28th December 2017 - Whernside
Walk Details
Distance walked: 7.9 miles
Total ascent: 1615 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Ribblehead-Ribblehead Viaduct-Gunnerfleet Farm-Winterscales-Ivescar-Broadrake-High Pike-Whernside-Dales High Way-Little Dale-Bleamoor Sidings-Ribblehead Viaduct-Ribblehead
My walk up Ingleborough yesterday may have been unplanned but today's up Whernside wasn't. My last visit was in July on a fine summer's day when I started from Dent, so I had no hesitation in making another one on a snowy winter's day . Clear and sunny skies were enjoyed from the start as I set off from Ribblehead and I enjoyed spells of winter sunshine with excellent visibility all the way round. I think it was marginally less cold than it was yesterday, the wind wasn't quite as strong but it was still bitter. An added bonus when I was above the snowline was the rime ice on the fences and grass. It gave me something interesting to take a photo of.
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 made my way back down by the path to and down Little Dale (a diversion to see the waterfall on Force Gill was made), past Bleamoor Sidings and the Ribblehead Viaduct to where I'd parked by the Blea Moor Road.
Total ascent: 1615 ft
OS map used: OL2 - Yorkshire Dales, Southern & Western areas
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Ribblehead-Ribblehead Viaduct-Gunnerfleet Farm-Winterscales-Ivescar-Broadrake-High Pike-Whernside-Dales High Way-Little Dale-Bleamoor Sidings-Ribblehead Viaduct-Ribblehead
My walk up Ingleborough yesterday may have been unplanned but today's up Whernside wasn't. My last visit was in July on a fine summer's day when I started from Dent, so I had no hesitation in making another one on a snowy winter's day . Clear and sunny skies were enjoyed from the start as I set off from Ribblehead and I enjoyed spells of winter sunshine with excellent visibility all the way round. I think it was marginally less cold than it was yesterday, the wind wasn't quite as strong but it was still bitter. An added bonus when I was above the snowline was the rime ice on the fences and grass. It gave me something interesting to take a photo of.
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 made my way back down by the path to and down Little Dale (a diversion to see the waterfall on Force Gill was made), past Bleamoor Sidings and the Ribblehead Viaduct to where I'd parked by the Blea Moor Road.
Route map
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Whernside as I set off from Ribblehead. I'll be heading underneath the viaduct.
On the bridleway to Gunnerfleet Farm
Park Fell, Simon Fell and Ingleborough behind Gunnerfleet Farm
On the bridleway to Ivescar
Whernside above the exposed limestone of The Scar
Looking back to Ribblehead as I reach Broadrake
Ingleborough across Chapel-le-Dale as I start my ascent
Ribblehead and Penyghent
The Forest of Bowland in the distance as I reach Whernside's southwest ridge
Onwards and upwards
Green Hill and Great Coum over the wall to my left. As I gain height the view is becoming more extensive.
Winter weather provides many interesting photo opportunities. The patterns in the ice on this frozen pool..
..along with the rime ice on the grass and fences..
Another look over the wall before I reach the summit. There's now a long line of snow covered Lake District fells beyond Great Coum.
I've made it to the summit and the wall is providing plenty of shelter for taking a break for lunch. It's blocking out the wind effectively enough for me to take off my hat and gloves as well as creating more photo opportunities.
Lunch had, Ingleborough from this side of the wall
Along with Ribblehead and Penyghent
Ingleborough from the other side of the wall
The summit of Whernside and its trig point
Great Shunner Fell and Great Knoutberry Hill as I look over the summit wall
The fells of the Forest of Bowland in the distance
Great Coum, Lakeland fells, a bit of Dentdale and the Howgills
Back on the other side of the wall with Baugh Fell, Wild Boar Fell, High Seat, Great Shunner Fell and Great Knoutberry Hill ahead of me as I head north from the summit
I can't resist taking another shot of the view to the northwest. It won't be my last.
Great Shunner Fell, Great Knoutberry Hill, Wold Fell and Dodd Fell Hill to the northeast
Another "waffle" fence
Fences and walls provide different foregrounds..
Looking east to Dodd Fell Hill, Buckden Pike, Great Whernside and Plover Hill with a partially frozen Greensett Tarn below
One last shot
Penyghent, Ribblesdale, Park Fell, Simon Fell and Ingleborough
Looking back to the summit
Penyghent and Ribblesdale in the distance as I follow the path down to Little Dale..
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A short diversion to have a look at the waterfall on Force Gill..
The entrance to Bleamoor Tunnel as I cross the Settle to Carlisle line
Ingleborough and Little Dale Beck
A lovely light in Little Dale as the sun gets lower
The moon over Cosh Knott, Plover Hill and Penyghent
Long shadows cast by the viaduct as I approach Ribblehead..
A last shot of Whernside and the Ribblehead Viaduct