A couple of weeks ago, in prep for our upcoming National Three Peaks Challenge, me and my uncle decided to test our mettle by walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
Leaving the house dreary-eyed at 5:30am Saturday morning, we parked the car in Horton-In-Ribblesdale, laced up our walking boots and headed out on the trail; eager to see what time we could finish in.
What is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
The goal of the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is simple – climb the mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in a time of under 12 hours.
The arduous yet rewarding 25-mile circular route is walked by thousands of hikers each year, with many choosing to climb the three peaks as a charity fundraiser.
Where are the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
The Yorkshire Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough are some of the best known hills nestled within the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
How high are the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
- Whernside – 736 m or 2,415 ft
- Ingleborough – 723 m or 2,372 ft
- Pen-y-ghent – 694 m or 2,277 ft
The Yorkshire 3 Peaks – Breakdown of each mountain
Pen-y-ghent
A standout fell of the Yorkshire Dales, Pen-y-ghent is the smallest peak of the three and usually considered the easiest to climb.
A popular choice for walkers of all abilities, this fell is a great introductory mountain for novice hikers and younger ramblers who are just starting to get into the outdoors.
Often described as having the shape of a crouching lion or even the prow of a boat, towards the top of the peak you’ll be faced with a light scrambling segment before reaching the trig point where the vistas are absolutely breath-taking.
Pen-y-ghent tends to be the most common starting point of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, with hikers summiting the peak, which is then followed by the picturesque 12-mile excursion towards Whernside.
Whernside
The tallest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, during the Whernside climb you’ll also get up close and personal with the incredibly impressive Ribblehead Viaduct.
Known for having a ‘whale-back’ shape, the unusual appearance of Whernside is due to land slippage which has covered the deposits of rock underneath. Interestingly, an old landslide on the north-eastern side of Whernside was actually one of the last glaciers in the whole Yorkshire Dales.
A long and steady climb if approaching from Whernside, watch out for the descent which is deceptively steep and arguably more taxing on the legs than climbing up the fell!
Offering grand views of the viaduct, Dentdale, Kingsdale and even across to Morecambe Bay on a clear day, keep your eyes peeled for the mobile wagons offering ice-creams and refreshments which often frequent the area 🍦
Ingleborough
While not quite as high as Whernside, Ingleborough is arguably the most challenging peak – especially if it’s the final fell to climb during the challenge!
The second highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales, there are numerous picturesque trails winding up the mountaintop, though the most popular route for the 3 Peaks Challenge is via the northern path from Chapel-le-Dale.
Only 3 miles (4.8 km) from the village to the summit, this is the shortest route up the mountaintop, but also one of the more taxing since it involves a grueling climb up Simon Fell along with some white-knuckle scrambling.
From the summit, enjoy unrivalled vistas which can extend as far as Manod Mawr mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales (a whopping 103 miles away!) and be sure to check out the Iron Age hill fort ruins which were once thought to be a Roman military camp.
Top tip – With several ways down from the peak, take care with navigation and ensure you descend on the correct route.
Where to start the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
There are three possible start points for the Yorkshire Three Peaks:
- Chapel le Dale — LA6 3AR
- Horton-in-Ribblesdale — BD24 0HE
- Ribblehead — LA6 3AS
We started the challenge at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, with Pen-y-ghent being the first mountain to summit. However, we also saw lots of people walking the route in reverse.
We arrived at Horton-in-Ribblesdale around 6:30am but the National Park car park was already full, so instead we parked on a farmer’s field just down the road which was £4 for the day.
Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge route info
Route Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 39.27 km (24.4 miles)
Route Elevation: 1,613m
Route Time: 9-12 hrs
Start and Finish Point: Horton-In-Ribblesdale Car Park, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 0HE
Weather: Horton-In-Ribblesdale BBC Weather
How long does it take to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
For the classic challenge, the goal is simply to complete the circular hike in anytime under 12 hours, so individual times can vary greatly.
Relatively fit walkers can look to complete the distance in 9-10 hours. Less experienced hikers or those simply wanting to take their time and enjoy the stunning countryside can look to complete the route in around 12 hours or more.
Rather than rush round, many even choose to even spend multiple days exploring the national park, often climbing just one peak per day over a three-day period.
Fun fact – The world record for completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge was set by Andy Pearce in 1996, completing the trail in just 2 hours 46 minutes 03 seconds!
How difficult is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
I’ll be the first to admit, the challenge was tougher than I expected. By the time it came to climbing the final steep sections of Ingleborough, my legs were absolutely fried.
However, we did push ourselves and try to complete the challenge in a relatively fast time – if we took a slower pace and took more breaks I’m sure it would have been much less intense!
Which of the Three Peaks is hardest?
Now this is very much dependent on which order you choose to tackle the peaks.
