Whernside

Whernside is a mountain in the Yorkshire Dales of northern England. It stands as the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent forming the other two. The summit marks the boundary between North Yorkshire and Cumbria, and the peak ranks fifteenth among England’s most prominent hills. Its long ridge runs roughly north-north-east to south-south-west, stretching about ten kilometres north-west of Ingleton. The name comes from Old English, meaning ‘hillside where millstones are found’, recorded first in 1208 as Querneside.

Whernside is worth the journey for its commanding views and varied routes. On clear days the summit offers sweeping vistas westwards across the Lake District and Morecambe Bay. With binoculars, Blackpool Tower can be seen some 65 kilometres away. Alfred Wainwright described three walks in his 1970 guide, praising routes from Ingleton, Dent and Ribblehead for their scenery and exercise. The classic Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge often includes Whernside, usually climbed anti-clockwise from Ribblehead.

Visitors find a network of paths and open moorland around Whernside. A public footpath leads north from Ribblehead via Smithy Hill and Grain Ings, turning west to Knoutberry Haw before climbing to the summit. From the top, a stepped route descends south-east to Bruntscar. Alternative routes cross open access land, passing Whernside Tarns or following old tracks to Winterscales Farm. The ridge also connects to limestone pavements at Ewe’s Top, offering changing landscapes with each approach.