Members present: Joe Flynn, Dave Shotton, Phil Ramsbottom, Iain McCallum, Sue Brooke, Bob Kelly.

Guests: Katy Flynn, Sinead Murphy, Sam Cooke, Mike Preece.

Even my marketing spiel which predicted rain couldn’t have prepared us for the torrential downpour that we endured. After staying over in the (very noisy) 3 peaks bunkhouse the night before, together with 40 other people also doing the 3 peaks challenge, we had an 8am start. We were joined at the start of the walk by Phil and Sue.

Phil had suggested that we take an alternative start at Ribblehead viaduct, so that we got a 4 hour start on the hordes of people. Great advice as it turned out there were 300 doing the challenge for the Red Cross and 180 for their own amusements with Merseyside venture, plus all the independents like ourselves. My daughter Katy had recruited some university friends to join us: Sam and Mike used it as training for Kilimanjaro... which after this walk will seem easy!

On the very wet and windy decent from Whernside we encountered a lone Ian McCallum who summited, and then reversed and joined us. Thanks for your valuable support and encouragement. Ian returned to his car after Ingleborough, not before buying a round of teas from the farmer’s barn cafe.

Fortunately the sun came out as we hit Horton. Mugs of tea and a few rays of sunshine rejuvenated aching limbs and lifted spirits. Any thoughts of jumping into the car that was parked there were dismissed, with the observation from Sinead that we’re all soaked anyway and if we don’t finish it we’ll have to come back another time. And none of us could face that!

The ‘A team’ (Bob and Phil) went ahead, and we didn’t see them after the first tea break. This meant that we missed the incident of Bob disappearing up to his oxters on the muddy track from Pen-y-ghent to Ribblehead. They decided to stick to the ‘popular track’. We however, being aware of it’s boggy reputation and that fact that 500 people had walked it that morning decided to use the Pennine way and Langstroth lane, so avoiding the quagmire.

Congratulations to the whole team who successfully conquered the 3 peaks. Phil and Bob in 10 hours, and the rest of us in 12 hours. Thanks to Dave for taking the photos in the rain and putting them on the club website (must be a waterproof camera) and to all for coming (I’ve learnt my lesson and invested in some seal skinz waterproof socks for next time).

This is the original Three peaks walk. It is low carbon and almost guilt free.

By July the rains should have arrived so you are as well to get out and get fit for the Alps.

The classic walk begins with a mug of tea in the Horton in Ribblesdale cafe where you can 'clock in' on the old mill clock followed by a 23 mile stroll taking the views from Pen - y - Gent, Whernside and Ingleborough then back to the cafe to clock off. If your do it under 12 hours they will let you have the certificate. Runners have done it in under three hours.

The plan is to stay in the bunk house on the Friday and night. It is £15 per night.

The first night is so we get a very early start on Saturday morning. Aim to be moving by 7.30am

This is a good walking, climbing,cycling and caving area and only an hour and half from Manchester. There is plenty to do so if you fancy a change to Wales, Derbyshire or the Lakes come along. Contact me if you want to stay in the bunk house.

Plenty of parking . there is a pay and display in the centre of the village and an over-flow field just over the bridge. Also free parking on the bend coming into village from Setttle side ( east)