Great Whernside

Hikes up Great Whernside allow you to put one foot in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the other in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Given its location, it’s hardly surprising that the views are fantastic.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this long, trundling fell is one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks but that would be Whernside around 30 miles (50 km) north west. Great Whernside is actually a little shorter too, although still a major fell, and you’ll find its summit cairn at 2,310 feet (703 m). A non-technical hike, you can easily adjust the length of your route depending on your mood and choose to add in other hills as trails as you like. 

Hiking across moorland to see beautiful landscapes

In a land of innumerable paths, hiking trails up Great Whernside offer plenty of possibilities. Fancy a quick evening stroll? You can hike to the summit and back before your last cup of tea has even worn off. In the mood for a full day’s adventure? Take a longer route, incorporating the nearby hills like Buckden Pike and Birks Fell, to complete the Wharfedale Three Peaks. 

Rambling over Great Whernside gets you out onto the glorious moorland the Yorkshire Dales are so famous for. The views stretch for miles and each season brings new shades and atmospheres. You can hike throughout winter if the weather suits and spend hours exploring its vast summit ridge.

Charming accommodation, pubs and cafes can be found in Kettlewell and Grassington. If you’re based to the east, Lofthouse and Middlesmoor are both lovely villages.