49-726: The mountains of Whernside (736 m or 2,415 ft), Ingleborough (723 m or 2,372 ft) and Pen-y-ghent (694 m or 2,277 ft) are collectively known as the Three Peaks . The peaks, which form part of the Pennine range , encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the North of England . The long-standing designation "The Three Peaks"
98-468: A heart attack . According to his biographer, Hunter Davies , he left everything, including his house and royalty income, to Betty. His son Peter received nothing. Wainwright started work on the first page of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells on 9 November 1952. He planned the precise scope and content of the seven volumes and worked conscientiously and meticulously on the series for
147-615: A child Wainwright walked a great deal, up to 20 miles (32 kilometres) at a time; he showed a great interest in drawing and cartography , producing his own maps of England and his local area. In 1930, at the age of 23, Wainwright saved up for a week's walking holiday in the Lake District with his cousin Eric Beardsall. They arrived in Windermere and climbed the nearby Orrest Head , where Wainwright saw his first view of
196-616: A floodlit part of the cave system. Whernside, being more rounded, is visually less imposing than its neighbours, but its summit is the highest point in North Yorkshire . The area is rich in historical interest. The summit of Ingleborough has the remains of a huge Iron Age hill fort , while the Settle-Carlisle Railway runs between the mountains, crossing Ribblehead Viaduct at the foot of Whernside. The Three Peaks walk of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough
245-641: A founding member of the Wainwright Society, wrote and devised a dramatic presentation of his life and works which was presented at the Wildman Theatre at Ilkley Playhouse as part of the Ilkley Literature Festival on 15 October 2009. During 2010 and 2011 a further 17 presentations were made. In 2013, a memorial toposcope was unveiled on the hills near his home town of Blackburn. A pedestrian area of Kendal, including
294-402: A long ridge, running roughly north-north-east to south-south-west. The mountain is 6 miles (10 km) north west of Ingleton and 6 miles (10 km) north of Horton-in-Ribblesdale . The name, first recorded in 1208 as Querneside , is of Old English origin. It is derived from cweorn ' quern ' or 'millstone' and sīde 'hillside', so means "hillside where millstones are found". The name
343-499: A splendid exercise for the legs"; a 10 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (17 km) route from Dent (alternatively, 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles or 12 kilometres from a car parked nearer), following what is now the Dales High Way route onto the ridge and descending steeply west to Deepdale, "a fine walk on a fine day with excellent views ... the best of all routes up Whernside because of the lovely countryside from which it springs"; and
392-503: A variety of Millstone Grit . Considerable areas of the flanks of each of the fells are covered by peat whilst other areas are blanketed by glacial till notably across the southern and eastern slopes of Pen-y-ghent. The Ribblehead drumlin field is considered to be one of the finest in England. Fringing Ingleborough on each side however are impressive areas of limestone pavement . Extensive networks of caves have developed within
441-434: A view of Kendal Castle from the front window. He lived and worked in the town for the rest of his life, serving as Borough Treasurer from 1948 until he retired in 1967. His first marriage ended when Ruth left three weeks before he retired (suspecting him of infidelity) and they divorced. In 1970 he married Betty McNally (1922–2008), a divorcée, who became his walking companion and who carried his ashes to Innominate Tarn at
490-547: A voluntary Friends of the Three Peaks project. The proceeds of this go towards the upkeep of the paths on the route. Certificates, medals and membership forms are awarded by local participating businesses. Understandably the Three Peaks Walk is seen by many as a challenge and it has become very popular for charity sponsored walks and Saturdays in early summer can see several hundred walkers make their way round
539-631: Is a mountain in the Yorkshire Dales in Northern England . It is the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks , the other two being Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent . It is the highest point in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire and the historic West Riding of Yorkshire with the summit lying on the county boundary with Cumbria . It is the fifteenth most prominent hill in England. In shape Whernside forms
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#1732765637971588-556: Is a scheme whereby amateur radio enthusiasts aim to make contact with or from the Wainwright summits. Wainwright was a supporter of animal rights and explained that the publisher of his books gave most of the profits from his books to animal charities. In 1972 he became chairman of Animal Rescue Cumbria, and donated enough money to enable the foundation in 1984 of Kapellan, a shelter for stray cats and dogs in Kendal. After his death
637-585: Is of the same origin as Great Whernside , 17 miles (27 km) to the east, with which it is sometimes confused. Whernside lies about two miles (three kilometres) northwest of Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle–Carlisle Railway , and the mountain is commonly ascended from Ribblehead. There is a public footpath from Ribblehead that heads north via Smithy Hill and Grain Ings before turning west to Knoutberry Haw and then south to Whernside itself. From
