Video run time: Part 1: 29 minutes - Part 2: 20 minutes - Part 3: 29 minutes
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk is a very demanding but rewarding walk, which takes in the summits of Pen-y-ghent (694 metres - 2,276 feet), Whernside (736 metres - 2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (723 metres 2,372 feet) all in one circular route. There is no set starting point, but the vast majority of walkers start at Horton in Ribblesdale and climb Pen-y-ghent before ariving at Ribblehead after taking in parts of the Pennine Way and the Ribble Way. From Ribblehead, the walk continues up Grain Ings and over Whernside on its way to Bruntscar and along Philpin Lane to the Old Hill Inn. The last part of the walk leaves the Old Hill Inn and climbs up Ingleborough on its way back in Horton in Ribblesdale via Southerscales Scar and Simon Fell Breast. The route as described is the preferred route the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority would prefer you to walk, so that the majority of the walk is on well maintained paths and helps prevent further erosion.
Best gifts for walkers - 49 top presents for hikers under £35 If you are wondering what to buy someone who likes walking, or searching for those inexpensive or personalised gifts for hikers, then look no further. We've put together a selection of practical presents under £35 that any walker or hiker in the UK would like to receive. Read our article: Best gifts for walkers - 49 top presents for hikers under £35 |
What to wear and take on your walk: If you are new to walking and want to know what to wear and take on your walk, or just want to know what to consider when buying your walking clothes and equipment then these articles are for you. We'll also take you through our favourite walking boots, walking jackets, walking trousers, rucksacks, backpacks, water bottles, mapping and safety equipment etc. of 2024. Read our articles: What to wear on a walk and What to take on a walk |
Parking: | The walk starts from the pay and display car park in Horton in Ribblesdale (grid reference SD 807 725) about forty metres from the Pen-y-ghent Cafe. |
Directions: | Google Maps: get directions here / What3words: harmless.outgrown.fake |
Walk distance: | 24.5 miles (39.2 Km) |
Estimated walk time: | 11 hours |
Height climbed: | 1580 metres |
Grade: | 3-C: A long walk that has rugged terrain and some steep climbs |
Peaks / summits: | Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough |
Map: | Ordnance Survey - Explorer OL2 (Yorkshire Dales - Southern & Western Area) Buy this map from Ordnance Survey |
Walk features: | Birds, Cafes, Flowers, Hills or Fells, Stream or River, Views, Waterfalls, Wildlife |
Facilities / refreshments: | 2 pubs and cafe in Horton in Ribblesdale. More pubs, cafes and tea-rooms in nearby Ingleton and Settle |
Nearest town: | Ingleton and Settle |
Local self-catering accommodation: | View self-catering accommodation close to the start of this walk from Sykes Holiday Cottages or from Holidaycottages.co.uk |
Walk Tags: | Three Peaks Walk, 3 Peaks walk, Pen-y-ghent, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent walk, Pen-y-ghent walk, Whernside walk, Ingleborough walk, Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire, Video walk, Horton in Ribblesdale, Pen-y-ghent cafe, Ingleton, Settle, Ribblehead Viaduct, Ribblehead, Ribble Way, Old Hill Inn, long distance walk |
Video run time: | Part 1: 29 minutes - Part 2: 20 minutes - Part 3: 29 minutes |
Hill profile:
Video preview:
The Three Peaks Project
In 1987 the path network in the Three Peaks area was one of the most severely eroded in the UK, with some paths across the more fragile parts of the route having grown to 50m wide in places.
Since then, a great deal of effort and money has gone into improving of the network and helping the surrounding vegetation to recover. So far, about 27kms of public footpath and bridleway have been transformed, but the number of staff managing the rights of way in the Three Peaks has dwindled from 13 at the start of the original Manpower Services-supported project in 1987 to two.
This means that, despite the support of a team of Dales Volunteers, the National Park Authority is slowly but surely falling behind with maintenance. The knock-on effect is that some sections of path need major work doing to them far more frequently - perhaps as often as every five years - when a 10-year lifespan should have been expected. As well as the extra work, every additional project adds to the maintenance burden. Read more here on The Three Peaks Project.
So if you are walking the Three Peaks, or just generally walking in the Three Peaks area, please consider giving to The Three Peaks Project:
If you are doing the walk for charity, please consider giving some of your donations to The Three Peaks Project - every £1, £5, £10 etc. that you can give greatly helps with the upkeep of the paths.
Other download options available
Part 1: Horton to the Ribblehead Viaduct via Pen-y-ghent |
Downloads are available in different resolutions for your PC, SmartPhone and other mobile devices and are provided in mp4 format for maximum compapability with a wmv version also available. You also receive a PDF document with the walk details and an Ordnance Survey map extract that you can print out or view on your mobile device. Watch the video on your PC or burn to a CD or DVD to watch on your TV to see in detail the walk before you set off.
All downloads are available instantly.
Once saved to you device, you can then play them an unlimited number of times whenever you want!