Great Whernside

Great Whernside is a fell in the Yorkshire Dales, standing at the highest point of the eastern side of Wharfedale above Kettlewell. It marks the watershed between Wharfedale and Nidderdale and lies on the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape. The River Nidd begins on its eastern slopes above Angram Reservoir. The name comes from Old English, meaning ‘hillside where millstones are found’, referring to the millstone grit that makes up its upper slopes. Quarries once operated on the Wharfedale side, and the hill was originally called Blackfell when viewed from Nidderdale. The addition of ‘Great’ in 1771 helped distinguish it from Little Whernside nearby. The fell was long without a public right of way to the summit until two footpaths were registered in 1997. One path runs from Kettlewell to the top, while another follows the summit ridge. Since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, much of the fell has become open access land. Walkers can also reach the summit via a shorter route above Park Rash or a longer, less popular path from Scar House Reservoir. Routes from the east are often boggy even after dry spells. The fell has seen several aircraft crashes over the years, adding to its remote and rugged character. On the slopes of Great Whernside stands Hag Dyke, a hostel run by a Scout and Guide group from Ilkley. Halfway between Kettlewell and the summit, it provides shelter for walkers. On the north-western flank lies Tor Dike, an earthwork with ditch and rampart built either by Iron Age tribes in the 1st century AD or in the Dark Ages. Little Whernside, 2.5 miles northeast, forms another watershed between Coverdale and Nidderdale. The fell’s wild terrain and historical traces make it a place where nature and history meet.