24th August 2025 - Great Whernside
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.1 miles
Total ascent: 1967 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Kettlewell-Dales Way-Starbotton-Starbotton Cam Road-Starbotton Road-Hunters Sleets-Blackfell Top-Great Whernside-Hag Dyke-Kettlewell
For our third walk together of a long weekend, me and my friend from Ireland have met up in Kettlewell in Wharfedale. I decided to do a route that would take us to the summit of Great Whernside, via the Dales Way to Starbotton, and the bridleways of Starbotton Cam Road, and Starbotton Road. It's one that I've done many times. The forecast is for another cloudy day, although it should break up a bit in the afternoon. It did, and when the sun was out it felt warm. The recent lack of rain was quite noticeable, not just the low River Wharfe, but also the dried out moorland including the usual boggy bits on the slopes of Great Whernside.
From the car park in Kettlewell we set off by crossing the bridge over the River Wharfe and taking the trail of the Dales Way north towards Starbotton. When the trail reached the bridge over the river we crossed it and followed the bridleway into Starbotton. We then crossed the main road up the valley and walked through the village to reach the track and bridleway of Starbotton Cam Road. We followed this uphill and then across the hillside to the bridleway of Starbotton Road that took us to Hunters Sleets and the Kettlewell to Coverdale road (stopping for lunch on the way). After crossing the road we took the path up the slopes of Great Whernside to Black Dike End, Blackfell Top and finally the trig point and summit. Our route back to Kettlewell took us downhill past the Hag Dyke scout hostel and along the path above Dowber Gill Beck.
Total ascent: 1967 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Kettlewell-Dales Way-Starbotton-Starbotton Cam Road-Starbotton Road-Hunters Sleets-Blackfell Top-Great Whernside-Hag Dyke-Kettlewell
For our third walk together of a long weekend, me and my friend from Ireland have met up in Kettlewell in Wharfedale. I decided to do a route that would take us to the summit of Great Whernside, via the Dales Way to Starbotton, and the bridleways of Starbotton Cam Road, and Starbotton Road. It's one that I've done many times. The forecast is for another cloudy day, although it should break up a bit in the afternoon. It did, and when the sun was out it felt warm. The recent lack of rain was quite noticeable, not just the low River Wharfe, but also the dried out moorland including the usual boggy bits on the slopes of Great Whernside.
From the car park in Kettlewell we set off by crossing the bridge over the River Wharfe and taking the trail of the Dales Way north towards Starbotton. When the trail reached the bridge over the river we crossed it and followed the bridleway into Starbotton. We then crossed the main road up the valley and walked through the village to reach the track and bridleway of Starbotton Cam Road. We followed this uphill and then across the hillside to the bridleway of Starbotton Road that took us to Hunters Sleets and the Kettlewell to Coverdale road (stopping for lunch on the way). After crossing the road we took the path up the slopes of Great Whernside to Black Dike End, Blackfell Top and finally the trig point and summit. Our route back to Kettlewell took us downhill past the Hag Dyke scout hostel and along the path above Dowber Gill Beck.
Route map
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After crossing the bridge over the River Wharfe from Kettlewell, we take the trail of the Dales Way
Following the Dales Way north towards Starbotton....
Starbotton is now in sight on the other side of the valley
Crossing the River Wharfe..
..to head for Starbotton
Leaving Starbotton as we take the bridleway of Starbotton Cam Road
Looking back down on the roofs of Starbotton
and across Wharfedale and the valley of Cam Gill Beck to Birks Fell and Knuckle Bone Pasture
Making our way up Starbotton Cam Road
Our ultimate destination of Great Whernside comes into view. It will have to wait a little longer as we stop for lunch by the wall ahead.
Break had, we continue east along the bridleway of Starbotton Road towards Tor Dike..
Looking down the valley of Cam Gill and Wharfedale towards Barden Moor
Crossing Hunters Sleets to the Kettlewell to Coverdale road
Heading up Great Whernside and we found the usually boggy ground on the slopes ahead to be firm and dry underfoot
Looking back across Hunters Sleets to Buckden Pike as we make my way up onto Great Whernside
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Plover Hill, Birks Fell and Whernside in the distance as we head up to Black Dike End
Looking south to Blackfell Top
Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir, and Nidderdale
On Blackfell Top. The summit of Great Whernside to the south.
Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Ingleborough, Plover Hill, Birks Fell and Whernside to the west and northwest..
Buckden Pike on the left, and the moors above Wensleydale in the far distance to the north
At the trig point and summit of Great Whernside
Taking in the view from Great Whernside, starting with Buckden Pike to the left and the summit ridge to Blackfell Top
To the west and northwest; Fountains Fell, Penyghent, Ingleborough, Plover Hill, Birks Fell, Whernside, Yockenthwaite Moor, and Buckden Pike
Looking across Wharfedale to Middlesmoor Pasture, and to the limestone moorland to the north and east of Malham Tarn
and down Wharfedale to Barden Moor, Threshfield Moor and Kilnsey Moor
The broad summit ridge of Great Whernside heads south
A final shot from the summit looking northwest to Penyghent, Ingleborough, Plover Hill, Birks Fell, Whernside, and Buckden Pike
We descend the path from the summit to the Hag Dyke Hostel
The Hag Dyke Hostel below
