Great Whernside

I have a serious backlog of rambly adventures to write about. This is almost a month ago, on 24th March 2018.

Great Whernside direct from Kettelwell and back is a lovely half-day's walk. There are longer variations but I had a limited time window for this one.

The route straight up the valley of Douber Gill Beck is so beautiful with sustained interest

The valley is quiet compared to the main route on the hillside to the left

It's a heavenly place to pass through

Looking up Hag Dike Gill Beck

As you reach the end of the valley the path fades away and the valley sides become steeper at the t junction convergence of Dowber Gill Wham and Hag Dike Gill Beck. I decided it was sensible to climb up along the banks to easier terrain, following the line of Hag Dike Gill Beck as it leads a path towards the summit.

looking back

The day's first encounter with snow

A wreckage of some sort! I'm not sure what the story was here!

 As I topped out there was the faintest spot of rain and I felt the chill in the wind so added a layer as I ate my sandwich and took in the views. I love the scope of the views available from this mountain, how you can look over East to the Moors, West and North to the Dales, and South over all of Yorkshire.  The view South is better from the far end of the ridge, not the summit.

There was a brief bank of snow, about 20 feet or so, guarding the top ridge. I used a shortened walking pole as a make-shift ice axe just in case I lost footing but the snow whilst consolidated was relatively soft and easily to cross.

Looking West

Summit Cairn

Trig point

 For my descent I tried the regular, popular path, and met various people coming up and down including a large walking group.  I'm not being funny but of all my experiences on Great Whernside to-date this was the least favorable. Pretty much any trackless line of ascent or descent would be a less boggy option than this path of doom!

Lovely views but the path is trashed

On reaching the hostel at Hag Dyke it was a little strange to suddenly walk straight into what felt like a bustling schoolyard with a ream of young kids playing out.  Passing by into calmer lands the path becomes better and a pleasant, gentle, grassy descent ensues back to Kettlewell.

Looking back up

Descending into Kettlewell

In an act of cheeky trespassing, I kept to the ridge here instead of sticking to the path on my right!

A lovely, if fleeting visit to my nearest mountain. Always a pleasure and i'm sure I'll return again soon. I hear the Wharfedale Three Peaks calling me in the Summer!