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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Yorkshire Dales & Moors => Topic started by: Alison202 on 13:03:43, 29/03/17

Title: Whernside
Post by: Alison202 on 13:03:43, 29/03/17
Does anyone have (or seen online) written instructions for walking Whernside the less common route which is from the West please?  Thank you.
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Bhod on 15:04:21, 29/03/17
Do you mean the approach from Ingleton? Or this one from Dent - http://www.mypennines.co.uk/yorkshire-dales/walks/071004.html
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Alison202 on 15:21:23, 29/03/17
I'm just wanting to walk Whernside from Ribblehead , but I'd prefer to climb up the steeper part early on rather than clamber down it towards the end.  Hope that makes sense.  Thank you.
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: bricam2096 on 15:29:21, 29/03/17
do you mean doing it the opposite way to the way most people would do it? So, you descend Whernside and then follow the railway down to the car park?
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Bhod on 15:56:24, 29/03/17
I'm just wanting to walk Whernside from Ribblehead , but I'd prefer to climb up the steeper part early on rather than clamber down it towards the end.  Hope that makes sense.  Thank you.

That's easy then, park at Ribblehead, go under the viaduct and follow the Winterscales Beck FP until you reach the signpost for Whernside/Ingleton 3 peaks route, turn right and ascend Whernside, head over the top and then drop down via the railway and Blea moor signal box back to the car park.



Amemded due to a glaring error pointed out by ninthace
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Alison202 on 16:17:15, 29/03/17
Thank you very much.

Yes, I'm wanting to do it the opposite way around to how most people do it.
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: ninthace on 16:22:30, 29/03/17
That's easy then, park at Ribblehead, go under the viaduct and follow the Winterscales Beck FP until you reach the signpost for Whernside/Ingleton 3 peaks route, turn left and ascend Whernside, head over the top and then drop down via the railway and Blea moor signal box back to the car park.


Shouldn't that be turn right to pass between Bruntscar and Broadrake?  (Or do you mean at Ivescar spot ht 292) Sure is a sporty climb though - you will be out of breath by the top.
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Bhod on 16:40:07, 29/03/17

Shouldn't that be turn right to pass between Bruntscar and Broadrake?  (Or do you mean at Ivescar spot ht 292) Sure is a sporty climb though - you will be out of breath by the top.

Well spotted that man, of course it should read turn right.
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 19:44:06, 29/03/17
IMO, this is the far more pleasant way to do Whernside. On the whole, I think  the 'Standard route' can be a bit of a dreary slog.
Here's a GPX of the route as I did it a few weeks ago. I parked in a large lay-by just past the hill inn (Going towards Ribblehead.)
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Peter on 09:31:24, 01/04/17
I've only skimmed the replies so far.
I believe you want to use the old route, which IS steep and starts near Winterscales. The main downside to this route is that it is VERY boggy. The top section collapsed some yeas ago making it a bit of a mud scramble.
To access you follow the main path alongside the viaduct and take the second 'tunnel'. This takes you along a bridal path and into Winterscales, continue on over the cattle grid and past a junction on your left. Now simply watch the wall on your right for a ladder stile. This is the start of the path. It is NOT well defined but essentially goes straight up the hillside. As I've said it is VERY boggy.
Simply keep going straight up. A few meanders mostly to avoid bogs.
The top section is partly fenced off to protect the collapsed old path. When at the top the summit is on your right.
Not a pleasant ascent, but perfectly 'doable'.


 :)
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 13:56:23, 01/04/17
That sounds like the route the fell runners use to ascend Whernside..
(http://www.ultra-fit.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/3Peaks-Race-Whernside-29-April-2007-028.jpg)
Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 14:09:12, 01/04/17
If I've understood Peter correctly, this is the path he's referring to. Not one I'll ever be using....



Title: Re: Whernside
Post by: Peter on 09:39:08, 02/04/17
Yes, that is correct. The runners still use for the 3 peaks race.
Its a hell of a climb at the end, not maintained in any way.