Wharfedale Three Peaks

The route

Based on the village of Kettlewell in Upper Wharfedale, this 35.2km round links the three highest tops above the dale. Run anti-clockwise, it saves the long pull over Birks Fell for last, when legs are tiring. The early climb gains Great Whernside at 704m, a rough, boulder-strewn summit that sets the tone, before a high crossing to Buckden Pike at 702m on the far side of the valley.

The peaks

Unlike the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks, there are no purpose-built paths here. The route crosses bog, tussock, farmland and open moor, often on faint sheep tracks or no track at all, with around 1,129m of climbing across the day. Buckden Pike carries a poignant memorial to a wartime aircrew, and from its top the route descends and recrosses the dale to climb Birks Fell at 610m, the final summit before the long drop back to Kettlewell.

Why it works

This is a connoisseur's round for runners who value solitude and self-reliance over signposts. The rough terrain and serious navigation make it feel far wilder than its distance suggests, and the views across Wharfedale and Langstrothdale are superb on a clear day. It is notoriously boggy, so choose a dry spell and decent visibility, and carry full kit. Kettlewell, with its pubs and tea room, makes a perfect base at the start and a welcome sight at the finish.

Getting there

Kettlewell is served by the 72 bus from Skipton and Grassington and has two National Park car parks, though it is a small place, so arrive early on busy weekends. This is the toughest navigation of the Wharfedale routes, with long pathless stretches, so save it for a clear, dry spell when the bogs are at their most forgiving and the becks at their lowest.