Since Ingleborough was our final climb, that felt the toughest by far, having to really dig deep on the final scramble segments.
Surprisingly however, the most difficult section of the challenge for us both was the walk back down from Ingleborough to the carpark.
Once the buzz of summiting the three peaks had worn off, it soon became apparent that we still had quite a way to walk back to the car. Dragging myself along those final few miles seemed to take forever!
How fit do you need to be for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks? Do I need any training?
This largely depends on your fitness level. If you’re a reasonably fit person who has some experience walking, you’ll be more than capable of completing the challenge within the allotted time of 12 hours.
If you’re not confident in your ability, it’s certainly worth attempting a long walk (15+ miles) beforehand that includes hill segments to gauge where your fitness level is at – you could even test the waters by climbing one or two of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
For expert training tips, be sure to head on over to our ‘How To Train For The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge’ guide 👈
What to pack for the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
Walking Boots
Walking shoes or boots are essential – boots especially can really help with ankle stability which is needed when you’re tired and not quite as sharp with your coordination. There are a lot of rocky and unsteady paths, making it very easy to roll your ankle without suitable footwear.
Plenty of Water
A sufficient amount of water is also a must. I packed only two litres on what turned out to be a scorching day, which looking back was nowhere near enough. I was having to ration it most of the way around. Packing some coconut water is also a great alternative to regular water, helping to keep those energy levels topped up.
Sugary Snacks
I also wish I’d have packed some sugary snacks. I don’t have the biggest sweet tooth, but something like jelly babies or wine gums would have been great to keep the energy levels high in addition to the food that I brought (flapjacks & pasties). My friend also recommended taking some energy gels, which I’m sure would’ve really come in handy.
Waterproof Jacket & Trousers
We were blessed with sunny weather on our trek, but I still made sure to pack my waterproof clothing – with British weather you just never know!
Gloves & Hat
Again, with the weather being unpredictable, gloves and a hat are always worth bringing along.
Suncream
A must-have for pale redheads such as myself! You’ll want to keep your skin protected on the long walk if the sun makes an appearance.
Hiking Socks
The walk is going to be a long one, so bringing the correct socks is important as you’ll want to keep your feet as comfortable as possible as you traverse the rocky (and sometimes boggy) terrain.
Insect Repellent Spray
Depending on what time of year you go, insects can be a real nuisance. By the time we finished our walk, I was absolutely covered in itchy midge bites since we didn’t bring any insect repellent.
Backpack
And to carry all this gear you’re going to need a sufficiently sized backpack – around 20-30 litres should do the trick.
Is the Yorkshire Three Peaks route well signposted?
While the route is signposted throughout, it would still be wise to have a map or some kind of navigation on your phone to ensure you stay on route.
We had no trouble following the signs on our walk, but we were hiking on a clear sunny day with plenty of walkers to follow.
The only time we weren’t sure on where to go was once we climbed Ingleborough and needed to figure out which was the correct route back down the mountain.
What time should I start the Yorkshire 3 Peaks?
The optimal time to attempt the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge is between April and September fsince you’ll have the advantage of longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures.
On the day of the challenge, we’d recommend starting nice and early. This’ll give you the maximum amount of sunlight and help you get ahead of the crowds.
Our Personal Experience On The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
Since we were doing this in preparation for the National Three Peaks, we tried to walk the whole thing at a reasonably fast pace, taking only short breaks at the top of each mountain for a quick snack and drink.
We were quite chuffed with our time of just over 9 hours, although admittedly the speed we were walking at meant we couldn’t always fully appreciate the gorgeous panoramas along the trail.
One thing that surprised us was just how long the walking segments were between each of the peaks.
We were feeling warmed up and raring to go after summiting the first mountain, eager to push on towards peak number two, but the 12 mile trail between Pen-y-ghent & Whernside seemed to take forever and took some of the wind out of our sails for sure.
While the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge was tough, completing it felt incredibly rewarding.
It’s something I’ve always wanted to tick off the bucket list. Plus, I’m a firm believer in the benefits that come with breaking out of your comfort zone and trying something challenging.
If you feel fit enough for it and enjoy the great outdoors, I’d definitely recommend giving this challenge a try!
Give back to the Yorkshire Three Peaks
With thousands of avid hikers summiting the Yorkshire Three Peaks each year, upkeep of the trail can become quite costly.
According to the official Yorkshire Dales website, maintaining the walking paths costs and average of £35 per metre!
The Yorkshire Dales largely relies on the generosity of its visitors through donations.
If you’d like to give back to the Yorkshire Dales, please feel free to check out their donations page here.
Likewise, for more great walks & adventures in the area, don’t forget to trawl through our ‘BEST Walks In Yorkshire’ blog post!
Good luck, and happy walking 🚶🚶