A Guide to the Yorkshire Three Peaks

Before setting off to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks I spent a long time researching what to expect and what I needed as we embarked on the challenge. Here is everything I discovered which might help you if you planning to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks or any challenging hike! Here is my Guide to the Yorkshire Three Peaks to make it as enjoyable as it can be for you.

Yorkshire Three Peaks Guide

I would recommend parking in the car park at Horton-in-Ribblesdale so you can use the toilets before you set off. The traditional three peaks route takes you up Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and then Ingleborough, the highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales.

The first thing I was worried about was the terrain. It wasn’t as bad as I expected but there were some more challenging parts to the walk such as the scramble towards the top of Pen-y-Ghent. One thing I wasn’t expecting is for it to get steep so quickly, so be prepared. As soon as you walk through the gate be prepared for it to go upwards.

I wouldn’t have managed the walk without walking poles, I would highly recommend them for the scramble on Pen-y-Ghent and also for walking down Whernside.

I didn’t walk Ingleborough but from the direction the three peaks challenge walk takes you that also has some scramble sections on the way up and is also quite steep.

The biggest issue before the walk was that I got bad blisters on my feet, doing a longer training walk. I spent a long time trying to prevent them from coming back and what I did seemed to do the trick. Although some of the blisters reappeared, they weren’t painful as I guess it was just the skin recovering from before.

Here are things you can do to help reduce blisters and pain:
Foot Balm to help prevent blisters – Click here to shop
Padded walking socks. These from Darn Tough are so comfy.
Blister plasters (I didn’t use them but as soon as you feel any issues use them)
Ensure you have comfy walking boots

Keep up your energy

You need to keep your energy levels up when you are walking for a long time. I stayed hydrated with Nuun hydration and kept my energy levels going with Clif Energy Chews.

Me and Keil also shared a sandwich, I wasn’t quite as hungry as I expected to be and even well after we had finished, I didn’t all my pizza which has to be a first!

Overall the main thing is to do your research before and find what works best for you. The majority of the walk is doable, with a little bit of scrambling & lots of uphills.

Then stay hydrated, keep your energy up and most of all, enjoy it as much as you can!

To watch my Day in the Life video from the Yorkshire Three Peaks click here.