Buckden Pike & Great Whernside from Kettlewell
A direct climb out of the valley earns you a wide plateau with views stretching from the Three Peaks to the North Yorkshire Moors.
Almost entirely runnable — minimal steep sections.
A direct climb out of the valley earns you a wide plateau with views stretching from the Three Peaks to the North Yorkshire Moors.
A steep climb from the pretty village of Kettlewell to Great Whernside at 704m, with views over Wharfedale and Coverdale from the broad summit.
The route
Kettlewell is one of the most picturesque villages in the Dales and makes an ideal base. The route climbs steeply east out of the village via Cam Head, gaining the ridge and following it north to the summit cairn at 704m.
The summit
Great Whernside is not to be confused with Whernside near Ribblehead — this is a separate hill entirely, and at 704m it's one of the higher summits in the southern Dales. The summit is a broad, heathery plateau with a trig point and views into Coverdale to the east.
The descent
Return via the ridge south, or vary the descent through the limestone scenery of Providence Pot and Dowbergill Passage (approach to the pothole only — not for entry).
Pathless heather moorland on the summit plateau. Navigation in cloud requires care. 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
About the author
Runner reports
Ran this route? Log your time, rate it, share conditions — helps other runners plan their day.
No runs logged yet — be the first.
More routes in Yorkshire Dales
MODERATE
HARD
MODERATE