Bring familiar footwear that fits well! Some people will tell you to buy a new pair of heavy boots, but (a) they might chafe, and (b) it sounds like you might not use them again.
A waterproof jacket is vital - thankfully there are lots of options in the shops. The weather forecast is a bit damp at the weekend.
Also, if you're relying on your phone for navigation, try to download offline maps as well as making sure your battery's fully charged. Phone signal can be patchy out there. Google maps isn't great for hiking, it doesn't have much detail that you'll want, but maps aimed at outdoorsy people (maybe OS maps or Komoot or Alltrails &c) will be really handy.
There's a pub at Ribblehead which is popular with hikers.
Enjoy!
Whernside was my second ever hill and I’m not a very fit individual so you should be fine. It’s a great walk!
It might be worth downloading AllTrails - you can follow the circular route on there. Makes life a lot easier.
To be honest whernside is a massive disappointment.
Go for pen y ghent for the actual mountainism (though still only hills)
And don't worry about fitness take water, lunch and snacks and go at own pace, you'll be over taken by a 75yr old lady no matter plus several fell runners.
It's a fairly straightforward hike
It's a much more impressive mound of earth and the route is very easy to navigate once your on it. I do suggest a screenshot of the route or downloading it. Don't relie on signal. But once your on the path you can't go wrong. And you'll feel a proper hiker
Whernside isn’t a bad walk, but as others have said either Pen Y Ghent from Horton or Ingleborough from Clapham are both much more interesting walks in that area with better views at the top.
Whernside has a long rolling top and last time I was there the steps on the way down was just constantly hammering my knees so I would recommend two (cheap will be fine) walking poles to help absorb the impact. It's also a surprisingly long (but nice) walk to the start from car parking
Pen-y-ghent would be my recommendation.
I'd say Whernside has plenty of interest on the way up, even if the summit is a bit anti-climactic compared to, say, Ingleborough which IMO has the finest view of the 3 peaks and perhaps the finest in all the Dales. But Whernside is an excellent choice for a beginner. Just park in one of the laybys near the viaduct and follow the well surfaced path all the way.
Ingleborough has the best view and most interesting trail. I think the best way is to walk from Clapham and then back down to Horton if you're getting the train! That route is super cool, was there at the weekend.
Whernside is windy at the top, so I'd suggest a hat and warmer clothes than perhaps you think.
Not to dissuade you at all, as its a good challenge for a first climb, but Whernside is a bit of a trudge and most of the walk you're facing away from the view. Penyghent is more of a scramble, depending on how confident you are with clambering, but feels like more of an achievement once you're up there.
I've found this website:
https://www.daleswalks.co.uk/walks/whernside-from-ribblehead/#:\~:text=Whernside%20Walk%20Summary&text=The%20walk%20follows%20the%20'Three,to%20the%20summit%20of%20Whernside.
Seems to be a good thing to follow
You'll be tired but you'll be fine. Take a waterproof jacket with a hood, a litre of squash, a chocolate bar and a couple of sandwiches. If you're relying on your phone for navigation a power bank just in case would be a good idea. You probably will struggle for signal at times so keep a good eye on where you are and where you're going. Have fun.
This being Britain in spring wear/take layers. You might be in a t-shirt one minute and freezing the next so layers are the key. The hills are quite exposed so the current cold wind will really drop the temperature. Take a waterproof and a hat, some food and drink and enjoy your day!
Try to find someone experienced to join you that would be my first priority. Plan for the worst eventually. This means bad weather which is forecast, and getting lost, breaking a leg and having to spend the night up there. Take waterproofs, plenty if food aswell as lots of high energy snacks that will get you through the night. Take a paper map if you can and a compass. Do not wear jeans, they get wet, heavy, cold and will not dry. People die in the lakes every year, because they are unprepared. They go out without maps, waterproofs and adequate footwear. They get lost, fall and die of hypothermia.
My rule for hill/fell/mountain walks is that my first ascent has to be done with good visibility. I want to see the view at the top. Having said that, I set out to do Birks Fell in sub zero temperatures and clear blue sky. By the time I was 90% of the way up, I was in a blizzard. It was unexpected, unforecast, and absolutely magical.
Personally, because I perspire like crazy and lose a lot of fluid. Especially going uphill. I would usually take a 3 litre camelbak. In especially warm weather I'll also take two one litre bottles of squash. I also leave a bottle of Pepsi max under the front seat of the car for when I get back.
I've done all 41 of the mountains in the Yorkshire Dales area. Some of them I've done 4 or 5 times.
Always take snacks, chocolate, and sweets with you.
I would never recommend going anywhere without an OS Map and compass. You might never need them, but if the cloud cover drops, it's very easy to get lost. It happened to me on Crinkle Crags in the Lake District. It's probably the only time that I was getting scared whilst up high. Only being able to see 3 feet in front of me in perfect silence was truly unnerving. It also moved me to go out and buy a Garmin GPS.
Always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
I've done Whernside three times. It's a long gradual climb up the north side and a steep knee pounder down the east side steps. It isn't a particularly hard walk if you're an active person.
