Pen Y Ghent west face 5 April Fresh snow gleams off Pen Y Ghent and the fell is resplendent. She resembles a great Tudor warship with tiers of gun-ports. The Mary Rose capsized. Perspectives change every step of the way as you approach her western flank through outcrops of limestone amidst golden sedges and grasses. Hoping to see purple saxifrage we scan the fell-side. After the intense cold spell of March the flowers may be delayed.
The strong sun will melt the snow and upon our return on the bridleway west of Pen Y Ghent its face will be transformed. From lower layers of limestone the lithology changes, with sandstones and siltstones in the upper layers. There's no sign of purple saxifrage and soft, melting snow makes the search difficult. A pair of rabbits foraging in snow is diverting. On the southern face of Pen Y Ghent the rock is wet and ice is melting. We look down on a patchwork of heather where I always hear red grouse.
To Plover Hill and Foxup Moor. Red grouse are clamorous, claiming territory at the start of the breeding season. Their flying up onto the top-stones of the wall to Plover Hill gives us chance to listen to all the grouse have to say and they are vociferous. We admire their rich colour, their white-feathered legs and long claws. Half-hidden by ice and snow, the heather, crowberry, cowberry and bilberry of their moorland habitat. I picture the scene in June, with cloudberry flowers too.
Coming off Plover Hill to the north at Foxup Moor is a challenge. At first, a descent on a grassy slope but then comes a short, steep section of icy steps - sometimes exposed where the fell-side is scooped away. Below Plover Hill, we hear curlew and walk a rhythm of tussocks, deer grass and sedges. A Pennine Journey, says the OS map of the bridleway west of Pen Y Ghent, that leads all the way to Horton In Ribblesdale. We look up toward Plover Hill and Pen Y Ghent, the snow melted and gone.
Coming off Plover Hill to the north at Foxup Moor is a challenge. At first, a descent on a grassy slope but then comes a short, steep section of icy steps - sometimes exposed where the fell-side is scooped away. Below Plover Hill, we hear curlew and walk a rhythm of tussocks, deer grass and sedges. A Pennine Journey, says the OS map of the bridleway west of Pen Y Ghent, that leads all the way to Horton In Ribblesdale. We look up toward Plover Hill and Pen Y Ghent, the snow melted and gone.
Imagine seeing Pen Y Ghent for the first time on such a glorious day! The fells are alive with the coming of spring; with larksong and red grouse calling, with the bubbling song of the male curlew and the notes of golden plover. The transience of fresh snow that cannot withstand the strong sun. Immersed in this April day, I reflect on other seasons. And I look back on recent visits
5 December 2017, including Hoffman Kilns
6 October 2015
6 June 2015
all these you may find archived here in this blog.
The day give so richly there are two further blogs for the same excursion.
5 December 2017, including Hoffman Kilns
6 October 2015
6 June 2015
all these you may find archived here in this blog.
The day give so richly there are two further blogs for the same excursion.
Here's purple saxifrage from 8 April 2011, below Helvellyn.
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