Whernside routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
737 m ยท Yorkshire Dales
Whernside is the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the county top of North Yorkshire, a long ridge above the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Peakify lists 1 measured route up Whernside, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Whernside routes, easiest to hardest
There is one measured route so far, graded Moderate. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribblehead via Blea Moor | Ribblehead (roadside parking near the viaduct) | 4.5 km one way | 454 m | 1h 40m | 2h 35m | Moderate |
Whernside route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Whernside route
Ribblehead via Blea Moor
A track passes the viaduct and Blea Moor signal box, then climbs past Force Gill onto the ridge and south to the summit. It starts from Ribblehead (roadside parking near the viaduct). 4.5 km one way with 454 m of ascent. About 1h 40m to the summit and 2h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Whernside route GPX
This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Whernside route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Whernside, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Whernside today and the Whernside 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Whernside routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Whernside, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Whernside
What is the easiest route up Whernside?
The route from Ribblehead along the ridge is the most gradual, finishing with a walk south along the wall.
How much time does each Whernside route take?
Ribblehead via Blea Moor: about 1h 40m up and 2h 35m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Whernside route?
Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.