Dales 30
Personal Journey

Whernside

Route Options
Height

736m (2,415ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Ingleborough, Gragareth and Great Coum

Height

736m (2,415ft)

Location

Western Dales

Neighbours

Ingleborough, Gragareth and Great Coum

Gallery of Whernside

Whernside summit
Whernside summit
2 of the Whernside 3 Tarns
2 of the Whernside 3 Tarns
The cairn overlooking Dentdale
The cairn overlooking Dentdale
Deepdale with Dentdale beyond
Deepdale with Dentdale beyond
Ribblehead with Whernside beyond
Ribblehead with Whernside beyond
Descending Whernside to Ribblehead
Descending Whernside to Ribblehead
Ribblehead Parking on 3 Peaks day
Ribblehead Parking on 3 Peaks day

Jonathan’s View

"Whernside is the highest mountain in Yorkshire and also the highest of the Dales 30 mountains. It is characterised by the long summit ridge running north to south in the shape of an upturned boat. The ridge is wide, the sides steep. Most climb Whernside as part of the 3 Peaks Challenge (over 80,000 a year), other climb it because its part of a circuit from the iconic Ribblehead viaduct. On any given Saturday the route from Ribblehead is a place to avoid unless crowds are your thing.

However on other days and on late summer evenings it is a great place to be. The views are outstanding and the walk highly enjoyable. Ribblehead and the route up makes for an easy ascent, helped by the paved path on  the climb. It may be hard on the feet but good for protecting the surrounding peat. The notorious peat climb of the past now cast in to the dustbin of life.

Those looking for the real Whernside need to approach the mountain from Dent or carry on the Pennine Bridleway from Ribblehead towards Dentdale.This is my 'Best Route'. Here the 3 Tarns of Whernside sit amongst some wild access land with outstanding views down Dentdale.  Here you are unlikely to meet another soul, only the curlews and lapwings will join you as company."

Routes up Whernside

There is a choice of routes up Whernside . They are shown on the map and described below. The GPX file describes my favourite route.

click the image to see a larger version of the mao

My Favourite Route

Dent in Dentdale

Height to Climb

600m (2,050ft)

O/S Explorer Map
Parking

SD 903862. Dent car park. There is very limited roadside parking near Whernside Manor.

  1. Join the Dales Way in Dent (turn east) and follow the road for 1 1/2km  until a minor road heads right just shy of Whernside Manor. 50 m up the minor road take the bridleway SSE after 50 metres (to the left). Here the path climbs steadily (initially zig zagging) for just over 2 km before it starts to level off.
  2. Just past a wall to your right (the Boot of the Wold) a path heads south, sticking close to the wall which remains to your right. From the corner of this wall carry straight on till the land flattens and you are at the 3 (or 4) tarns of Whernside. There is a faint path all the way. Keep the tarns to your right and carry on up the path to another wall which is following the high shoulder of Whernside. One detour which is worthwhile is to walk west before the lowest tarn to a large cairn overlooking Dentdale. The views are some of the best in the Dales.
  3. All of this area is through Access Land therefore you have the right to leave the path and explore all the nooks and crannies which make this part of Whernside so enjoyable. The path heads for a dry stone wall, cross it at a rickety stile and then turn left on a major ridge path. It is a further 1km to the summit cairn and trig.
  4. From the summit head west, encountering a prominent cairn and then a wall half way down to Deepdale. On meeting the road turn north for ½ a km before taking to a walled lane on the left.
  5. This is Occupation Road and adds an attractive alternative (in drier conditions) to the easy road descent back to Dent. The ‘Road’ contours the fellside for 6 km with superb views of Dentdale throughout. After 6 km with Dent directly below you take the steep path down Flinter Gill in to Dent.

2 of the Whernside 3 Tarns

Alternative Routes

Whernside from Ribblehead

7.5 miles

428ms (1404ft)

  1. Ribblehead. Join the track from the road junction (where there is parking) do not pass under the viaduct but continue to keep the train line on your left hand side. After a very short climb the track is flat as it passes Bleamore Sidings. After 1 km the path crosses the rail line at an aqueduct and just prior to to the trail track entering Blea Moor tunnel. There is also a good view of the waterfall of Force Gill before the paved path climbs steeply NNW.

2. Cross the stile over the fence after 1 km and head NW then west. The path is excellent and unmissable (a mix of paved reclaimed boulders and gravel) as it climbs steadily to the shoulder of Whernside and on to the summit.

3. Continue South from the summit trig point, cairn and shelter. After 1 km the path turns east/left and drops steeply down the hillside. The steep descent can be awkward although the stones have been recently repaired.  Pass through two stiles till the farm at Brunscar is met. After the outbuildings turn NE/left along a path until it meets the road to Gunnerfleet Farm (outdoor centre). Turn right on a minor farm road and continue under the viaduct and back to the start.

Whernside from Ingleton.

It is perfectly possible to climb Whernside from Ingleton. Walk the waterfalls walk and then cross to the shoulder of Twisleton Scar. There is no obvious path but head north along the limestone pavements and the wall till you reach the shoulder of Whernside. A low level return via Chapel – le Dale offers a good alternative on the return.

The only way to avoid the scramble on the south shoulder is to reverse the descent from Horton. The path is superb and easy all the way up.

 

The Dales 30 Book

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Each of the 30 mountains includes the following:

A full description of the Best Route

A personal view of the mountain from the author

High quality, colour photography

A sketch map showing the route & alternatives

Facts and anecdotes about the mountain and the nearby area

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