Selside Shenanigans.

This part of Ribblesdale is always a good place to pull in and have a little wander. Good weather is an advantage though as the area really is open to the elements. Pen-y-Ghent stands across the Dale and Ingleborough is only a few miles behind you so the wind just to tears across the dividing moors on most days of the year. Pen-y-Ghent is known as "Hill of the wind" and it's not called that for nothing! The only problem can be parking up as this track is popular with cavers and, at times, their mini-buses turn up in droves. Fortunately mine was the only car there.

There's some interesting limestone pavements in the vicinity of Seaside which are always worth a visit and the path I used to go up to Alun Pot is dry and easy to follow. It sort of loses its way the further up you get but I should imagine that, on a nice dry and clear day, you could get yourself to the top of Ingleborough. Your feet might be wet by the time you top out but I should imagine its possible. Obviously the pothole is fenced and walled off as it has a depth of 341ft (104mtrs) and its entrance is hidden in the trees. I suppose its more for the local sheep than for us humans but having said that, limestone can be very greasy when wet so just a slip could be disastrous.

Today was a quiet day and I didn't encounter a soul until I was well on my way back. I then passed a sole caver who was heading up to Alum Pot with full gear on. Caving is not a pastime I have ever remotely considered, possibly because I could never fit through all the narrow passageways which seem to be an integral part of the overall experience but also I hate dark spaces and feeling trapped.

As well as being rewarding, pot holing can also be very dangerous if the water levels are rising which they can do that in minutes in the Dales. A few years ago the bodies of the 33-year-old man from Darlington and the 28-year-old woman from the Bradford area were found in Alum Pot, the pair had become trapped in the cave following downpours on the surrounding fells.

One intriguing feature was a ruined barn which was situated right on top of the moorland above Selside; talk about being exposed. It did make for a great photo though as it had the full bulk of Pen-y-Ghent as a backdrop. Looking across the dale towards Pen-y Ghent brought back memories of me climbing it many years ago when the wind whipping across was so fierce and was at such an angle that it literally felt as though my eyes were in danger of being blown out of their sockets! It was very scary and I remember being blown over a few times that day. Being informed by a couple who were descending that "it wasn't quite as bad on top", I persisted and did eventually get there. Funnily enough I cant remember coming back down so I can only presume that the wind had abated because coming back would have meant fighting it all the way.

That's one of the things I like about getting out onto to the fells and the moors, they bring back so many memories: some good and some not so good and, no matter what the conditions are, you always end up coming back happier and more content than when you started.