New to Mountain Walking? Beginner Mountain Walk!
16 people attending
4 places left
If you've never or seldom been on a mountain walk but really wanted to, this is the walk for you!
Join Fabian and Lee for a 9 mile (14.4 km) walk up Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales.
Aimed at the novice mountain walker, we will go at a pace that suits the slowest members of the group. Having said that, even though this is a beginners mountain walk, you will still have to have a minumum level of fitness required. Therefore, we recommend only registering for this walk if you can walk the same distance on a relatively flat terrain.
The Route
The route up to Ingleborough from Clapham is perhaps the finest and most scenic. We start in the picturesque village of Clapham, complete with a river running through the middle. From here we walk along good country tracks gently up through a woodland, and then drop down to the riverside as the valley gets narrower.
We follow this river until we meet some classic Yorkshire Dales limestone crags and head through a narrow gorge where there are small bolts drilled in for climbers. But you have to look closely!
Once through this dramatic gorge, we begin striking up toward Ingleborough on good tracks. Open farmland gives way to open moorland and we'll begin to see the summit of Ingleborough in the distance. The summit itself is a large wide plateau - once used as an Iron Age hill fort.
Once we've taken a picture or two of the group (and any views if we're not in the middle of a cloud), we'll retrace our steps back. On the return route though, we'll continue along the river all the way through the forest back into Clapham.
Post-Walk Food
It's not part of the official trip, but we may see if we can stay on for a pub meal for those that want to. But we'll decide on the day!
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on this walk but, like the owner, you must be certain your dog can do both the distance and the climb (up and down).
If the event is fully booked: please join the waiting list as people frequently drop out during the week before an event and you are likely to get a place on the walk.
Your First OutdoorLads Event?
We know that new members in particular like to know in advance more about what an OutdoorLads event will be like.
If this is your first OutdoorLads event, you should check out the information designed specifically for you on the My First Event page on the OutdoorLads website.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Image Credits: All images taken by the event leaders with permission for ODL use.
What to bring
The ground conditions vary from gravel paths to mud tracks. Please note that we are very exposed to the elements and normal cotton teeshirts and trousers are an absolute no. You will need trousers specifically designed for walking that are not cotton and fully breathable. You don't need to spend a fortune on these as even Tesco sell walking trousers. Other places to try are Cotswold Outdoor, GoOutdoors or local independent outdoor stores.
Likewise, this applies to cotton tee-shirts too! You can use running or gym teeshirts that dry quickly such as the brand Helly Hanson. This is important as cotton retains water and moisture, becomes heavy and chafes. Higher up in mountain terrain if there is wind and rain, the cold water held in your clothes can lead to hypothermia. Even on a warm day, you will sweat and this moisture can be trapped and lead to hypothermia!
If we are expecting stronger wind or rain and you have cotton clothes, we will not let you join us as you could endanger yourself and the rest of the group. If you're not sure, please feel free to message the leaders.
Essential
- Water: bring at least two litres
- Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
- Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking
- Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
- Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
- Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
- Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain (...and then there's the chafing!!!!), breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
- Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
- Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
- Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Optional
- Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
- Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
- Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
- Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
- Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Food & drink
Please bring your own food and water/drinks with you.
More specific advice on what to bring will be provided nearer the event date.