Yorkshire Three Peaks

The Yorkshire Three Peaks circuit has been drawing walkers and runners to the Dales since the early twentieth century. The Three Peaks Challenge Walk became formalised in the 1950s, and the route — a roughly triangular loop linking Horton-in-Ribblesdale with the three highest summits in Yorkshire — now attracts tens of thousands of people every year.

For runners the route is a solid half-day out rather than a full challenge. Elite fell runners complete it in under three hours. Most trail runners aim for something between four and six hours. The 12-hour target, traditional for walkers, gives a comfortable benchmark for those covering it at a fast hiking pace.

Pen-y-ghent (694 m) comes first and involves some hands-on scrambling on its upper flanks. Whernside (736 m) is the highest of the three and gives a long ridge with big views into Ribblehead. Ingleborough (723 m) is a broad plateau with a trig point and a view across half of northern England on a clear day.

The path between the summits is well-worn and mostly waymarked. Erosion has been severe in places — large sections have been repaved with stone pitching. The Pen-y-ghent Café in Horton operates an unofficial timing scheme: stamp your card in and out for an official time.

The classic route runs clockwise from Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Distances and terrain vary by the exact line taken.

Pen-y-ghent (694 m): Head south from the village, join the Pennine Way north, and climb the obvious nose of Pen-y-ghent via the stepped path. The upper section scrambles through millstone grit and limestone — good fun when dry, slippery when wet. Descend north-west to Horton.

Ribblehead: The long run west across Horton Moor to Ribblehead Viaduct. Mostly flat, boggy ground with a good path. The viaduct is a useful landmark.

Whernside (736 m): North from Ribblehead up the long, steady south ridge. The summit ridge is narrow with good views west into the Lune valley. Descend steeply south-east to Chapel-le-Dale.

Ingleborough (723 m): The longest climb of the three, up the broad south-east ridge from Chapel-le-Dale via a steep final pull to the plateau. Return east, then south via Horton Scar Lane back to the village.

Total: 39 km / 1,600 m ascent. The paths are mostly clear but can be very muddy after rain.

Start from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, 14 km north of Settle on the B6479. There is a pay car park next to the Pen-y-ghent Café. Rail: Horton has its own station on the Settle–Carlisle line — one of the most scenic in England. Trains run from Leeds via Settle roughly hourly at weekends.

The Pen-y-ghent Café provides refreshments and timing cards. The Crown pub in Horton serves food. Beyond Horton, the route is remote with no facilities until you return.

Best time: April to October. The summit paths get very muddy November to March. Ribblehead can be wild and exposed in winter. The route is well-waymarked and straightforward in clear weather year-round.