The Last of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire

Saturday 1 October
After a quick reconnoitre to Dent on the previous day (where we picked up a brochure on the walk to Whernside from Dent) we set off on the climb up to Whernside (Yorkshire’s highest peak – 736m). After a long walk out of the village we headed up Craven Way (an old packhorse route to Ingleton) on the ascent to Whernside. Leaving Craven Way after walking about 4 km the ascent south to Whernside commenced. Mary decided to go back and spend some time in the village. I pushed on up a very easy slope (though a little boggy in parts). Just at the steepest part which was the start of the final climb up the ridge to the summit I merged with another track ascending from the north east (I believe from Ribblehead). In contrast to the peaceful walk so far this was like Central London. The walkers were stretched out down the slope and up along the ridge mostly in a snake-like single file. This was obviously a popular route. On reaching the trig point the ‘snake’ had coiled and consisted of crowds of walkers all drinking, chatting and taking snaps. I commented to one happy fellow that it was like the January Sales Week to which he laughingly replied looking round at his mustered colleagues “You mean a Jumble Sale” to which I made no further comment. Instead I immediately headed off on the descent path – due west down to the Kingsdale Road. I then headed back to the village by leaving the road after a few hundred yards to return to the village across country. I met up with Mary at the car park and a pint of cider at the Sun Inn finished off our walk.

Unlike Brian I didn’t meet a soul on my return journey. I took a different route when I got down and got back to the village around 3.15. Unlike Brian, I didn’t see a soul on my return but just as I got to the village, there was a very noisy soccer match being played on a ground close to the Church Bridge. My hip and knee joints took a while to recover; but by the time Brian arrived they were almost back to normal and I had finished another chapter of my book. I really enjoyed the wait sitting in the sun at a picnic table on the edge of the green.