Yorkshire Three Peaks

[Broggy1]

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Finally got round to having a go at doing the Yorkshire big three in one go. An early start from Preston at 6.15am saw us arrive in Horton to begin the walk at 7.20am.

Fast progress to the top of Pen-y-ghent with plenty of fresh snow about and at this point clear skies.

Looking up to Pen y Ghent from the start

Nearing the top of Pen y Ghent

Whernside from Pen y Ghent

Ingleborough from Pen y Ghent

At this point the weather turned with a wintry shower bringing heavy hail as we made the difficult and long trek towards Ribblehead in increasingly muddy conditions. It did pass though....

Looking back at Pen y Ghent after the storm

Eventually Ribblehead came in to view as did our route up Whernside. To avoid the crowds and to regain height quicker we decided on the direct route up from Winterscales. I'd done this before and found it to be manageable if a bit boggy which it was today although the final steep pull up to Whernside was a bit of a scramble in the snowy conditions. There was plenty of snow on the summit but the views were good and it appeared that we wouldn't get any more showers from that point which was a bonus.

Ribblehead comes in to view

Our route up Whernside

Top of Whernside

We took the more traditional Bruntscar route down Whersnide which was slippy and muddy today until we reached the road at Chapel le Dale.

Ingleborough from the path off Whernside

The road is reached at Chapel le Dale

From here it was a pleasant walk to the bottom of the ridge of Ingleborough where a steep but easy pull gained the ridge before a final uphill to the summit plateau.

Foot of the last steep bit of the day (easier than it looks)

Final pull to the summit

Top of Ingleborough

Us at the top of Ingleborough

Now all that was left was the six miles back to Horton on a lovely easily graded path until some limestone paving was reached where it was easier to walk on the limestone than walk on the boggy path below. Eventually Horton came in to view and the car was reached after 7hr and 57mins of walking in mostly good conditions.

Descent from Ingleborough

On the Limestone pavement

Last mile!

Horton Station