Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge Walk

by: Paul Shorrock
The Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales provide some of the finest walking in Britain. With its combination of high peaks and stunning scenery, the area is rightly popular with outdoor types, from leisure walkers to super-fit fell runners. It always seems to follow that when you have a mix of high places and human beings, sooner or later someone will come up with an idea of a challenge of some kind. With the Three Peaks of Pen y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough the solution was simple - do them all in one walk!

If you are new to walking in the Yorkshire Dales, then you're in for a treat. Initially the book describes the peaks one at a time, giving you a chance to savour the experience, as well as getting to know the area. This is done in six walks described in detail including OS 1:25,000 scale mapping. Prior to this the book provides a comprehensive introduction including geology and landscape, natural history, human influence, clothing and equipment, navigation, getting fit, planning strategy and tactics for the day of the challenge.

The six walks are:
Pen y Ghent from Horton in Ribblesdale - 5.8 miles
Whernside from Ribblehead - 7.8 miles
Ingleborough from the Hill Inn - 7.9 miles
Horton in Ribblesdale, Pen y Ghent, Ribblehead - 10.25 miles
Ribblehead, Whernside, Hill Inn, Ribblehead - 7.8 miles
Ribblehead, Hill Inn, Ingleborough, Horton in Ribblesdale - 9.5 miles

The Three Peaks Challenge - 21.75 miles

ISBN 9781904946915 Pages 94 (2013) 122mm x 210mm

by: Jonathan Smith
The main section of this book covers a detailed step-by-step guide to completing the 1 day route with photos, maps and guiding notes to help the walker.

However, the book is more than just a guide to the 3 Peaks Challenge. It also outlines the history and geology of the 3 Peaks area, further walking challenges in the Yorkshire Dales and some outside contributors discussing footpath maintenance, cycling, fell running and caving. There is stunning colour photography throughout the book and a description of alternative routes up each of the three mountains.

The walk takes place in some of the most stunning countryside in the country. Not only does the limestone scenery make the walk unique and attractive but the industrial heritage makes it memorable. The book is much more than a simple guide, it adds flavour and interest to the area and the walk itself.

The author, Jonathan Smith, is a mountain guide who regularly leads groups round the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. In this book he has written a comprehensive guide to "the best one-day walking challenge in England"

ISBN 9780995673526 Pages 112 (2019) 148mm x 210mm

by: David Brown
This 'Super Durable Waterproof Map' has been produced to make navigating the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge route easier, with a map designed to be read under challenge conditions. The map is basically an Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map, but with the scale enlarged to 1:25,000 scale. This makes the features, text and logos much clearer to read and allows additional essential information to be added.

The Y3P 12 Hour Challenge Route, and its options for ascending Whernside, have been added and specially highlighted so that the route stands out against the OS background map. Also added is any additional detail you might need including the popular Challenge starting points of the Pen Y Ghent Cafe, Station Inn and Hill Inn.

On the reverse of the map sheet are the Challenge and OS Legends, cover design, and an access map at approximately 60k scale for road access from the nearest towns of Ingleton and Settle. The result is a double sided 600mm by 600mm map printed onto a 100-micron plastic film. The result is a lightweight map that is both waterproof and tearproof, and fully recyclable, that will survive anything your 3 Peaks Challenge can throw at it and afterwards will fold up like new.

The map is a companion to the 'Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge' book by Paul Shorrock, whose routes are now the 'official' Y3P routes.

ISBN 9781782750765 Folded map (2022) 120mm x 210mm folded

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent and returning to the starting point in a continuous circuit, is a tough undertaking. The distance is 24 miles with a total ascent of 1,600 metres. There is no official starting point, though the most popular route is the one shown in this map-guide.

Many choose to start in Horton, but Ribblehead, with its early morning train service, makes a better starting point. Whernside is climbed first, then Ingleborough, leading down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Pen-y-ghent follows, then there is a seven-mile trek over Horton Moor to finish back at Ribblehead.

The full-colour guide folds out to provide a double-sided A3 page layout showing a map of the route with text boxes giving specific instructions. The map is based upon Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale mapping, but with superfluous information removed for route clarity. Also included is a table giving route section distances and times, both individual and cumulative.

Panels give details of alternative circular routes for each of the peaks, as follows:
Pen-y-ghent circular from Horton-in-Ribblesdale - 6.6 miles
Whernside circular from Ribblehead - 8.1 miles
Ingleborough circular from Ribblehead - 9.9 miles

ISBN 9781911321057 A3 sheet folded to 150mm x 210mm (2019)

by: Brian Smailes
This 25 mile circular walk starting in Horton in Ribblesdale and covering the Yorkshire 3 Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough takes in some of the best scenery in Yorkshire. Many people walk this famous route and derive much pleasure from the spectacular views towards Morecambe Bay and across to the Lake District.

This all new 6th edition of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Walk is complete with campsites, B&B's, list of equipment and GPS grid references. A detailed description of the route is included to ensure that particularly the novice walker comes prepared and able to complete this walk in a safe manner. Walker's comments along with the author's own direct experience in outdoor pursuits and on this walk in particular, go to make this book essential reading for all who plan to attempt the 25 mile Yorkshire 3 Peaks Walk.

ISBN 9781903568781 Pages 75 (2016) 125mm x 185mm