It was never our plan to stay in Ingleton at all; and in fact we didn’t know Ingleton was even a place until we decided we didn’t want to bike the whole distance from Dent to Settle in one long day and looked for a spot to break the ride. Before that we’d booked ourselves into an apartment for for four nights in Settle, but once we opted to break the ride in two it made more sense to stay two nights in both places. It was a last-minute change, made on the last day we could still cancel our Settle booking without penalty. And actually, thinking back now what actually triggered the change was looking ahead at restaurants in Settle and not seeing much that excited us. Four nights?
Which is all a slow lead in to the fact that we have a very short, not particularly challenging ride ahead of us this morning - only thirteen miles, and possibly even a ride we can stay in the saddle for the entire way.
Nearly all the work comes in the first two miles, a steady climb that gains 500 feet crossing the low southern end of Ingleborough. After that it’s downhill and leveling out the rest of the way as we drop into Settle’s valley, Ribbledale. It’s really a pleasant ride - quiet the whole way, overcast but dry; and it has one great highlight to remember the short ride by when a small stampede of sheep rounds the bend in the road a hundred yards ahead of us and races straight at us, a sheltie and a guy in an ATV in hot pursuit.
It’s solidly overcast as we begin climbing away from Ingleton, but there’s just enough of a break in the clouds to brighten the next ridge over.
I think we must be looking south across the River Wenning here, into the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. With another layover day in Ingleton I’d have ridden off in that direction.
I was really lucky to get this in such good focus. After they raced by we stayed put while their pursuers sped past - the ATV on the right, and the dog on the left just a foot or two to my side.
After the glow of that encounter wore off we enjoyed a few more relaxed miles into Settle, arriving too early in the day to check into our B&B but just in time for a satisfying lunch at the pub next door, the Talbot Arms.
We enjoyed a few pleasant miles along the Ribble as we approached our town.
There’s still a lot of day left, so after we check in to our room Rachael goes for a walk southeast up steep High Hill Lane to look for the Scaliber Force Waterfall that’s highlighted as a feature on the map. She misses the waterfall somehow but does even better when she spots a family of red deer staring down from the crown of the nearest ridge.
The deer are up there to the left. She’s not aware of them until she gets closer though. She wasn’t aware they were in this photo until we unloaded it.
As much as I wish I could join her or go on my own walk into the hills, that just doesn’t work for me anymore until I invest in a new left knee. It’s enough for me to wander through Settle before settling in for the evening. The weather tomorrow looks to be excellent, so I’ll save my exploration for then.
Settle is a small market town with typical features for this part of the country; but what spices it up at the moment is the odd street art you’ll see if you wander around and keep your eyes open: creations fashioned from flower pots. We’ve arrived in the middle of the annual Settle Flower Pot Festival.
Settle is situated right on the edge of Ribbledale’s valley, crammed against the hillside. A series of hills rises straight up above it: Low High Hill, Middle High Hill, High Hill, and Great High Hill. Excellent, very descriptive names.
As I said, we changed our plans and cancelled our four night apartment in Settle. If we’re only here for two nights we decided we’d rather stay in a B&B or inn, and the only place we could find on such short notice was the last free room at the King William the Fourth Guest House. It’s a very nice place, and the room we’ve got is the best in the house - a large double two floors up under the rafters, with a jacuzzi that Rachael appreciates after climbing up toward High Hill. Luxury!
