Thursday, 19th August 2010
| Walk: | Clapham, Norber Erratics, Thwaite Scars, Sulber Gate, Wharfe, Austwick, Clapham | ||
| Start Point: | Riverside, Clapham | Grid Ref: | SD 745 693 |
| Distance: | 12.3 miles | Ascent: | 2,100 feet |
| Weather: | Mainly dry and sunny | ||
| Accompanied by: |
Sheila |
||
| Comments: | After leaving the rocky track and bridges of Thwaite Track behind, we quickly climbed up to the boulders known as 'Norber Erratics'. We spent some time exploring the various boulders, marvelling at their size and positions on the younger limestone rocks. Eventually dragging ourselves away we continued up to Thwaite Scars and across to Sulber Gate. A brief stop gave time to check out Thieves Moss and the paths across Moughton Scars, but we decided to take a slightly higher, and grassy, route to the path from Sulber Nick. After heading south for a short time we followed the path down into Crummock Dale and on to Wharfe. A short road walk then took us into Austwick where we found a convenient bench for an afternoon stop. We were then treated to another pleasant grassy walk across the fields to Clapham. | ||
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Leaving Clapham by the church
Looking south from Robin Proctor's Scar
The Norber Erratics . . .
are glacially-transported Silurian sandstone boulders.
They were eroded from cliffs . . .
1km away to the north in Crummack Dale . . .
and were deposited at Norber on Carboniferous limestone . . .
when the ice melted about 15,000 years ago.
Some of the larger erratics have protected the limestone beneath them . . .
while the surrounding surface has slowly been dissolved away by acid soil-water.
These erratics now rest on upstanding blocks of limestone . . .
known as pedestals, some of which reach 60cm in height.
Sheila inspects a group of boulders . . .
and I add perspective to a single boulder
Heading away from the boulders . . .
there are views over to Moughton
and the limestone escarpments
From Thwaite Scars, Ingleborough is just touching the cloud layer
Moughton Scar where red and green whetstone lay completely flat
We make our way above the upper escarpment
Another potential member?
Ingleborough just catches the sun in the distance . . .
and Pen-y-Ghent lies in the opposite direction
The easy green footpath descending into Crummack Dale from Moughton Scars
A couple of rock climbers - thinking about the descent . . .
one quickly makes it to the bottom . . .
while the other takes a more leisurely descent
Looking across to Robin Proctors Scar
A Balwen Mountain sheep . . .
somewhat larger than the local variety . . .
On the precipice!
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