Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page

19th March 2022 - Whernside

Walk Details

Distance walked: 12.0 miles

Total ascent: 2305 ft

OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern and Western areas

Time taken: 6.5 hrs

Route description: Dent-Flinter Gill-Green Lane-High Moss-Kingsdale to Deepdale road-Whernside-Whernside Tarns-Dales High Way-Dyke Hall Lane-Mill Bridge-Dales Way-Church Bridge-Dent


I'm back in Dent again just two weeks after my last visit to do the other route that I had in mind from that day, Whernside. My last visit to this one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks was in July 2020, and by this route was in 2017, which I think is my favourite way of getting there. Starting from Dent means a walk that's long enough for a full day, it gives you the opportunity of taking in Dentdale and Deepdale using some great tracks and bridleways, plus there's the added bonus of visiting Whernside Tarns and the cairns that sit on the northern shoulder of the fell, which have a great view of Dentdale. I chose Aye Gill Pike instead of Whernside two weeks ago because of the strength of the wind and deciding to leave the higher fell for another day. Ironically it's stronger today, though only on Whernside's summit ridge was it uncomfortable for walking in. Apart from that it was a lovely spring day with lots of blue skies and sunshine, though a bit of a haze did spoil the long distance views.

From the car park in Dent I crossed the road and walked up the lane opposite to its top and onto the bridleway up Flinter Gill. When this reached a junction of bridleways I turned left and took the track of Green Lane signposted for High Moss. I followed this east and then south across the hillside above Deepdale to where it meets the Deepdale to Kingsdale Road (I stopped for lunch by this bridleway just before it reached the road). After a short walk down the road towards Kingsdale I crossed a stile on the left by a fence to pick up the path to the top of Whernside. I continued by taking the path north along the summit ridge to the point where it starts to descend towards Ribblehead. This was my cue to leave it and cross the stile on my left and head for Whernside Tarns. I made my way around the tarns and then went to the cairns on the edge of fell overlooking Deepdale and Dentdale. They have a great view. Having taken it in I made my way down by a line of grouse butts and a wall to reach the trail of the Dales High Way. I followed this west down to Dyke Hall Lane in Dentdale and after walking down this road I reached Mill Bridge. From here the trail of the Dales Way took me west to Church Bridge over the River Dee, where I was left with a short walk up into the village.

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

Picture
Leaving Dent by walking up Dragon Croft..
Picture
..and then the bridleway by Flinter Gill
Picture
Barns and blue skies
Picture
There's a view indicator on the hillside near the top of the bridleway. A short detour to take it in. Looking up Dentdale to Great Knoutberry Hill.
Picture
across to Aye Gill Pike
Picture
and down Dentdale to the Howgills
Picture
The Howgills as I join the track of Green Lane
Picture
Looking west along Green Lane to Middleton Fell
Picture
The Howgills as Green Lane crosses Flinter Gill
Picture
Looking across Dentdale to Aye Gill Pike
Picture
Great views of Dentdale and its surrounding fells as I walk east along the track of Green Lane....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale and Great Knoutberry Hill from the top of the Nun House Outrake bridleway
Picture
I take a right turn for the bridleway to High Moss
Picture
Great Knoutberry Hill behind the northern shoulder of Whernside
Picture
A last look back to the Howgills before they disappear from view for a while
Picture
The Great Combe of Great Coum above me
Picture
Deepdale, Dentdale, Aye Gill Pike and Great Knoutberry Hill 
Picture
Green Hill in front of me..
Picture
..and then Whernside ahead as the bridleway crosses Foul Moss
Picture
Looking south across Foul Moss with Ingleborough on the left
Picture
Following the bridleway down to High Moss and the Kingsdale to Deepdale road..
Picture
Picture
Having crossed the road, I start the ascent of Whernside
Picture
Great Coum, Deepdale, the Howgills, Dentdale and Aye Gill Pike..
Picture
Picture
Kingsdale with Gragareth on its right and the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Picture
Ingleborough from the summit of Whernside. To say that it's windy up here would be a bit of an understatement.
Picture
Looking southeast to Penyghent and Ribblehead
Picture
Heading north along Whernside's summit ridge with Greensett Tarn below
Picture
Leaving the path to Little Dale and Ribblehead I cross the moor to Whernside Tarns..
Picture
Picture
Looking back to the summit of Whernside
Picture
By the largest of the Whernside Tarns, with the Howgills and Baugh Fell in the background
Picture
Walking along the shore of the tarn and I can see the cairn that I'm heading for
Picture
Just to the northwest of Whernside Tarns and on the edge of the fell, a couple of cairns provide a fantastic view of Deepdale, Dentdale and the Howgills..
Picture
Picture
Great Knoutberry Hill, Wold Fell, and Dentdale as I head north to pick up the track of the Craven Way..
Picture
Picture
On my way back to Dentdale with lovely views of the valley..
Picture
Picture
On the Dales Way by Deepdale Beck
Picture
Looking back up Dentdale to the northern slopes of Whernside
Picture
The roofs of Dent are in sight as the sun starts to set over Middleton Fell
Picture
Church Bridge and the River Dee
Picture
Back in Dent

Return to HOME
Return to Yorkshire Dales Walks
Return to Walking Diary 2022
© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page