A couple of weeks ago, gearing up for the National Three Peaks Challenge, my uncle and I decided to test ourselves on the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
We kicked off at 5:30am on a Saturday, still rubbing sleep from our eyes, parked in Horton-In-Ribblesdale, laced up our boots, and hit the trail—excited to see how fast we could conquer it. 🥾
What is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge is simple: summit Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.
This tough but rewarding 25-mile loop draws thousands of hikers every year, with many taking on the peaks to raise money for charity. 🏔️
Where are the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
The Yorkshire Three Peaks—Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough—are iconic hills set in the breathtaking scenery of Yorkshire Dales National Park. 🌄
How high are the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
- Whernside – 736 m or 2,415 ft
- Ingleborough – 723 m or 2,372 ft
- Pen-y-ghent – 694 m or 2,277 ft
The Yorkshire 3 Peaks – Breakdown of each mountain
Pen-y-ghent
Pen-y-ghent, the smallest of the Three Peaks, stands out in the Yorkshire Dales and is usually seen as the easiest to climb.
A favorite for walkers of all levels, it’s the perfect starter mountain for beginners and young hikers getting their first taste of the outdoors. 🥾
Often said to resemble a crouching lion or a ship’s prow, the top of Pen-y-ghent features a short scramble before you reach the trig point, where the views are simply stunning.
Pen-y-ghent is usually the starting point for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, with hikers tackling it first before continuing on the scenic 12-mile trek to Whernside. 🌄
Whernside
The tallest of the Three Peaks, Whernside treats climbers to a close-up view of the impressive Ribblehead Viaduct.
With its ‘whale-back’ shape caused by land slippage over underlying rock deposits, Whernside also hides a fascinating history—an old landslide on its north-eastern side was one of the last glaciers in the Yorkshire Dales.
The climb is long and steady, but beware the descent—it’s surprisingly steep and often tougher on the legs than the ascent!
From the top, you get sweeping views of the viaduct, Dentdale, Kingsdale, and even Morecambe Bay on a clear day. Keep an eye out for the mobile wagons serving ice cream and refreshments along the trail 🍦
Ingleborough
Though not as tall as Whernside, Ingleborough is often the trickiest peak—especially if it’s the last one on your challenge!
The second-highest hill in the Yorkshire Dales, it offers many scenic trails, but the most popular 3 Peaks route climbs from Chapel-le-Dale to the north.
At just 3 miles (4.8 km) from the village to the summit, it’s the shortest climb, yet one of the toughest, thanks to the steep ascent up Simon Fell and some heart-pounding scrambling.
From the top, the views stretch far and wide—on a clear day, you can even spot Manod Mawr in Snowdonia, North Wales, 103 miles away! Don’t miss the Iron Age hill fort ruins, once believed to be a Roman camp.
Pro tip: Multiple descent routes exist, so watch your navigation and stick to the right path down. 🏔️
Where to start the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
There are three main starting points for the Yorkshire Three Peaks:
Chapel-le-Dale — LA6 3AR
Horton-in-Ribblesdale — BD24 0HE
Ribblehead — LA6 3AS
We kicked off from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, starting with Pen-y-ghent, though plenty of hikers go in the reverse direction.
Arriving around 6:30am, we found the National Park car park full, so we parked in a nearby farmer’s field for £4 for the day. 🚗
Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge route info
Route Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 39.27 km (24.4 miles)
Route Elevation: 1,613m
Route Time: 9-12 hrs
Start and Finish Point: Horton-In-Ribblesdale Car Park, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 0HE
Weather: Horton-In-Ribblesdale BBC Weather
How long does it take to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
For the classic challenge, the aim is simple: finish the full circular hike in under 12 hours, though individual times can vary a lot.
Fit walkers often complete it in 9–10 hours, while less experienced hikers—or those wanting to take in the scenery—might take 12 hours or more.
Some even stretch it into a multi-day adventure, tackling one peak per day over three days to truly explore the National Park.
Fun fact: the world record was set by Andy Pearce in 1996, finishing the Yorkshire Three Peaks in just 2 hours 46 minutes and 3 seconds! 🕒
How difficult is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge?
