June - Whernside

Whernside Summit

Summit Height:
2415ft / 736m

What?
Whernside (& Ingleborough)

When?
3rd June

Where?
Yorkshire Dales

Who?
Only me, although my 90 year old grandma would have joined me, given half a chance!

Why?
In February this year my Grandma turned 90, and we had a big celebration in Jersey. Instead of gifts, she decided she wanted money to go towards a trip to Yorkshire, where she was born and lived until her late 20s, specifically to re-visit some of the important places from her life there. Shortly after her birthday she became very ill, and it looked likely that the trip might not happen. Being 'born and bred' in Yorkshire, however, she is made of pretty tough stuff, and so she made an incredible recovery and the trip went ahead! I was lucky enough to be able to join her, along with my mum, uncle and auntie, on a trip down her memory lane. We visited her old houses, her primary school, the pub where she met my grandad, the town hall where they had their first dance, the church they got married in and many other places! Given that my Grandma was also a very keen walker, I thought it was fitting to mark the occasion by heading up Yorkshire's highest (and second highest) mountains, Whernside and Ingleborough.

How?
I got off to an early start as I wanted to climb both Whernside and Ingleborough (723m) to complete two thirds of the Yorkshire three peaks! It was an incredibly sunny day, probably the hottest so far this year, but clear sky and great visibility made it the perfect day to be out on the hills. It took me a total of 6 hours to do a circular route involving both mountains.

I've done enough waffling above and below, so rather than describe the walk I'll let the pictures do the talking this time!

Ingleborough, seen through Ribblehead Viaduct on the way towards Whernside











The summit of Ingleborough, with Whernside in the background

Ps...

On 30th May I climbed up Scafell Pike with Lettie, which I wasn't able to count towards my 'Mountain a Month' because Pen y Fan had already taken the May slot. I've climbed up more than one mountain in some of the other months too, but being the highest mountain in England, I wanted to give it a specific mention. In the Scafell Pike chapter of Wainwrights guides he says;

"The difference between a hill and a mountain depends on appearance and not altitude (whatever learned authorities may say to the contrary) and is thus arbitrary and a matter of personal opinion"

Out of Whernside and Ingleborough I would say that, despite being 13 meters lower, Ingleborough looks a little more mountain-like, has a more impressive summit and was tougher to climb. I decided Whernside should be my mountain in the end because of its 'highest in Yorkshire' status, but which is actually more of mountain, as Wainwright said, a matter of personal opinion!Ingleborough - More of a mountain then Whernside?