Yorkshire Three Peaks - Have you? Would you?

[PBancroft]

In a couple of weekends time I've got the opportunity to undertake the Yorkshire Three Peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent. I'm not unfit for this sort of challenge - I walk in the Lake District twice a year (one summer, one winter trip), and have a ten year plan to complete as many high points of Europe as I can. The weekend trip was intended to knock off another on the list (Ireland) but money/time has put the kibosh on that.

So to keep our hands in the game, the Three Peaks it is, though Yorkshire isn't somewhere I'm overly familiar with. Anyone here done the challenge? What should I expect - is the 10 hour target reasonable? Anything to look out for in particular?

 

[dan_bo]

All on foot? 5 hours is a reasonable finishing time for the three peaks CX- however i've only ever managed the first two within the cutoff (just).

If you're going up Simon fell be prepared for it to be very, very steep.

 

[Moodyman]

Perfectly do-able if you're reasonably fit and not restricted physically.

A team at work did it last year and some of them are overweight and unfit.

 

[asterix]

Have done it a couple of times - very enjoyable. The hardest part we found was getting out a pub we found about 2 thirds way round.

Good boots essential, as waterproof as possible. Mine weren't

 

[DCLane]

In a couple of weekends time I've got the opportunity to undertake the Yorkshire Three Peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent

I'm doing it on Saturday 26th as part of the charity event listed in my signature - it's one of the prep. events.

It should be OK if you're used to it - I did it last in '99 when I was unfit in 9 1/2 hours.

Depending whether you do it the standard way (Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, Ingleborough) or reverse the route's find. Remember to sign in at the cafe at the start. Pen-y-Ghent is a scramble up and then a long meander down (like Rockymountain's put - make sure you follow the route). Whernside has a path up and a scramble down. Ingleborough is horrible up a steep path and then a long, downward stretch over cobbles to the end. Watch for the trains and then you're back to the cafe.

This time there's a big group of us and they're aiming for 8-12 hours, depending on how fit the walkers are.

To make it more fun, I'm arriving by bike on the Friday via Morecambe - as part of my Way of the Roses ride. My schedule's:

Fri 25th - Morecambe to Settle/Horton-in-Ribblesdale - 35 miles
Sat 26th - I'm walking the 3 Peaks of Yorkshire
Sun 27th - Settle - Ripon/Boroughbridge
Mon 28th - Ripon/Boroughbridge - Bridlington & home

 

[Archie_tect]

Good luck, hope you have better weather than we did! [1976- but the mental scars linger!]

 

[vernon]

Ten hours is fine. In my younger slimmer and fitter days I did it with some pals in under ten hours and managed to slot in a pub or two too. The thought of doing it now makes me shudder.

 

[PBancroft]

Thanks for all the feedback - ten hours did seem a bit pessimistic, which is why I wondered if there was anything unusual to look out for. I'm looking forward to it - now all I need to do is sort accommodation!

 

[classic33]

Thanks for all the feedback - ten hours did seem a bit pessimistic, which is why I wondered if there was anything unusual to look out for. I'm looking forward to it - now all I need to do is sort accommodation!

Take a tent!

 

[PBancroft]

Take a tent!

I always do as a backup, but it isn't my first choice!

 

[vernon]

There's some great tent pitches next to pubs.....

 

[DCLane]

There's a few B&B's in Horton. I'd have suggested my parents place, but they've stopped doing B&B.

The campsite next to the Golden Lion is OK and the B&B's are suitable in the village.

What date are you doing it?

 

[PBancroft]

There's a few B&B's in Horton. I'd have suggested my parents place, but they've stopped doing B&B.

The campsite next to the Golden Lion is OK and the B&B's are suitable in the village.

What date are you doing it?

Heading up on 18 May, walking on 19, back on 20. Left it a bit late for finding somewhere but it was a last minute change of plans!

 

[PBancroft]

Right, accommodation booked, nice little cottage in Burton in Lonsdale (not ideal, but close enough). Getting quite excited now!