Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) above the frozen lake of Glaslyn

Sometimes a day in the mountains turns out to be more challenging than expected.  The weather changes unexpectedly or the rock on a scramble turns out to be wet and greasy.  The mist is more of a problem than expected, and the GPS that could have saved time is in the wrong rucksack, 250 miles away.  The path that is usually ice-free this time of year isn’t (ice-free, that is!)  Etc.

Curved Ridge, Glencoe

Yorkshire Dales winter

Mist over Kirk Fell in the Lake District

Yes, I’ve had all these things happen, and what’s more I’ve had them happen over the past couple of years.  If the truth was known, these days are the interesting days, the days with that extra bit of spice!  On the other hand, things quite often go exactly as expected, without any drama or derring-do.  So, those who have come here this week expecting blood and thunder are out of luck!

The start of the route up Conistone Dib

‘Mist’ herding the humans up the narrow part of Conistone Dib

I’m not a ‘clubby’ type of mountaineer, but we sometimes walk with a group of friends from the Bradford area.  As well as being in good company, it also means I can play the ‘incompetent’ card, and let someone else do the navigating!

The narrow, water-worn section ….

…. before the valley opens up

Except, on this occasion I couldn’t get away with that ploy, as our route up the narrow limestone gorge of Conistone Dib is a route I’ve walked several times.  It’s always a delight, though, and at the narrow water-worn section near the beginning it’s easy to imagine a wall of water thundering down the gorge!

The wider section of ‘The Dib’ ….

…. and the short, final rock scramble

The narrow ravine at the beginning soon opens up into a wider valley, but to stop people getting too complacent ‘The Dib’ finishes off with a final 5-metre rocky scramble – enough to raise a smile, but not your blood pressure.

Conistone Turf Road

Trig point at Capplestone Gate

We continued up Conistone Turf Road to Capplestone Gate, where there is an Ordnance Survey trig point and …. err, would you believe a gate?! (There might be a clue in the name)  It’s also a good viewpoint for looking towards Upper Wharfedale.  We had the visibility for the view, but the wind was a cold easterly, what they call in Yorkshire a “Lazy wind” – it can’t be bothered going round you, so it goes straight through you!

Off again into a cold easterly wind

Heading down Highgate Leys Lane to the Dales Way

The cold wind didn’t encourage a long stay at Capplestone Gate, so after a wander through old mine workings we headed back down to the valley, following the grassy track of Highgate Leys Lane.  As we joined the Dales Way we came across a ewe lambing – ‘Mist’ behaved perfectly and went into a long ‘stay’ as the farmer gathered up his two new lambs, one black and one white.

On the Dales Way, heading for Conistone ….

…. followed by glowering clouds

Lambing over, we followed the Dales Way back towards Conistone, followed by glowering clouds.  It was starting to look like a race, but who would win, clouds or us?  It was in the balance as we passed the curious looking limestone outcrop of Conistone Pie.

Have a slice of pie, then!

Closer view of Conistone Pie

Soon after that, the question of whether or not those clouds would catch us out was resolved – The weather couldn’t decide if we should have rain or snow, so gave us a bit of both.  The thought of the Tennants Arms pub waiting for us at Kilnsey meant that we didn’t really care.

Waterproofs on for the finish

Text and images © Paul Shorrock