686-535: Is probably the original three peak walk within the UK. The first recorded ascent of the three hills was in July 1887 by J. R. Wynne-Edwards and D. R. Smith in a time of 10 hours. The walk covers a distance of 37.5 km (23.3 mi) to 42 km (26.1 mi) (depending on route) circuit of all three peaks with nearly 1,600 m (5,249 ft) of ascent and descent. A challenge that many walkers aim for when undertaking
735-527: Is well known locally, and in past times nationally. However, there are now a number of "National" Three Peaks adventure challenges involving Ben Nevis , Snowdon and Scafell Pike (respectively the highest summits in Scotland , Wales and England). The epithet " Yorkshire " is therefore now commonly added to differentiate Yorkshire's Three Peaks from those (although Whernside is partially in Cumbria , with
784-492: The 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (12 km) ascent from Ribblehead, via Force Gill with a direct return via Winterscales. On a clear day the views from the summit to the west can be spectacular, with views of the Lake District and Morecambe Bay , including (with the aid of binoculars) Blackpool Tower , some 40 miles (65 km) away. Alfred Wainwright Alfred Wainwright MBE (17 January 1907 – 20 January 1991), who preferred to be known as A. Wainwright or A.W. ,
833-617: The Howgill Fells were published by Frances Lincoln between 2010 and 2014, with the amendments again being made by Chris Jesty. The publishers announced in 2014 that Clive Hutchby, the author of The Wainwright Companion , was working on the third edition of the Pictorial Guide , with the first volume, The Eastern Fells , published on 26 March 2015 followed by The Far Eastern Fells on 8 October 2015. These revised versions are titled 'Walkers Editions'. Subsequent volumes in
882-466: The Pennine Way , rivalling the official guide book by Tom Stephenson . Wainwright's book consists of a continuous strip map of the route with accompanying commentary, with an unusual quirk: because the route goes from south to north (bottom to top on a map), contrary to normal reading order, the map and commentary start at the bottom of the last page and work upwards and backwards towards the front of
931-546: The triangulation pillar to reach Deepdale Lane near White Shaw Moss. An alternative route heads directly north across Knoutberry Haw to pass Whernside Tarns and reaches the Craven Way at Boot of the Wold. Following the southern descent for 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 kilometres), instead of turning steeply south-east towards Bruntscar a path continues south-west running adjacent to the wall passing Combe Scar and West Fell to reach
980-501: The 1990s. When they ceased publication in 2003, the rights were bought by Frances Lincoln . Between 2005 and 2009, all the Pictorial Guides were updated for the first time, to take account of changed conditions on the fells. The revisions were made by Chris Jesty , and the publishers used an imitation font of Wainwright's hand lettering to make the alterations look as unobtrusive as possible. The most notable changes were
1029-697: The Lake District into seven areas, and choice of fells to include, have been followed in whole or in part by subsequent writers such as Mark Richards. The Coast to Coast Walk is one of the most popular long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom despite its lack of official status, and has spawned various guidebooks by other authors. In 2003 it was voted the second best walk in the world in a survey of experts conducted by Country Walking magazine. The popularity of Wainwright's books of drawings and large-format photographic books has not matched that of
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#17327656379711078-594: The Lakeland fells . This moment marked the start of what he later described as his love affair with the Lake District. In 1931 he married his first wife, Ruth Holden, a mill worker, with whom he had a son, Peter. In 1941 Wainwright moved closer to the fells when he took a job (and a pay cut) at the Borough Treasurer's office in Kendal , Westmorland . His first home in the town was 19 Castle Grove, which boasted
1127-465: The Pennine Way. Additionally, Whernside is generally traversed along the right-of-way to the east, initially following the railway line, all of which can add extra distance to the route. For most people the route starts in the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale , though many start from various points in the circular route, such as Chapel-le-Dale or Ribblehead Viaduct . Historically Chapel-le-Dale
1176-449: The book. The guide was prepared with the aid of four helpers (Harry Appleyard, Len Chadwick, Cyril Moore and Lawrence Smith) and its preparation was affected by the major outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 1966 and 1967, which closed access to many of the moors. In 1972 Wainwright devised the west–east Coast to Coast Walk , as an alternative to the north–south Pennine Way. The Coast to Coast, he declares in his guidebook, which follows
1225-602: The early impressions. Another friend, Sandy Hewitson (of Bateman and Hewitson Ltd), agreed to print the books using Wainwright's original manuscript, although the printing was done by the Westmorland Gazette in Kendal, who had taken over Bateman and Hewitson Ltd. From 1963, the Westmorland Gazette became his publisher, and its name appears on the first impressions of Books Six and Seven. Wainwright's books were in turn taken over by Michael Joseph in
