STOP PRESS: The Yorkshire Three Peaks route was changed recently. Our route guide has been amended to reflect this change - so don't risk attempting this walk without all the latest route information.
There is no doubt that completing all 37.5km (23.5 miles) of The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk from Horton in Ribblesdale (Walk ny101 The Yorkshire Three Peaks) within the traditional 12 hour time limit is a real achievement - particularly if worthy charities benefit from all your valiant efforts.
However not everyone feels the need to complete The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk from Horton in Ribblesdale within the time limit. Indeed many regular walkers think it a shame that so much effort is extended by participants who notice virtually nothing of the surrounding countryside.
Countryside that includes some of the UK's finest scenery that everyone would enjoy if only they had more time.
Why not complete The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk from Horton in Ribblesdale over a weekend as a 2 day walk or over a long weekend as a 3 day walk?
Fortunately, due to the circular nature of The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk and the location of stations on the Carlisle to Settle Railway line it is perfectly feasible to complete the route over two or (even better) three separate days without the need to backpack or use two cars.
And of course, your days on The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk need not be consecutive. Why not spread the walk out over a week, month or the different seasons of the year? (The Yorkshire Dales are fantastic when covered in snow or bathed in autumn sunlight).
If this is more your thing - then full details are available from these links:
Approaching Pen-y-ghent.
Photo by Paul Lee
The Ribblehead Viaduct with Whernside beyond.
Photo by Wayne Hill
Ingleborough from Chapel-le-Dale
Photo by James Cartwright
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge as a 2 day walk:-
Some feedback about the go4awalk.com route guide to the Yorkshire Three peaks Challenge Walk
Hello Once More Go4awalk
Last year you published my letter and photographs after I attempted to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks, after an earlier spine operation. Unfortunately I was unable to complete the walk but as I had previously done it 11 times before it wasn't such a disappointment.
However, I said I would return and maybe try it again!! Well that day arrived on Saturday 31st March. My Daughter Hayley and her friend Jo invited us (Julie/Mum/Wife & Me) to come along and show the way. So off we went that very cold morning with a 7:30am start. The pace was steady but I thought there was a lack of it to get them underway and make sure they would
achieve their goal. So I opened up my throttle and before they knew it, I was some distance in front. So that was it, they realised the pace had to be increased. Jo soon caught me up, being fitter and in the Army, with Hayley and Julie following on behind.
Eventually they reached the first Peak and were quite elated as it was a fast pace. Time for a quick drink, snack and photo and then off to the next one. Everybody seemed more relaxed now and raring to go. Our route which is perfectly acceptable was Whernside 1st, then Ingleborough, followed by Pen-y-ghent. (Click here for some comments about doing
the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge walk 'backwards' - Ed.)
On reaching the top of Ingleborough I decided they (Hayley and Jo) should push on and make sure they could complete the whole walk, while Julie and I savoured the walk down to Horton in Ribblesdale and enjoy the views. My stupid nerves in the right foot still prevent me doing more than about 15 to 20 miles so there was no point trying to stay with or keep up with these
young greyhounds Ha! Ha!.
Eventually we waited to greet both the girls as they came back to Ribblehead after achieving a respectful 11 hour walk, especially as they spent three quarters of and hour in the Café in Horton before ascending Pen-y-ghent.
So well done to Hayley & Jo for achieving their, first 3 Peaks. I'm sure they'll give it another bash to beat their time at a later date.
Following my recent attempt to try and complete the Yorkshire Three Peak for the 12th time, I thought it was worth a mention on your web site for my fellow companions.
I am 59 turning 60 on Christmas Day this year. After suffering damaged disc's for quite some time I underwent surgery 4 years ago and have gradually got back into rigorous exercise so I thought it worth a go to join my Son John, his wife Tracy and my good wife Julie (Completed 3peaks previously) to see whether i was up to it.
Unfortunately my right leg suffers from nerve problems and these got the better of me, so after completing walking from Pen-y-Ghent and then over to Whernside I was unable to carry on. Julie stayed with me and we returned to Horton in Ribblesdale to wait and see if John and Tracy would complete the challenge on time.
Several walkers started drifting into Horton after approximately 11hours but no sign of J or T, then over the brow coming down from Ingleborough they appeared. This was the longest trek Tracy had ever completed and we were so proud of her, oh! and of course John.
They completed it in 11hrs 10mins. Not the best of times but in all fairness to both of them they could have done better if they hadn't held back for me in the early stages. Plus my poor beloved wife missed out on a good day. Still next year is beckoning already so I will be back to give it another try.
This was also the first time I used my GPS and downloaded the waypoints from go4awalk. Everything was perfect up to the point I terminated the walk.
Thank you.
Please would you add a picture to the excellent web site?
Best Wishes
David Buckley, September 2006
Hi there,
We did the 3 Yorkshire Peaks yesterday using your route. It was fantastic. We printed the route off and laminated the sheets expecting rain. However the weather was brilliant and it was an amazing experience. Tired legs and only 1 small blister later I feel on top of the world.
Without your perfect route I wouldn't have know where to start having never been there before. Our group was made up from 6 very different people - ranging from me at 33 with severe asthma to a 62 year old lady who is fairly fit. We all managed it at our own pace and achieved it in just over 11 hours.
We did this challenge to raise sponsorship for Pickering 1st Responders. 3
of us belong to the 1st responders and whilst we get our equipment provided
we still need to raise money to run the car. We expect to have raised
£300-£400!
Thank you so much for your help by providing us with a perfect route in a
format which was easily understood by all.
Sarah Herbert and Pickering 1st Responders, August 2006
Charged round the 3 peaks in almost zero visibility - your route map was very helpful. So thank you
David Treacher, June 2005
Dear Editor,
I did this walk last
Friday, by myself, and very much enjoyed it, though I started
and finished at Ribblehead Station, which I guess is easier because I
had an incentive to get through the nasty boggy bit NW of Pen-y-ghent
before darkness fell and in time for the last train of the day back from
Ribblehead to Leeds.
I can see how demoralised one could get
having the Mosses near the start of the walk and not knowing whether the
rest of the walk was similar. (It's not! Ed.)
I did it in 10 hours exactly, and as I'm
49 and don't do hill-walking that often I felt very pleased with myself,
though I was very stiff indeed the next day. One thing though, it would
have been helpful to warn walkers not to go NNE alongside the wall after
crossing the double wall stile at Pen-y-ghent. I missed the Pennine Way
path (which descends NW) and consequently went nearly a mile out of my
way before I realised my mistake. Admittedly this was my fault as if I
had used my OS map and compass at that point I would have realised I was
going NNE rather than the NW actually required. (Done - Ed.)
Thanks to your editing team for making
it possible for me to have such a nice day in such beautiful scenery.
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ny101 The Yorkshire Three Peaks from Horton in Ribblesdale
