27th December 2024 - Whernside
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.9 miles
Total ascent: 1796 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Ribblehead-Ribblehead Viaduct-Gunnerfleet Farm-Winterscales-Ivescar-Broadrake-High Pike-Whernside-Whernside Tarns-Dales High Way-Little Dale-Bleamoor Sidings-Ribblehead Viaduct-Ribblehead
After yesterday's walk up Buckden Pike above a temperature inversion and with the forecast the same for today, I was keen to do another walk and experience it again. Although the forecasts made no mention of a temperature inversion the way things looked as I was coming down from Buckden Pike yesterday suggested that there should be one, given that the top half of the fells were above it. I was going to have to go high again though, I decided on Whernside from Ribblehead. The route that I went for was to make the ascent via the Three Peaks path near Broadrake, and then to make my way back to Ribblehead via Whernside Tarns, the Dales High Way, and Little Dale. It was very dull, gloomy and foggy when I set off from Ribblehead, but my instincts were rewarded as I climbed the path towards the summit and up into blue skies and sunshine. I enjoyed great views from the summit of Whernside, although the strong wind high up was starting to push the low cloud across the fells to north and west, restricting them in that direction. I don't think the inversion will last until tomorrow.
After parking in the layby on the Blea Moor Road at Ribblehead I set off by taking the path then track to the Ribblehead Viaduct, through the arches and on to Gunnerfleet Farm. Here I turned right and took the byway towards Winterscales Farm to pick up the bridleway southwest past Ivescar Farm and Broadrake. Just before Bruntscar the path to the summit is reached. I left the bridleway and followed this uphill to the south ridge and then on to the summit. After having lunch sat in the shelter of the wall I continued by taking the main path back to Ribblehead as it heads north but just before it turns to the right and goes downhill I crossed a stile to gain access to the moorland where Whernside Tarns are situated. A fairly clear path heads north towards them. I then had to head north again to the right of the easternmost of a set of enclosures to the find the trail of the Dales High Way. I followed this east then south, down Little Dale, and all the way to Bleamoor Sidings before leaving it for the path back to Ribblehead.
Total ascent: 1796 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5.5 hrs
Route description: Ribblehead-Ribblehead Viaduct-Gunnerfleet Farm-Winterscales-Ivescar-Broadrake-High Pike-Whernside-Whernside Tarns-Dales High Way-Little Dale-Bleamoor Sidings-Ribblehead Viaduct-Ribblehead
After yesterday's walk up Buckden Pike above a temperature inversion and with the forecast the same for today, I was keen to do another walk and experience it again. Although the forecasts made no mention of a temperature inversion the way things looked as I was coming down from Buckden Pike yesterday suggested that there should be one, given that the top half of the fells were above it. I was going to have to go high again though, I decided on Whernside from Ribblehead. The route that I went for was to make the ascent via the Three Peaks path near Broadrake, and then to make my way back to Ribblehead via Whernside Tarns, the Dales High Way, and Little Dale. It was very dull, gloomy and foggy when I set off from Ribblehead, but my instincts were rewarded as I climbed the path towards the summit and up into blue skies and sunshine. I enjoyed great views from the summit of Whernside, although the strong wind high up was starting to push the low cloud across the fells to north and west, restricting them in that direction. I don't think the inversion will last until tomorrow.
After parking in the layby on the Blea Moor Road at Ribblehead I set off by taking the path then track to the Ribblehead Viaduct, through the arches and on to Gunnerfleet Farm. Here I turned right and took the byway towards Winterscales Farm to pick up the bridleway southwest past Ivescar Farm and Broadrake. Just before Bruntscar the path to the summit is reached. I left the bridleway and followed this uphill to the south ridge and then on to the summit. After having lunch sat in the shelter of the wall I continued by taking the main path back to Ribblehead as it heads north but just before it turns to the right and goes downhill I crossed a stile to gain access to the moorland where Whernside Tarns are situated. A fairly clear path heads north towards them. I then had to head north again to the right of the easternmost of a set of enclosures to the find the trail of the Dales High Way. I followed this east then south, down Little Dale, and all the way to Bleamoor Sidings before leaving it for the path back to Ribblehead.
Route map
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Heading for the Ribblehead Viaduct through thick fog
Passing Gunnerfleet Farm on the byway to Winterscales
On the bridleway past Ivescar Farm
Passing Broadrake
Not long after passing Broadrake I reach the footpath up Whernside. Time to head uphill.
Following the footpath uphill and the fog gradually thins to allow the sight of blue skies and sunshine ahead..
I'm soon treated to a fantastic view of Ingleborough across Chapel-le-Dale
Just a few minutes later I reach the top of the steepest part of the climb and see mist blowing across the top of Ingleborough. There's a strong wind up here, blowing right to left across the ridge.
Looking down Whernside's southwest ridge
A hint of a fogbow
Onwards and upwards to the summit
Fantastic views across to Ingleborough above a sea of cloud as I head uphill....
A look down the southwest ridge as I approach the summit
and across Ribblehead hidden below the cloud to Plover Hill, Penyghent, Park Fell, Simon Fell, and Ingleborough. I can make out Pendle Hill just to the left of Ingleborough's summit.
Looking northeast across the tops of the fells around Wensleydale
After a break for lunch in the shelter of the wall I cross to its other side to take in the view. Looking across to Ingleborough..
The fells to the west and northwest are largely hidden by cloud, but I can make the tops of some the Lake District fells in the distance
Back on the other side of the wall. Looking south along Whernside's broad summit.
Heading north along Whernside's summit ridge with Greensett Tarn below
To my right I have views across to the tops of Dodd Fell Hill, Buckden Pike, Great Whernside, Plover Hill, and Penyghent above the cloud...
The main path has been left behind for the one to Whernside Tarns
Making my way past Whernside Tarns. I'm just about at the top of the cloud here, and with mist drifting across it's an atmospheric place to be...
Heading north down to the track of the Craven Way, with bits of fogbows as I go deeper in to the cloud..
Maybe a Brocken Spectre?
On the track of the Craven Way to Little Dale
Briefly into sunshine as the track reaches its highest point..
I meet the footpath down from Whernside as I descend into Little Dale
Passing Bleamoor Sidings
I return to Ribblehead as a train crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct. The fog is so thick now I can't make out its other end.