1274-512: The fells are formed from alternating bands of limestone and mudstone grading up into sandstone , all of which are assigned to the Brigantian and early Namurian ages Yoredale Group . These alternations are considered to be a classic British example of cyclothems . Differential weathering and erosion of the various bands has given Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent a distinctive, stepped appearance. The summits are capped by Grassington Grit,
1323-483: The footpath from Blea Moor Sidings) is a distance of roughly 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (13.5 km). Alfred Wainwright in his 1970 Walks in Limestone Country describes three walks titled "Ascent of Whernside": a 14 + 1 ⁄ 4 -mile (23-kilometre) route from Ingleton , up the southwest ridge and returning via Ellerbeck, which he describes as "an exhilarating walk, a tonic for jaded minds, and
1372-561: The guides. The 214 fells described in the Pictorial Guides are now generally known as the Wainwrights , and visiting them all is a common form of peak bagging . The Long Distance Walkers Association maintains a register of walkers who have completed the Wainwrights; as of 2013 there were 674 people on the list, of whom 40 had completed more than once; by March 2023 the figure had risen to 898. Dave Hewitt estimates that
1421-440: The inclusion of photographs of the Lake District by Derry Brabbs on the front covers, rather than the drawings that were on the covers of the originals, and footpaths shown in red on the maps. These revised versions are titled 'Second Editions'. Revised editions of Wainwright's other Pictorial Guides , A Coast to Coast Walk , The Outlying Fells of Lakeland , Pennine Way Companion , Walks in Limestone Country and Walks on
1470-540: The limestone pavements at Ewe's Top. Finally, 275 yards (250 m) south of the triangulation pillar an old route (partly fenced off) descends (initially very steeply) for 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2 kilometres) to reach a road 275 yards (250 m) southwest of Winterscales Farm, this is the old route of the Three Peaks Challenge. Walkers should select this route with care as it is no longer maintained, boggy, badly eroded and requires extreme care over
1519-535: The limestone strata such as the White Scar Caves , and potholes which attract cavers from all over the country. It is home to England's highest waterfall at Gaping Gill , where the Fell Beck drops 98 m (322 ft) vertically down a pothole, into Britain's second largest cavern. The beck re-emerges further down the mountain adjacent to Ingleborough Cave , where visitors can take a guided tour of
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1568-729: The mid-1980s Wainwright was a TV personality; he featured in three television series for the BBC , presented by farmer and broadcaster Eric Robson and devised, directed and produced by Richard Else. A BBC documentary about Wainwright's life was broadcast on Sunday 25 February 2007 on BBC Four , before a four-part series of walks. This first series covered Blencathra by Sharp Edge, Castle Crag , Haystacks and Scafell Pike from Seathwaite . The second series, broadcast in 2007, included Catbells , Crinkle Crags , Helm Crag , Helvellyn from Patterdale, High Street from Mardale and Pillar . A six-part series entitled Wainwright Walks: Coast to Coast
1617-468: The next 13 years at an average rate of one page per evening. According to Wainwright, in his autobiography Fellwanderer , he initially planned the series for his own interest rather than for publication. When he published his first book it was privately, as he could not face the prospect of finding a publisher. His friend Henry Marshall, Chief Librarian of Kendal and Westmorland, took charge of publicity and administration, and his name appears as publisher on
1666-711: The route. In addition to it being seen as a walking challenge it has also become a race for fell runners and cyclo-cross cyclists. However, there is no bridleway access to the peaks (except Ingleborough from the Ingleton side only) so any bicycle access is on a permissive basis on race days only. The Three Peaks were featured on the BBC Two programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of Yorkshire. Download coordinates as: 54°09′57″N 2°23′51″W / 54.165922°N 2.397506°W / 54.165922; -2.397506 Whernside Whernside
1715-611: The same format as the Pennine Way Companion , "puts the Pennine Way to shame" for scenic beauty, variety and interest. The 190-mile (310-kilometre) route traverses the north of England from St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay , passing through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors national parks . The Outlying Fells of Lakeland (an idea he had previously rejected), published in 1974,
1764-406: The series to have been revised are The Central Fells (published 2016), The Southern Fells (2017), The Northern Fells (2018); The North Western Fells (2019); and The Western Fells (2020). Wainwright followed the Pictorial Guides in 1968 with the Pennine Way Companion , applying the same detailed approach to Britain's first long-distance footpath. This was for many years a leading guide to
1813-527: The society was renamed "Animal Rescue Cumbria – The Wainwright Shelter". The Wainwright Society was inaugurated in 2002, with the aim of keeping alive the fellwalking traditions and ideas promoted by Alfred Wainwright through his guidebooks and other publications. On 27 June 2008 a landmark road bridge, in Blackburn, was opened and named the Wainwright Bridge in his honour. John Burland,
