" The high, dominant plateau of Great Shunner Fell is visited many times by long distance walkers taking on the Pennine Way. For them it’s a taster of what’s to come, the remote Pennine chain providing the routes greatest challenge. By contrast its neighbour, Lovely Seat, is not well visited. Great Shunner is however a fairly undistinguished mountain when climbed on its own but it is a straightforward climb. The views from the enjoyable summit area are excellent.
Either by chance or design I have always treated Great Shunner Fell as a winter hill, 3 of my four climbs have been in winter conditions. The first time I /we never reached the summit due to some inept map reading but two subsequent winter visits have been in good winter conditions, the hard ground in increasing both the speed of the walk and its enjoyment.
The route described from Wensleydale is my favourite. The vast horseshoe including Lovely Seat feels aesthetically pleasing although it is perfectly possible to retrace your steps from the summit or even return along the road from Buttertubs path to reduce the effort. Similar questions can be asked on the climb from Thwaite to the north, one or both?
Great Shunner Fell is the 3rd highest of the Dales 30 mountains, following Whernside and Ingleborough."
