Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Itinerary

The Yorkshire Three Peaks represents a challenge for the keenest of walkers. To scale 3 mountains in one day is no mean feat and provides an exhilarating walk in some of the most spectacular countryside England has to offer.

We will pass numerous geological features and landmarks on our route, including the Ribblehead Viaduct which the famous Settle to Carlisle railway crosses, as well as limestone outcrops and unusual rock formations.

Detailed Itinerary

We meet very early in the Village of Horton in Ribblesdale. After registration you will be fully prepared for the day ahead. Our official starting place is the Pen-y-ghent Café. We leave the village behind and soon take up a path on the Pennine Way to take us to our first peak of Pen-y-Ghent. We enjoy good views back towards Horton and also of Whernside and Ingleborough - the other two peaks of the challenge. We stay on well worn paths, obeying the Countryside Code; there are some steep stone steps to climb too. We take time at the Pen-y-Ghent Summit (694m) to take in the views before taking a westerly path down off the mountain, from where we see the Ribbleshead Viaduct in the valley below. It is an enjoyable walk with plenty of interesting features along the way.

We pass close by our start point before continuing towards the second peak in our challenge; Whernside (736m). Our path up the valley runs parallel with the Settle to Carlisle railway line; being fairly flat it's a good chance to stretch the legs and knock off some of those remaining miles. At Ribblehead we see the high peak of Whernside and gradually begin our ascent.

There is a slabbed path now all the way to the summit, and if we are very lucky we will be able to see across to Morecambe Bay from our position. After a short break we come down off the mountain and head to the village of Chapel-le-Dale. We proceed passing numerous limestone escarpments and outcrops which the area is famed for. We soon reach the base of Ingleborough (723m); a stepped path rises steeply to the summit of our final peak in a zig-zag line. Again we take time to enjoy the views before descending over Simon Fell, on a path that winds through the rocky landscape back to the Village, feeling pretty pleased with ourselves and our accomplishments.

N.B. please note that this itinerary is subject to change

Photos courtesy of Challenge Publications