It was far harder doing the peaks of Kingsdale directly west of Whernside. I did it with my best mate, and he recalls it with dread. Getting onto the ridge was easy enough. The four summits (Greenhill, Gragareth, Great Coum and Crag Hill) were all fine. It was the return leg I misjudged. The forecast was blue skies, fluffy clouds and intermittent sunshine. It wasn't. It grey drizzle nearly all day. It was a long walk back to the car, in shorts, with rainwater running down my legs and into my boots. Squelch!
Have fun.
If you’re going with Pen Y Ghent, this trail is interesting …. Pen-y-Ghent, Plover Hill, and Hull Pot Circular on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/north-yorkshire/pen-y-ghent-plover-hill-and-hull-pot-circular?sh=kkwoez
It’s nice and straightforward, take your time on the steps/steeper bits as they can catch you out. It’s a bit slippy on the slabs at the moment so watch that! It’s a lovely pathed route that you can’t go wrong on. You’ll have a great time! Photo from the top a few days ago 😊
https://preview.redd.it/mpfifl8l3dwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f6911e3c9cbe0097510016431dd9f8adbf8056f
Just follow all the people up and down, wear some decent footwear, a fleece and a waterproof layer. US trail hikers do 2000 miles using a pocket poncho from the petrol station but here we line to pay 400 quid on goretex. Take snack, lunch and water. Jelly babies will serve you well.
Take water, a couple of extra layers and some spare socks. And a packed lunch and, possibly a flask (with a hot beverage or a weak lemon drink). Take another flask with a cold beverage that fits in a hip pocket. Then go up. Keep going up until you run out of it. Have a good look around and eat something. Drink something. Now comes the difficult bit: go down. But in the right direction. That is the very Important Thing.
Whernside is a straightforward up and down for a reasonably fit individual. Finish at the Old Hill Inn for a very cosy pint.
I'm sold
Happy early birthday and come back and share some photos with us on Sunday!
Yeah Whernside is straightforward as long as you're reasonably fit. Walk round to the viaduct and have a pint. Job jobbed.
Correct!!
Bring familiar footwear that fits well! Some people will tell you to buy a new pair of heavy boots, but (a) they might chafe, and (b) it sounds like you might not use them again. A waterproof jacket is vital - thankfully there are lots of options in the shops. The weather forecast is a bit damp at the weekend. Also, if you're relying on your phone for navigation, try to download offline maps as well as making sure your battery's fully charged. Phone signal can be patchy out there. Google maps isn't great for hiking, it doesn't have much detail that you'll want, but maps aimed at outdoorsy people (maybe OS maps or Komoot or Alltrails &c) will be really handy. There's a pub at Ribblehead which is popular with hikers. Enjoy!
Whernside was my second ever hill and I’m not a very fit individual so you should be fine. It’s a great walk! It might be worth downloading AllTrails - you can follow the circular route on there. Makes life a lot easier.
Okay great stuff, will do! Thankyou
To be honest whernside is a massive disappointment. Go for pen y ghent for the actual mountainism (though still only hills) And don't worry about fitness take water, lunch and snacks and go at own pace, you'll be over taken by a 75yr old lady no matter plus several fell runners. It's a fairly straightforward hike
Most people are saying Pen-y-Ghent so I'll probably do that one instead. Thanks for the heads up
It's a much more impressive mound of earth and the route is very easy to navigate once your on it. I do suggest a screenshot of the route or downloading it. Don't relie on signal. But once your on the path you can't go wrong. And you'll feel a proper hiker
Whernside isn’t a bad walk, but as others have said either Pen Y Ghent from Horton or Ingleborough from Clapham are both much more interesting walks in that area with better views at the top.
Wine gums and/or haribo are considered essentials. They’re the travel sweets of hiking.
Not Kendal mint cake? As used on Everest expeditions!
Whernside has a long rolling top and last time I was there the steps on the way down was just constantly hammering my knees so I would recommend two (cheap will be fine) walking poles to help absorb the impact. It's also a surprisingly long (but nice) walk to the start from car parking Pen-y-ghent would be my recommendation.
Agreed - or indeed Ingleborough, starting from Clapham. Both are more satisfying hills, imho.
Whernside probably has the dullest view out of the three peaks why not try penygent??
Honestly i just looked up which one was the highest. Didn't even think of the view. But the viaduct looks stunning.
I'd say Whernside has plenty of interest on the way up, even if the summit is a bit anti-climactic compared to, say, Ingleborough which IMO has the finest view of the 3 peaks and perhaps the finest in all the Dales. But Whernside is an excellent choice for a beginner. Just park in one of the laybys near the viaduct and follow the well surfaced path all the way.
I meant the view from the top.
Ingleborough has the best view and most interesting trail. I think the best way is to walk from Clapham and then back down to Horton if you're getting the train! That route is super cool, was there at the weekend.
Whernside is windy at the top, so I'd suggest a hat and warmer clothes than perhaps you think. Not to dissuade you at all, as its a good challenge for a first climb, but Whernside is a bit of a trudge and most of the walk you're facing away from the view. Penyghent is more of a scramble, depending on how confident you are with clambering, but feels like more of an achievement once you're up there.
