I don’t think I’ll ever tire of rambling around the Yorkshire Dales.
Home to some of the most glorious countryside and an endless array of walking trails to discover, it’s no wonder why the county is often labelled ‘God’s own country’!
Blessed with a sunny day on our most recent excursion, we decided to lace up our walking boots and conquer Whernside; the highest mountain in the National Park.
Attracting thousands of hikers each year for its challenging climb and incredible panoramas all throughout the route, the peak is also popular due to its close proximity to the historic Ribblehead Viaduct.
Conveniently only a stone’s throw away from the car park, the start of this trail provides the perfect opportunity to really get up close and personal with this Grade II listed man-made wonder before beginning your epic climb up the mountainside.
Interested in heading out on this trail yourself? Then be sure to check out our definitive guide to climbing Whernside below 👇👇
Where is Whernside?
Nestled in the hilly landscape of North Yorkshire, Whernside can be found 6 miles (10 km) north of Horton-in-Ribblesdale within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Where to park for the Whernside Walk
All along Blea Moor Rd you’ll find plenty of free off roadside parking. It does fill up quickly on a clear day however, so we’d certainly recommend getting here early.
Tip –Please be considerate when parking since there are no hatched markings. The spots are already limited, yet we saw a number of cars parking in ways which took up multiple possible spaces with a single vehicle. Don’t be one of those guys!
Car Park Address: Blea Moor Rd, Carnforth LA6 3AS
How long does it take to climb Whernside?
We managed our most recent Whernside walk in just under 3 hours. On average, I’d say most walkers could comfortably complete this route in 3-4 hours at a steady pace.
Whernside Walk – Route info
Distance: 13.32 km (8.3 miles)
Time: 3-4 hours
Elevation Gain: 489 metres
Starting Point: Ribblehead Viaduct Car Park, Blea Moor Rd, Carnforth LA6 3AS
Grid Reference: SD 76548 79292
Whernside Walk – Step-by-step Guide
Starting from the car park, make your way along the trail heading towards the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Where the path splits, take the trail to the right, following the signpost for Whernside.
Head up the short incline, through the gate and walk past the Blea Moor railway station.
Keep to the trail along Winterscales Beck, passing over the small bridge or over the river crossing.
To your left you’ll see the marvelous Force Gill waterfall.
Begin the steep uphill climb!
At the top of the first hill, take the left turning over the stile and follow the path winding up to the summit of Whernside.
Take care with your footing as you get closer to the peak since the trail starts become rather rocky and uneven.
Once you reach the top, enjoy the jaw-dropping vistas!
Continue along the trail and begin descending via the opposite side of the mountain, taking great care since the route gets VERY steep and rocky in segments.
At the bottom of the descent, take the left turning, following the signposts for ‘Winterscales’ (optional: also grab an ice-cream from the van)
Keep along the trail and pass through several gates, keeping an eye out for signs directing you towards the viaduct.
Once you reach this gate, don’t pass through it. Follow the ‘Viaduct’ signpost signalling you to turn right.
Keep to the trail until you see this bridge on your left. Cross the bridge and make your way to the Viaduct.
Follow the trail back to the car park.
Congratulations. You’ve conquered Whernside! 💪💪
Our experience on the Whernside Walk
This was my second time climbing Whernside, but the first for my girlfriend.
My first adventure up the mountain was for Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge – which made it difficult to fully appreciate the climb due to how gruelling the task at hand was!
Summiting the peak on its own was much more enjoyable. We maintained a steady pace and were really able to take in all the gorgeous panoramas and beauty of the surrounding mountain range.
The views along the ridge looking out towards Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and the viaduct are truly something else, and the gentle ramble through the luscious green fields and farmsteads after the steep descent is the perfect way to top off an all-round fantastic day out.
Whernside and the Yorkshire Three Peaks
As mentioned, for a number of hikers attempting Whernside, they very well may be attempting to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
With the goal to complete Pen-y-ghent, Whernside & Ingleborough in the space of just 12 hours, Whernside tends to be the second peak which is climbed on this strenuous trial.
Here’s a video I took from half-way up Whernside which really gives some perspective to the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. To the left in the far-distance you can spot Pen-y-ghent, followed by Ingleborough in the centre and finally the summit of Whernside to the far-right.
For the brave hikers who are considering taking on this prestigious challenge, be sure to check out my Yorkshire 3 Peaks Training Plan here!
FAQs
History of the Ribblehead Viaduct
Undeniably one of the greatest feats of Victorian engineering in Britain, the Ribblehead Viaduct was designed John Crosby (chief engineer for the Midland Railway) in 1869.
The longest and the third tallest structure on the Settle–Carlisle railway line, the viaduct was built to overcome the Yorkshire Dales uneven and challenging terrain.
With construction beginning in late 1869, the Viaduct required a staggering workforce of around 2,300 men, with over 100 of these men tragically losing their lives during its creation.
The structure was finally completed by the end of 1874 and was opened to the public on 1st May 1876.
Can you walk across Ribblehead Viaduct?
You can walk directly under and around the viaduct, but unfortunately you can’t walk across it.
Nevertheless, the views from the ground are absolutely magnificent, and if you stick around you’ll even be able to see one of the trains chugging by.
How many men died building the Ribblehead Viaduct?
Over 100 men died building the Ribblehead Viaduct. However, including the workmen’s wives and children, it’s estimated over 200 people sadly lost their lives.
With many of the workers and their families living in pop-up shanty towns located at the base of the structure, construction accidents weren’t the only cause of death. Smallpox outbreaks in camp along with a handful of fatal fights also added to the toll of lives lost.
Can you drive under the Ribblehead Viaduct?
To get up close and personal with the Ribblehead Viaduct, you’ll have to head out on foot. While you can park close by, you can’t actually drive under the railway bridge. You’ll need to follow the walking trail for a few hundred metres accessible from the car park.
Ribblehead Viaduct & Harry Potter
Looking extremely similar in appearance to the train bridge seen in the Harry Potter movies, many visitors claim that the Ribblehead Viaduct was used as a filming location in the award-winning fantasy movies.
But is this really true? Be sure to check out our blog post going in-depth on this popular rumour here!
More resources
As with any peak, correct preparation is essential. For more advice on hill walking, feel free to click through to our Beginner’s Guide To Britain’s Tallest Peaks.
Plus, for more great walks in the Yorkshire area, have a trawl through all our Yorkshire blog posts here.
Happy walking 🚶 🚶