Pen-y-Ghent Walk (6.6 Mile Circular Route)

Pen-y-Ghent is the smallest of the famous Three Peaks in Yorkshire. However, this does not necessarily mean that it’s the easiest to climb! We will talk more about this topic later!

Most people begin the walk from the picturesque village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Here you will find parking, and a couple of pubs and cafes. The Pen-y-Ghent Cafe is a great place for pre and after walk refreshments. My husband and I had a lovely cup of coffee here before we started out on the ascent. They also sell maps and other useful pieces of equipment along with giving helpful advice if required.

The majority of walkers complete the 6.6 mile circular route in an anti-clockwise direction, so we decided that’s the way we would go too. The initial part of the walk was not too strenuous – on leaving the village it was a fairly steady uphill climb, but nothing too taxing. However, we could see Pen-y-Ghent looming ahead and knew that things were only going to get a lot worse!!

Eventually we came to the start of the steep climb. This is certainly not for the faint hearted as it involves a bit of a scramble up a rocky slope! This was made particularly difficult due to the fact that it was a very windy day!

Making it right up to the summit was a great feeling, and because it was a clear day the views were well worth the effort of the climb. We rewarded ourselves with lunch at the summit (hiding from the wind behind the dry stone wall) before embarking on the walk back down to the village. For walkers doing the circular route, they should turn left at the storm shelter and follow the well marked path back down to Horton.

The Pen-y-Ghent Cafe once again provided us with much needed sustenance – this time a nice cup of tea and slice of cake!

Jane@TopHolidaySpots