Route and Timings Interactive Map
Red markers- show the key points on the route (click for more details).
Green markers- estimated timings for completing the walk in just under 12 hours.
Blue markers- food and drink stops en route.
Most common starting points
You can start the Three Peaks Challenge at any point along the 24-mile route but the traditional starting point is outside the Pen-y-Ghent café in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Ribblehead viaduct is a viable alternative.
The route is usually tackled anti-clockwise, with Pen-y-ghent as the first peak, Whernside second and Ingleborough third.
The 'Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club' by invitation
The café opens at 9am and has a clock-card machine outside the front door, which allows you to stamp your start and finish time. If you finish inside 12 hours you’re invited to join the Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club.
Route description
This official route description from the Yorkshire Dales National Park describes the most popular way to complete the walk.
1. Head south out of the village past the Golden Lion pub, then cross a stream and turn left up a tarmac road towards Brackenbottom. Take the footpath to your left signposted for Pen-y-ghent.
2. Follow the path uphill towards Pen-y-ghent, then turn left near the base of the peak to join the Pennine Way for a steep rocky climb to the summit trig point.
3. Cross the wall by the summit shelter then head north along the path before zigzagging down the hillside past Hunt Pot to a path junction.
4. Here you'll carry on straight to join a new path over Whitber Hill. Turn right when you reach a clear track and follow it for a mile, then take the left path towards Birkwith cave. When you reach a tarmac track, turn left then right on a rough track to Nether Lodge.
5. From Nether Lodge follow the access track to the B6479 and turn right on the road towards Ribblehead for around a mile, taking care of the traffic.
6. At the T-junction take a path towards Ribblehead viaduct, then follow the obvious path alongside the railway with the viaduct to your left.
7. After 1.5 miles you'll cross the railway by an aqueduct and climb towards Grain Head. Take the signposted path to the left that climbs to the broad ridge, then follow it roughly south to Whernside's summit.
8. The onward route follows the ridge for another mile before turning left and dropping to Bruntscar, where you'll reach a lane that leads all the way to the B6255 road. Head left up the road to the Old Hill Inn, taking care as you cross, then right onto a path.
9. Pass through fields, a section of limestone pavement, then along a boardwalk before climbing from Humphrey Bottom. Turn right when the path levels out and follow it to the summit.
10. In poor weather or low visibility it's easy to leave Ingleborough's summit in the wrong direction. If needed, from the trig point use a bearing of 070 until the ground starts to steepen, then follow a bearing of 100.
11. From the summit head east on a gentle path back that drops towards your start point at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.