I’ll admit, the challenge was tougher than I expected. By the time we tackled the final steep sections of Ingleborough, my legs were completely exhausted. 🥵
Still, we pushed ourselves to finish the challenge at a fairly quick pace—if we’d gone slower and taken more breaks, it would’ve been way less intense! ⏱️
Which of the Three Peaks is hardest?
Of course, this really depends on the order you take the peaks.
Since Ingleborough was our last climb, it felt by far the toughest, especially the final scramble sections where we had to dig deep.
Surprisingly, though, the hardest part for us was the walk back down to the car park.
After the excitement of summiting all three peaks wore off, it hit us—we still had a long trek back. Those last few miles dragged on forever! 🥾
How fit do you need to be for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks?
It really comes down to your fitness level. If you’re reasonably fit and have some hiking experience, completing the challenge in under 12 hours is totally doable.
If you’re unsure, try a long walk of 15+ miles with some hills first to see where you stand—you could even practice by climbing one or two of the Yorkshire Three Peaks beforehand. 🏞️
What to pack for the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
Walking Boots
Good walking shoes or boots are a must—boots are especially helpful for ankle support when your legs get tired and coordination drops.
With so many rocky and uneven paths, it’s all too easy to twist an ankle without the right footwear. 🥾
Plenty of Water
Bringing enough water is crucial. I only packed two litres on a scorching day, and looking back, it wasn’t nearly enough—I had to ration it the whole way.
Coconut water is also a great alternative to stay hydrated and keep your energy levels up. 🥥
Sugary Snacks
I also wish I’d packed some sugary snacks. I’m not the biggest sweet tooth, but jelly babies or wine gums would’ve been perfect to boost energy alongside the flapjacks and pasties I brought.
My friend also suggested energy gels—they’d have been super handy too! 🍬
Waterproof Jacket & Trousers
We were lucky with sunny weather on our trek, but I still packed waterproof clothing—British weather is unpredictable, after all! ☔
Gloves & Hat
Again, with unpredictable weather, it’s always smart to bring gloves and a hat. 🧤
Suncream
A must-have for fair-skinned redheads like me! Sunscreen is essential to protect your skin on those long sunny stretches. 🌞
Hiking Socks
The walk is long, so the right socks are key to keeping your feet comfortable while crossing rocky—and sometimes boggy—terrain. 🧦
Insect Repellent Spray
Depending on the season, insects can be a real pain. By the end of our walk, I was covered in itchy midge bites because we forgot to bring any insect repellent. 🦟
Backpack
To carry all your gear, you’ll need a decent-sized backpack—around 20–30 litres should do the job. 🎒
Is the Yorkshire Three Peaks route easy to follow?
While the trail is signposted, it’s smart to have a map or some phone navigation just to stay on track.
We didn’t have any issues following the signs, but we were hiking on a clear sunny day with plenty of other walkers around. 🗺️
The only tricky moment was after climbing Ingleborough, when we had to figure out the correct path back down the mountain. 🏔️
When’s the best time to start the Yorkshire Three Peaks?
The ideal season is April to September, thanks to longer daylight and warmer weather.
On the day, start early to make the most of the sunlight and stay ahead of the crowds. 🌅
Our Personal Experience on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
Since we were prepping for the National Three Peaks, we tackled the route at a fairly fast pace, taking only short breaks at each summit for a quick snack and drink.
We were pretty pleased with our time—just over 9 hours—but going that fast meant we didn’t always get to fully enjoy the stunning views along the trail. 🏞️
One thing that caught us off guard was just how long the walks between each peak were.
After summiting the first mountain, we felt pumped and ready to tackle peak number two, but the 12-mile stretch between Pen-y-ghent and Whernside felt endless—and definitely took some of the wind out of our sails! 🥾
While the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge was tough, finishing it felt amazingly rewarding.
It’s always been on my bucket list, and I truly believe in the value of stepping out of your comfort zone and taking on something challenging.
If you’re fit enough and love the outdoors, I’d absolutely recommend giving this challenge a go! 🌄
Give Back to the Yorkshire Three Peaks
With thousands of hikers tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks every year, keeping the trails in good condition isn’t cheap.
The official Yorkshire Dales website notes that maintaining the paths costs an average of £35 per metre!
The park relies heavily on the generosity of visitors through donations to help keep the trails accessible. 💛
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