The 3 Peaks
A hard walk (mountain (above 600m)) in national park Yorkshire Dales in Lancashire, England, about 33.20km (20.63 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 13:30h (1 overnight stay). It is unsuitable for families with children, prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent
1359m (4458ft)
Descent
1373m (4504ft)
Max. Elevation
730m (2395ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss
2732m (8962ft)
Start & End
Ribblehead
Distance
33.20km
(20.63mi)
(20.63mi)
Duration
~13:30h
Difficulty
Hard
Ordnance Survey Map
2Created by mac.hawk on 01 Dec 2014
The classic 3 Peaks full day, 25 mile walk.
Starting point here is Ribblehead as it has more than the 12 hour 'Challenge' time available 6 days a week from both the Leeds & Carlisle ends of the railway line.
Very busy on weekends in the late spring/summer/early autumn periods so go mid-week if you want a quieter experience.
This truncated version of the guide available via www.3Peaks.co.uk
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- $walk->POI array(0)
Waypoints
OS Grid SD765789
Exit the railway station via the access road and upon reaching the B6255 turn right briefly. Cross the cattle grid and go left along a wide track waymarked to Whernside.
OS Grid SD759794
The track leads to Ribblehead viaduct and whilst you might stop to admire do not pass under, instead carry on ahead and rise the small incline.
About 0.83 km (~0.52 miles) from 
OS Grid SD761816
Simply follow the track with the railway line on your left for about 1.5 miles to reach the aqueduct. Cross and head diagonally left to reach a gate, pass through, climb the hill to a stile on the left.
About 2.17 km (~1.35 miles) from 
OS Grid SD756824
Cross the stile and follow the obvious path uphill - it's mainly track and paving, to eventually reach the summit plateau and trig point
About 0.90 km (~0.56 miles) from 
OS Grid SD737814
From the summit continue along the track with wall on your right for just under a mile and follow the track as it veers sharp left to descend steeply along a stepped section, thereafter less steep to Bruntscar.
About 2.13 km (~1.32 miles) from 
OS Grid SD738790
Go through the gate, turn right briefly then left along track, that soon turns to road to reach the Low Sleights Road at Philpin.
About 2.37 km (~1.47 miles) from 
OS Grid SD741776
Turn left & 200 yards beyond the Old Hill Inn turn right onto the bridleway & follow through fields towards the limestone escarpments at Southerscales Scars. The track veers left to pass Braithwaite Wife Hole.
About 1.47 km (~0.91 miles) from 
OS Grid SD742762
Continue following the track to pass through a gate onto the flagged path that rises Humphrey Bottom to reach the foot of the Ingleborough 'staircase'.
About 1.41 km (~0.88 miles) from 
OS Grid SD746750
The path ascends the 'staircase' along a twisting zig-zagging route to eventually pass through a gate, veers to the right and continues uphill to reach the summit plateau just beyond Swine Tail.
About 1.20 km (~0.75 miles) from 
OS Grid SD743746
On a clear day the route to the trig point is very obvious but in mist care must be taken to reach the trig point, take good note of your route to the pillar as you will return to this point.
About 0.48 km (~0.3 miles) from 
OS Grid SD741745
From the trigpoint (or nearby windbreak shelter) return to the plateau access point and Swine Tail. Take the path that heads to the right towards Simon Fell Breast.
About 0.25 km (~0.16 miles) from 
OS Grid SD757742
After about a mile cross a wall and continue descending along the obvious path to pass the ruins of an old shooting hut, ford a stream, pass through a gate and arrive at Nick Pot.
About 1.65 km (~1.03 miles) from 
OS Grid SD768736
Shortly after the gate ignore a track that veers off to the right & continue to follow the wall on the left into the limestone crags at Sulber Pot. Enter a narrow section between wall & limestone.
About 1.24 km (~0.77 miles) from 
OS Grid SD772736
Pass through a gate into an open field and continue in the same direction to reach cross tracks at Allan's Post. Continue ahead, generally between limestone crags to reach a gate and pass through.
About 0.40 km (~0.25 miles) from 
OS Grid SD789731
Once through the gate continue ahead to pass a waymarker post, then pass through a gap in a wall soon after which the track veers right to shortly reach a gate with an adjacent information board.
About 1.76 km (~1.09 miles) from 
OS Grid SD794729
Go through the gate and continue downhill along the obvious path, through another gate and passing Beecroft Hall on your right. Passing through a further gate leads to Horton railway station.
About 0.53 km (~0.33 miles) from 
OS Grid SD803725
Cross the railway line, exit the station access road & carry on ahead towards the village. Take the footbridge over the river Ribble, pass the toilets then the Pen y Ghent Cafe.
About 1.01 km (~0.63 miles) from 
OS Grid SD807724
Continue along the road & just before the church turn left along the waymarked tarmac footpath to reach a road. Turn left for 100 yards then cross a footbridge over a stream & turn left onto the road.
About 0.41 km (~0.25 miles) from 
OS Grid SD811722
Press on up the road passing Horton school until reaching the building at Brackenbottom.
About 0.48 km (~0.3 miles) from 
OS Grid SD816722
Immediately before the buildings on the left at Brackenbottom go left & follow the waymarked route that follows the wall on the left over Brackenbottom Scar to reach the foot of the 'nose' of Pen y Ghent.
About 0.46 km (~0.29 miles) from 
OS Grid SD836727
Turn left & follow the route directly up, then veer right until you think the path runs out then head left (follow the worn steps) to reach a short plateau then follow the stepping uphill & take the flagging to the trig.
About 2.07 km (~1.29 miles) from 
OS Grid SD838733
From the summit follow the Pennine Way for approx 1.75 miles all the way downhill to Tarn Bar.
About 0.65 km (~0.4 miles) from 
OS Grid SD822743
From Tarn Bar carry on directly ahead up Whitber Hill along the 2013 surfaced route (not shown as a RoW on the 2014 OS map but the path is indicated by ............ dots)
About 1.84 km (~1.14 miles) from 
OS Grid SD817748
Descend Whitber Hill and cross Sell Gill Beck over the footbridge. Follow the route across Sell Gill Hill to reach the Pennine Way just SW of Jackdaw Hill and turn right.
About 0.79 km (~0.49 miles) from 
OS Grid SD810759
Follow the Pennine Way to a little west of Long Mires & go over a (3 Peaks) waymarked stile on the left up then down the small hill (again the 2014 OS map shows the route as ......... (dots)) then pass through a gap stile.
About 1.24 km (~0.77 miles) from 
OS Grid SD805767
Follow a wide grassy path for a short distance to reach a track that leads ahead to a rather tight gap stile & turn right to reach a T-junction.
About 0.98 km (~0.61 miles) from 
OS Grid SD802771
Turn left briefly then take the path that ascends the descends the small hill on the right to reach a step stile adjacent a wide gate. Go over and follow the wall on the left to reach God's Bridge.
About 0.44 km (~0.27 miles) from 
OS Grid SD797775
Go through a gate & turn left following the track to Nether Lodge. Take the footbridge over the stream then once through the gate ahead turn left & follow the wall to reach the waymarker post.
About 0.65 km (~0.4 miles) from 
OS Grid SD792778
From Nether Lodge take the gravel path (follow the telegraph posts) for 1.5 miles to pass Lodge Hall and reach the B6479 (Gauber Road).
About 0.58 km (~0.36 miles) from 
B6479 Gauber RoadOS Grid SD777780
Turn right for 1.25 miles to reach the B6255 Blea Moor Road then turn left for 300 yards then finally turn right into the Station Inn and celebrate your achievement.
About 1.55 km (~0.96 miles) from 
