Clocking In

The ThreePeaksChallenge.com Walk is a fund raising walk across the peaks of Pen-y-ghent Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales, and other locations in support of the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund

http://www.threepeakschallenge.com

Clocking In At Horton-In-Ribblesdale

The Pen-y-Ghent Cafe
Historically the Three Peaks Walk begins from the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and many thousands of walkers have clocked in at the cafe. Between 1968 and 2000 more than 200,000 walkers had made it back within the target time of 12 hours.

Family run business
The Cafe is run by the Bayes family who have owned it for 37 years. Peter Bayes was looking to leave his job and take on a business in the countryside for the sake of his children. The cafe, or grocers as it was then was advertised for sale in a newspaper. The family saw it on the Saturday and bought it on the Monday. They’ve stayed ever since. The cafe is on the route of the Pennine Way and they first concentrated on getting the cafe known to walkers on this long-distance path.

Clocking in.
But then the Three Peaks Walk developed, with the establishment of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club for those who successfully complete the walk in the required time. The real coup de grace was the introduction of a clocking-in system for walkers attempting the 3 peaks.

Walkers check in with the cafe before they leave and clock in on their return as the cafe will always remain open for three peaks walkers, and this provides a safety service as the family know who are out on the fells and who have yet to return.

For those of you who fall out of the bus on Three Peaks Walk day' and set off like greyhounds this may seem academic, but let’s remind you anyway of the basic requirement... You must check in at each Checkpoint! (When you check in we record the time for you at each point).

However, if you wish to formally record your day in the hills, or tackle the peaks on a private day out you can make use of the Pen-y-Ghent Cafe clocking in service. Follow these notes to learn about the service and obtain your clocking in card.

The Pen-y-Ghent Cafe
The Pen-y-Ghent Cafe, at the start and finish of the walk in Horton in Ribblesdale has an antique clock card machine that will record your start and finish times for the walk.

To use the free service obtain your clock card from the cafe and write on it your name, home address, telephone number, vehicle registration and where the vehicle is parked. You then stamp the card in the clock machine and hand it back to the cafe. When you have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk, inform the cafe that you have returned and their staff will stamp your card and send it to you by post. If you have completed the walk within 12 hours you will be invited to join the Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club and purchase a Three Peaks badge and tie. (The ladies may have to wear the tie as a garter)!

The Cafe is open between 9.00am and 6.00pm each weekday except Tuesday and 8.00am and 6.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. (The clock card service operates every day except Tuesdays and Fridays).

Walkers leaving for the peaks before the cafe opens can post their details through the door and the staff will create and stamp a card for you on condition that you provide the following details...

1. Name
2. Home Address
3. Telephone Number (home, work, or mobile)
4. Vehicle registration (or that of your party)
5. Where the vehicle is parked
6. Start Time (no cheating here)

Note : The latest time of departure is 9.30am

Although the cafe closes at 6.00pm, staff are on hand until every walker is accounted for, and food and drink are available for purchase if required. Remember ... It is the responsibility of each walker to clock themselves back. If you fail to complete the walk for whatever reason - please make sure you inform the cafe that you are no longer on the hills. (The telephone number can be obtained from the Cafe at the start of the walk).

Pen-y-Ghent Cafe : Home of the antique clock card machine