Whernside - one of Yorkshire's Big Three

Submitted by Timwoods on 14 May 2009

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A linear, full-day mountain (above 600m) walk in England starting at Dent Station, North Yorkshire, about 15km (roughly 9 miles) long and . Whernside is one of Yorkshire's Three Peaks, along with Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent. It's a fine walking day out and, thanks to the Settle-Carlisle railway, you can go up one side and down the other - surely the best way to tackle any mountain! This walk starts at tiny Dent station - the highest mainline station in England - and finishes by heading underneath the spectacular Ribblehead viaduct. The Dalesbus also runs to both stations: www.dalesbus.org Start: Dent Station, OS Grid: SD764875
End: Ribblehead Station, OS Grid: SD765789 Elevation Profile (x: waypoint number, y: metres)

Gain (+/- 10%): 646m (2120ft)

Total (+/- 10%): 1330m (4364ft)

Loss (+/- 10%): 684m (2244ft)

Max. Elevation: 730m (2395ft)

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Show Waypoint Details

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Waypoints

1. Dent Station

OS Grid: SD763874

Is there a finer place to start a car-free walk than Dent station? Nestled deep in Dentdale, it is right in the heart of some wonderful scenery. You can even stay here: www.dentstation.co.uk for more details. From the staion, follow Coal Road downhill into Dentdale.

2. Lea Yeat Bridge

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 1 OS Grid: SD760867

Cross the bridge over the River Dee and pick up the Dales Way heading west.

3. Laithbank

About 3 km (roughly 2 miles) from 2 OS Grid: SD734857

At Laithbank, leave the Dales Way and pick up the footpath heading uphill on to the northern slopes of Whernside. This soon joins a bridleway that contours round to the eastern side of Whernside.

4. Hagg Worm Haw

About 3 km (roughly 3 miles) from 3 OS Grid: SD747826

Veer off the bridleway onto the track which heads on to the flattish summit of Whernside. Cross the wall and use it to lead you on to the summit.

5. Whernside

About 2 km (roughly 1 miles) from 4 OS Grid: SD737814

The top! At 736m, it just pips Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough as the highest point in Yorkshire. Continue along the path onto the southern slope.

6. The path down...

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 5 OS Grid: SD734802

Just below Low Pike, a path heads sharply down the eastern slope of Whernside towards the hamlet of Bruntscar.

7. Bruntscar

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 6 OS Grid: SD737788

Pick up the bridleway heading northeast from Bruntscar. At Ivescar, take the footpath that heads east, towards the imposing spectacle of the Ribblehead Viaduct.

8. Ribblehead Viaduct

About 2 km (roughly 2 miles) from 7 OS Grid: SD759795

This fine structure - 24 arches that reach 32m high and span 402m across - is a great finish to the walk. Hopefully the sun will be setting as you walk underneath it, for the perfect photo of Whernside back through the arches.

9. Ribblehead station

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 8 OS Grid: SD765789

From the viaduct, it's a short trot to the station. And should you have to wait for a train, the nearby Station Inn is the perfect place to while away the time...