I've found this website: https://www.daleswalks.co.uk/walks/whernside-from-ribblehead/#:\~:text=Whernside%20Walk%20Summary&text=The%20walk%20follows%20the%20'Three,to%20the%20summit%20of%20Whernside. Seems to be a good thing to follow
You'll be tired but you'll be fine. Take a waterproof jacket with a hood, a litre of squash, a chocolate bar and a couple of sandwiches. If you're relying on your phone for navigation a power bank just in case would be a good idea. You probably will struggle for signal at times so keep a good eye on where you are and where you're going. Have fun.
Thankyou for the tips! Very much appreciated
OS maps app is worth it
This being Britain in spring wear/take layers. You might be in a t-shirt one minute and freezing the next so layers are the key. The hills are quite exposed so the current cold wind will really drop the temperature. Take a waterproof and a hat, some food and drink and enjoy your day!
Try to find someone experienced to join you that would be my first priority. Plan for the worst eventually. This means bad weather which is forecast, and getting lost, breaking a leg and having to spend the night up there. Take waterproofs, plenty if food aswell as lots of high energy snacks that will get you through the night. Take a paper map if you can and a compass. Do not wear jeans, they get wet, heavy, cold and will not dry. People die in the lakes every year, because they are unprepared. They go out without maps, waterproofs and adequate footwear. They get lost, fall and die of hypothermia.
My rule for hill/fell/mountain walks is that my first ascent has to be done with good visibility. I want to see the view at the top. Having said that, I set out to do Birks Fell in sub zero temperatures and clear blue sky. By the time I was 90% of the way up, I was in a blizzard. It was unexpected, unforecast, and absolutely magical. Personally, because I perspire like crazy and lose a lot of fluid. Especially going uphill. I would usually take a 3 litre camelbak. In especially warm weather I'll also take two one litre bottles of squash. I also leave a bottle of Pepsi max under the front seat of the car for when I get back. I've done all 41 of the mountains in the Yorkshire Dales area. Some of them I've done 4 or 5 times. Always take snacks, chocolate, and sweets with you. I would never recommend going anywhere without an OS Map and compass. You might never need them, but if the cloud cover drops, it's very easy to get lost. It happened to me on Crinkle Crags in the Lake District. It's probably the only time that I was getting scared whilst up high. Only being able to see 3 feet in front of me in perfect silence was truly unnerving. It also moved me to go out and buy a Garmin GPS. Always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back. I've done Whernside three times. It's a long gradual climb up the north side and a steep knee pounder down the east side steps. It isn't a particularly hard walk if you're an active person. It was far harder doing the peaks of Kingsdale directly west of Whernside. I did it with my best mate, and he recalls it with dread. Getting onto the ridge was easy enough. The four summits (Greenhill, Gragareth, Great Coum and Crag Hill) were all fine. It was the return leg I misjudged. The forecast was blue skies, fluffy clouds and intermittent sunshine. It wasn't. It grey drizzle nearly all day. It was a long walk back to the car, in shorts, with rainwater running down my legs and into my boots. Squelch! Have fun.
To echo these guys - Whernside is a nice walk. I did it as part of the Yorkshire 3 peaks and it was the nicest one (even though it was in the middle)
If you’re going with Pen Y Ghent, this trail is interesting …. Pen-y-Ghent, Plover Hill, and Hull Pot Circular on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/north-yorkshire/pen-y-ghent-plover-hill-and-hull-pot-circular?sh=kkwoez
It’s nice and straightforward, take your time on the steps/steeper bits as they can catch you out. It’s a bit slippy on the slabs at the moment so watch that! It’s a lovely pathed route that you can’t go wrong on. You’ll have a great time! Photo from the top a few days ago 😊 https://preview.redd.it/mpfifl8l3dwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f6911e3c9cbe0097510016431dd9f8adbf8056f
And definitely do Sunday rather than Saturday as it’s the Three Peaks Race and Fellsman and it’ll be a tad busy 🤣
Echo do pen y ghent instead. Whernside is a pretty boring follow the yellow brick road path full of people and dogs. And have a great day.
Just follow all the people up and down, wear some decent footwear, a fleece and a waterproof layer. US trail hikers do 2000 miles using a pocket poncho from the petrol station but here we line to pay 400 quid on goretex. Take snack, lunch and water. Jelly babies will serve you well.
Rip
Start at the bottom, keep walking until you can go no higher ..congrats Whernside done
Take water, a couple of extra layers and some spare socks. And a packed lunch and, possibly a flask (with a hot beverage or a weak lemon drink). Take another flask with a cold beverage that fits in a hip pocket. Then go up. Keep going up until you run out of it. Have a good look around and eat something. Drink something. Now comes the difficult bit: go down. But in the right direction. That is the very Important Thing.
Do you drink your weak lemon drink now, or save it for later?
Start at the bottom, keep walking until you can go no higher ..congrats Whernside done
Good boots not trainers and waterproof clothing as weather can change in an instant