Get Lost Mountaineering

Whernside from the head of Kingsdale

Start/Finish

Near the top of the road up Kingsdale. This is the road from Ingleton to Dent which goes through Thornton-in-Lonsdale after leaving Ingelton. The road is quite narrow in places but not as narrow as on the Dent side. Some gates have to be opened and closed on the road from Ingleton. Just before the highest point of the road there is a stile on the right which follows a fence then a wall up Whernside. Park on the verge just above this point. Parking is limited but this is not a popular route so there is usually somewhere to park on the verge. Note that in winter conditions, access may not be possible.

Distance/Time

4 km     About 2 hours

Peaks

Whernside, 736 m, SD 738 814.

OL2 Yorkshire Dales: Western Area

Introduction

Whernside is the highest of the famous “3 Peaks” with Pen-y-Ghent and Ingleborough being the other two. This is the shortest ascent from a public road. There are fine views in all directions including Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough, Great Coum and the Howgills. The path can be boggy in places and has never been improved as it is little used.

Route

(1) Cross the stile on the east side of the road just before its highest point and follow the path which shadows the fence then a limestone wall. There is an awkward mossy boggy section soon after the start. The path becomes steeper until it levels out where the wall turns north. Continue ahead, taking the left fork, almost directly ahead to begin with before drifting right, which goes across Cable Rake Moss with a few short boggy sections. The moss ends with some steep soil steps up onto more level ground which is peaty in places. Continue ahead and soon reach the wall on the summit crest where there is a trig point which marks the summit of Whernside, 736 m.

(2) Retrace the outward route

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 13^th August, 2020.