Great Shunner Fell from Thwaite
A long ridge walk on the Pennine Way with nothing but open fell, curlews, and a sky that seems twice the size of everywhere else.
A long ridge walk on the Pennine Way with nothing but open fell, curlews, and a sky that seems twice the size of everywhere else.
The high Pennine Way crossing from Thwaite in Swaledale over Great Shunner Fell at 716m — one of the finest fell tops in the northern Dales.
The route
Thwaite is a small cluster of farms in upper Swaledale, well-placed for Great Shunner Fell. The route climbs directly north on the Pennine Way, gaining the broad ridge and following it to the summit at 716m.
The summit
Great Shunner Fell is the third-highest summit in the Yorkshire Dales. The summit shelter is a welcome windbreak. Views extend north to the Cumbrian fells and south over the full length of Swaledale.
The descent
Descend south to return to Thwaite, or continue on the Pennine Way to Hawes for a linear route (arrange transport). The descent into Swaledale gives constantly improving views.
Very exposed in bad weather. The summit plateau can be featureless in cloud — follow Pennine Way waymarks carefully. Boggy in wet conditions.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Common questions
More routes in Yorkshire Dales
HARD
HARD
MODERATE