I have a confession to make. I am a Nuttall’s Completer, not a complete nutter although some may argue the point.
According to criteria established by John and Anne Nuttall there are currently 444 summits in England and Wales over 2000ft. I finished the list with an ascent of High Willhays and Yes Tor on Dartmoor in 2003. [Chris was the 108th completer] It was a memorable occasion because Jane and I were escorted off the hill having strayed into a military firing zone!
Other summits were less memorable, due to the fact they were undistinguished tops in the middle of a moor or the weather had obscured all views. Some I had done so long ago that I have simply forgotten the occasion.
Although by default I have done at least part of any hill walk that involves a 2000ft summit. The nature of the UK climate and the vagaries of memory almost guarantee a different experience every time.
Last week’s two-day escape to the hills started with a round of summits based in remote Swindale. This is accessed via Shap in the north east Lakes.
Sublime weather that vacillated between blue skies and snow showers ensured a typically picturesque Lake District. Large cairns, old survey pillars, a herd of deer and Mosedale Cottage Mountain Bothy maintained interest to the final surprise viewpoint on our descent to Swindale.
On day two we drove south to the Yorkshire Dales. We were inspired to ascend the snow splattered Ingleborough from Clapham. A nature trail (65p entrance fee) up Clapham Beck with its grotto and show cave. This was followed by the limestone ravine of Trow Gill and the awesome chasm of Gaping Gill (highest unbroken waterfall in England). All of this make it the best way up Ingleborough.
We got treated to the timely passage of a steam train over the distant Ribblehead Viaduct at the top of Ingleborough. The way back took us through The Allotment which features more cavernous potholes and an area of outstanding limestone pavement. Wandering through the Norber Boulders, a field of erratic Silurian boulders dumped by melting ice-sheets, provided a suitably dramatic finale.
