Route: Whernside
Area: Yorkshire Dales
Date of walk: 18th September 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.5 miles
Weather: Sunny spells, wonderful skies
The last time I’d been up Whernside was about 10 years ago, as part of a group tackling the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. On that occasion it was so windy that I recall crawling on hands and knees to the summit. It was time for another visit and hopefully on this occasion I’d be able to spend more time appreciating the scenery, rather than concentrating on completing the walk in one piece
I parked near the Ribblehead Viaduct, worth the journey in its own right, and followed a well made path past the viaduct and alongside the railway line. At the aqueduct I crossed over the line and started the climb up the flanks of Whernside
It was a very gentle ascent with no difficulties and made even easier thanks to a superb path. I walked along the summit ridge and after reaching the top carried on in the same direction for a while, before veering off the ridge to descend quite steeply back into the valley
I then walked under the viaduct and retraced my steps back to the start. The weather was perfect for the walk, with big skies which showed the spectacular landscape in its best light
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Before setting off from the Lakes to the Dales I made another early morning visit to Crummock Water
Skiddaw from the Whinlatter Pass on the way to the Dales
Later that morning, the remarkable Ribblehead Viaduct at the start of the walk, with Whernside beyond
The viaduct carries the Settle-Carlisle Railway and was built in the 1870’s, using 1.5 million bricks
Looking back as I walk past the viaduct and follow the course of the railway line
A well made path crosses Blea Moor
Blea Moor Sidings
Looking back along the path towards Ingleborough
At the aqueduct near the end of Bleamoor Tunnel, the path crosses over the railway line
Ingelborough again from the bridge
Force Gill waterfall
Looking back down the path
Walking towards the summit ridge of Whernside - the gradient is easy throughout
A well made path of stone slabs leads to the ridge
Tarn on Greensett Moss below the summit
Having gained the ridge, views open up on the other side - Dentdale below
A poor photo, but interesting to see Morecambe Bay in the distance
The summit is in sight
Whernside summit at 2,415 feet
Looking down to the Ribblehead Viaduct
There were great views of Ingleborough during the descent…
…and the viaduct
I follow the path down towards the large group of trees below
Tortoiseshell
Back down to valley level, there follows a walk through farmland
I arrive back at Ribblehead Viaduct and follow the track beneath it
A last look back up to Whernside at the end of a wonderful walk