1862-539: The steep ascent/descent. The current route of the Three Peaks fell race runs approximately 440 yards (400 m) north of this old ascent along open moor. A walk solely around Whernside starting at the junction of the Blea Moor and Gauber roads near the Station Inn at Ribblehead, to the top of Whernside and back via the bridleway from Bruntscar via the farms at Broadrake, Ivescar, Winterscales and Gunnerfleet (or
1911-533: The summit trig point being narrowly on the Cumbria side, the whole mountain is within the historic county of Yorkshire). In common with neighbouring fells , the Three Peaks are carved from an almost flat-lying succession of sedimentary strata of Carboniferous age. The lower slopes of each of the fells are formed from massive limestones assigned to the Visean age Great Scar Group. The upper slopes of each of
1960-560: The summit the right of way heads initially south, then steeply south-east down a stepped path to the area known as Bruntscar. If climbed as part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge (which is normally done anti-clockwise ) Whernside is climbed following the route up from Ribblehead to descend to Bruntscar. There are, however, other routes up/down the mountain which are not rights of way but instead make use of open access land . A path heads directly west from
2009-497: The top of Haystacks . Wainwright was a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan and a founder member of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Club. He had no time for organised religion , and was agnostic . On Desert Island Discs , he described himself as having once been shy but having grown up to be antisocial and would avoid speaking to others, even lone walkers on fell tops. Wainwright died in 1991 of
Yorkshire Three Peaks - Misplaced Pages Continue
2058-483: The total number of completers could be over 50% higher than the LDWA's figure. The Ramblers Association reported in 2008 that a boy of six years, four months and 27 days had become the youngest person to complete the Wainwrights. In April 2009 a boy aged five completed the round and became the third member of his family to do so after his older sisters held the 'Youngest 214 Completer' previously. Wainwrights On The Air
2107-514: The walk is to complete the walk in under 12 hours, though as Alfred Wainwright says in his book Wainwright in the Limestone Dales , "Some participants have chosen to regard the walk as a race, and this is to be greatly regretted, walking is a pleasure to be enjoyed in comfort" (edited quote). The route most walkers take varies from the fell race in that most traverse the 'nose' of Pen-y-ghent from Brackenbottom Moor and do not ascend from
2156-633: Was a British fellwalker , guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells , published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the English Lake District . Among his 40-odd other books is the first guide to the Coast to Coast Walk , a 182-mile (293-kilometre) long-distance footpath devised by Wainwright which remains popular today. Alfred Wainwright
2205-700: Was born in Blackburn , Lancashire , into a family which was relatively poor, mostly because of his stonemason father's alcoholism . He did very well at school (first in nearly every subject) although he left at the age of 13. While most of his classmates were obliged to find employment in the local mills, Wainwright started work as an office boy in Blackburn Borough Engineer's Department. He spent several years studying at night school, gaining qualifications in accountancy which enabled him to further his career at Blackburn Borough Council. Even when
2254-543: Was broadcast on BBC Four in April and May 2009 and on BBC2 from 21 July 2009, and presented by Julia Bradbury . A Granada TV series Wainwright Country included Eagle Crag , Great Calva , Knott Rigg , Pike O'Blisco , Stybarrow Dodd , Thornthwaite Crag and Yewbarrow . In 2010, Eric Robson presented a BBC Radio 4 documentary called "The Man behind the Mountains" (16 October 2010). Wainwright Walks Series One
2303-411: Was his last major guidebook. Thereafter he concentrated on sketchbooks of larger-size line drawings until his eyesight began to fail in the mid-1980s. His Ex-Fellwanderer , an autobiographical work published in 1987, was intended to be his last written work, but he continued to lend his name and some written commentary to a series of " coffee table books " featuring the photography of Derry Brabbs . By
2352-553: Was released on DVD in June 2007 and Series Two was released in January 2008. Wainwright Walks: Coast to Coast was released on DVD in June 2009. Wainwright's Pictorial Guides have been in continuous publication since they were written and have sold more than two million copies. Although a number of more up-to-date guides are on the market, his books remain among the most popular for their depth, detail and unique style. His division of
2401-473: Was the starting point though this probably changed when the Pen-y-ghent Cafe started running their clocking in and out service for walkers in 1968. The cafe is currently closed (@ March 2020) and as a result walkers can no longer register the beginning and end of their walk or pay to join the Pen-y-ghent Cafe's privately owned 'Three Peaks of Yorkshire Club'. The Yorkshire Dales National Park runs
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