PennineWay day 6 (wed 23rd april 2014) - Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale (15 miles)

We have a little bit of a lie in before heading down to breakfast, it's always seems a shame when we're staying at such nice places that we can't stay a while longer to enjoy them, we'll have to come back and revisit some of them at a later date when we won't have to get up and drag ourselves 15 or 16 miles to our next destination!
We have a light breakfast and pick up our enormous packed lunches from the bar before finally setting off at quarter past 10. It's a nicer day than yesterday if a bit overcast and it's a spectacular start to the day as we head up the steep steps to Malham cove…we come here walking a lot and it never ceases to impress, the views from the top are beautiful and we head off with a spring in our step this morning!

We head up across limestone paths and make our way to Malham Tarn before heading across farmland where we stop for a picnic lunch. It's a refreshing change of scenery from the bleak moorland that's made up much of the early part of the walk and we make good progress heading towards Pen-y-ghent.
Unfortunately by the time we reach it, it's absolutely chucking it down and that combined with the fact that i am in agony with my heel again makes us decide to bypass pen-y-ghent and head directly down into Horton-in-Ribblesdale…it's a shame to miss it out but we've done it many times before both on it's own and as part of the yorkshire 3 peaks walk so i don't feel i've missed out too much.
We hobble into the Pen-y-ghent cafe about 4pm, absolutely soaked through and have a warm drink and try to dry out a bit before heading to our B&B, we sign the pennine way log book and then make our way to Broadcroft House where we're given the most beautiful room where we spend a couple of hours enjoying the fluffy dressing gowns and slippers and catching up on my journal! We head to the Golden Lion for tea, mainly because it's a bit nearer to our B&B than the other pub where we both have homemade curries and enjoy watching the 3 peaks walkers regaling the (very unimpressed!) barmaid with tales from their day on the fells! We head back to the B&B for a good night's sleep, ready for the walk to Hawes tomorrow.