The Yorkshire Three Peaks
Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent
The recommended optimum route is to start and end at the Ribblehead road junction and to travel anti-clockwise, for the following 7 reasons:
- There is abundant free parking on a wide long gravel verge.
- Since all other parties will be starting and ending at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, you will enjoy the peace and tranquility of the route to yourselves and avoid seeing other parties ahead and behind you.
- By traversing Ingleborough first and then Whernside, you will be descending to the railway line at around lunchtime, where the downhill slope angle is ideal for sitting on to eat your lunch, but only if the weather and grass are dry.
- If the grass is wet and/or if it is raining, turn left when you reach the railway line and enter the nearby railway station, where you will find a free-access totally enclosed waiting-room on the platform with seating, the only such facility on the entire route, so finding it at lunch-time is perfect.
- After lunch you will continue descending to Horton-in-Ribblesdale where the first building you encounter on your right is a large public convenience block, the only one on the route, so once again, finding it at lunch-time is perfect.
- Continuing into Horton-in Ribblesdale, before you reach the left turn to Pen-y-Ghent you will pass the Pen-y-Ghent Café on your right, the only one on the route, so finding it straight after lunch provides an excellent opportunity for a fresh tea or coffee.
- After descending Pen-y-Ghent and reaching you vehicle(s), then if you are travelling at a weekend in summer, you will invariably find an ice-cream van parked there, enabling you to treat yourselves for having completed the walk.
Return whence you came