up into the sky with a vertical staircase that is the icing on the cake.
The top is worth it because of how honest the climb has been. Wide, open views. Sharp edges of the Dales in every direction and most likely there’s a wind that at first seems to mock you, but you grow to enjoy.
This route back down follows the spine of the summit across Park Fell and toward Ribblehead. It’s a path that seems forgotten and long, but it has its hidden charms. Pika (the dog) started getting a little tired here, so we tried a doggy backpack, adding 14kg to my load. She was confused at first, but we both got used to it and I think she appreciated the lift. Ingleborough was the last of the three peaks we tackled (having not managed it due to intense snow and fog the last time we visited). Perhaps that’s why it felt like a challenge? Or perhaps that is the point of this place? Maybe Ingleborough is here to remind you what it feels like to reach something you’ve worked for.
Waypoints Through The Wild
Start: Begin near the Old Hill Inn on roadside parking that can fill up quickly. Cross the road and join the clear track leading toward Ingleborough. The ground starts level but quickly settles into a steady upward pull.
Continue along the path as it crosses limestone and grass, and becomes stone slabs and boardwalk (it's very well maintained). Climb the steep ascending stairs onto the spine of the mountain as the terrain becomes rockier and the route less sheltered. Expect stronger wind and more exposed conditions.
Reach the upper slopes and follow the clearer path toward the plateau edge. The gradient eases slightly here and the stone steps help with the incline.
Arrive at the summit plateau and make your way to the high point. Shelter in the dry stone wall cove and take in the surrounding views across the Dales. You may even strike up a pleasant conversation with strangers huddling from the gales like Pika and I did!
Begin your return by retracing your steps down the main path, but continue down the spine all the way to and across Park Fell. But, don’t forget to turn around every once in a while for some lovely views. Hitting a dry stone wall, you’ll turn left and descend carefully on the rockier sections before the gradient softens again and you turn left toward base. Follow the grassy, something gorse and prickly route all the way back in the direction of Ingleborough before rejoining your original path.
Finish: Return to the car and drive safely to a nearby pub or cafe. We ended up making a stop at The Courtyard Dairy on the way back home for some excellent cheese and wine selections.
Sense The Scene
See: layered limestone, long Dales horizons, the Ribblehead Aqueduct.
Hear: skylarks, rushing wind and a pleasant conversation with strangers at the top.
Smell: woodsmoke from distant farmhouses, grasslands and farmland.
Feel: wind hitting your face, the cool rock of your wind shelter, prickly grass on your calves.
Taste: metallic tinge on the air, grass pollen, sharp, salty, pungent tang of local blue cheese.
Practical Parts
Parking: Available near the Old Hill Inn at designated lay-bys, or further along near Ribblehead station .
Facilities: Facilities at Ribblehead station Tea Rooms and station Inn.
Hazards: Steep and exposed sections, strong winds, prickly grasses.
Have you been here? What's Your Story
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