Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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18th September 2020 - Great Whernside

Walk Details

Distance walked: 8.7 miles

Total ascent: 1875 ft

OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas

Time taken: 5.5 hrs

Route description: Kettlewell-Whernside Pastures-Sweet Hill-Great Whernside-Blackfell Top-Hunters Sleets-Tor Dike-Starbotton Road-Top Mere Road-Kettlewell


For my last day of a week off work I decided to have a walk up on old favourite, Great Whernside. After yesterday's big walk on the Howgills I wanted something a bit shorter, less strenuous, and closer to home, and this fitted the bill. Starting from Kettlewell, which I've done many times, I wanted to try a new variation for my route of ascent, the bridleway up to Whernside Pastures. It proved to be a good way up, quiet and easy to follow, and although I thought I might encounter boggy ground on the hillside below Sweet Hill, no difficulties were encountered. I enjoyed another lovely early autumn day for this walk, although there was a strong and chilly easterly wind on the summit of Great Whernside to put with.

From the NP car park in Kettlewell I made my way through the village to the King's Head pub and along the lane of Scabbate Gate until I reached the bridleway signposted for Whernside Pastures. I followed the bridleway uphill to its top on the hillside of Slatepit Rigg, where I continued my ascent up the hillside to reach Sweet Hill. I then followed the fence north from here to the south top of Great Whernside, and after a short detour to the top of Stone Head Crag, I continued north to reach the trig point on the summit of Great Whernside. After a stop for lunch I made my north to Blackfell Top and Black Dike End before descending the hillside of Black Dike to reach the Kettlewell to Coverdale road, which I crossed and took the path along the top of Tor Dike to reach the bridleway of Starbotton Road. I was on this bridleway briefly as I soon reached the track of Top Mere Road, which I took and followed down to Kettlewell. I then made my way through the village and back to the car park.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Leaving Kettlewell behind on the bridleway signposted to Whernside Pastures..
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Looking up Dowber Gill and I can make out the summit of Great Whernside in the distance
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Cam Gill and Tor Mere Top to the north
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Looking back down to Wharfedale
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Views of the western slopes of Great Whernside from the bridleway up to Whernside Pastures...
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The southern end of Buckden Pike to the north as I reach the top of the bridleway
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I now have a trod through the grass to follow across Whernside Pastures with great views of the surrounding moors of Wharfedale....
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The broad slopes of Great Whernside as I reach Sweet Hill
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The view south to Barden Moor is a bit hazy
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I've made my way from Sweet Hill to Stone Head Crag for its view east to Little Whernside, Dead Man's Hill, Angram Reservoir and the moors around Nidderdale
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Looking back to Sweet Hill from the south top of Great Whernside
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The summit of Great Whernside is just to the north
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A hazy Pendle Hill in the distance to the southwest
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Approaching the trig point and summit cairn
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On the summit of Great Whernside with a hazy Pendle Hill in the distance to the southwest
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Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Ingleborough, Plover Hill and Whernside to the west and northwest
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I have the same great view to enjoy while I'm sat against a boulder having my lunch
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Looking north to Blackfell Top
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Pendle Hill in the distance..
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..and looking back to the summit from Blackfell Top
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The moorland around Coverdale to the northeast
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Blackfell Top and the summit of Great Whernside from Black Dike End
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Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Old Cote Moor Top, Plover Hill and Whernside as I make my descent from Black Dike End
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There's boggy ground to cross to reach the Kettlewell to Coverdale road
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Having crossed the road, on the bridleway along Tor Dike..
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..with a great view down Cam Gill to Wharfedale and Barden Moor
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The western slopes of Great Whernside
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Great views of Wharfedale as I follow the track of Top Mere Road down to Kettlewell....
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The bridge over Cam Gill Beck and the Racehorses Hotel as I make it back to Kettlewell
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My final photo is of the River Wharfe from the car park

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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