Pen-y-Ghent, Yorkshire

Yesterday Karl and I hiked up Pen-y-Ghent and Plover Hill in the Yorkshire Dales.

It was partly training of course but also to try to gauge how we're progressing with our fitness.

I came back very pleased as I had a previous walk up Win Hill in the Peak District to compare it with. Much fitter now and I feel I might be mentally tougher too. The climb up to the ridge on the Pennine Way seems to go on and on and is pretty steep in places. After reaching the ridge you're faced with two rocky escarpments just before the summit.

On Win Hill I'd struggled with the pace of the other guys but on Pen-y-Ghent it was more a feeling of wanting to get stuck in to the next bit. Quite strenuous, but not out of breath at the top.

The area is really beautiful and Mother Nature was smiling on us too.

A fantastic day and it's left me feeling much more confident.

Pen-y-Ghent is one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks along with Whernside and Ingleborough. The challenge is to complete all three and return to Horton in 12 hours. I'd like to do it one day but I have to say they all look a heck of a way apart!