Buckden Pike & Great Whernside - Sunday 2 October 2016
Route
Buckden - Buckden Rake - Cow Close - Buckden Pike - Memorial Cross - Tor Mere Top - Park Rash Pass - Tor Dike - Black Dike - Great Whernside - Hag Dyke - Kettlewell - Starbotton Bridge - Buckden
Parking
Buckden Village (Charge) - Grid Ref SD942773
Mileage
15 miles
Terrain
Mountain and moorland paths for the most part. The transit from below the Memorial to the ridge beneath Great Whernside is very boggy in places. From the summit of Great Whernside to Hag Dyke is intermittently boggy.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes. Visibility very good.
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3353ft (1022m)
Map
OL30 (Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area)
Buckden - Buckden Rake - Cow Close - Buckden Pike - Memorial Cross - Tor Mere Top - Park Rash Pass - Tor Dike - Black Dike - Great Whernside - Hag Dyke - Kettlewell - Starbotton Bridge - Buckden
Parking
Buckden Village (Charge) - Grid Ref SD942773
Mileage
15 miles
Terrain
Mountain and moorland paths for the most part. The transit from below the Memorial to the ridge beneath Great Whernside is very boggy in places. From the summit of Great Whernside to Hag Dyke is intermittently boggy.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes. Visibility very good.
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3353ft (1022m)
Map
OL30 (Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales is a beautiful place with some excellent walking to be had in all directions. We headed to the highest village in Wharfedale, Buckden, a popular stop off point on The Dales Way which passes through the village as it meanders along the River Wharfe from Kettlewell. The intention today was to take in the Nuttalls of Buckden Pike & Great Whernside, returning to Buckden via Kettlewell and The Dales Way. The weather promised to stay fair for this long day out in the Yorkshire Dales.
Buckden was busy - so much so that when we arrived there were not many parking spaces left in the large village Car Park. After sorting our kit out, we headed north up the gently rising track that is Buckden Rake to reach a gate that gave access to Cow Close where we then walked north east uphill on a good path to reach a wall gap below some crags. Here the gradient increased and we climbed steeply to reach the delightful plateau summit of Buckden Pike, adorned with a Trig Point, cairn and wooden pike. From the summit there are great views over to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, The Howgills and Great Shunner Fell.
From the summit we followed the wall south, passing a large group of walkers coming the other way. Crossing a stile we reached the Memorial Cross, dedicated to the memory of five Polish airmen of the Polish Air Force, 18th Polish Operational Training Unit based at RAF Bramcote who sadly crashed their Wellington Bomber here on 30 January 1942 - thankfully one airman survived. Fragments of the aircraft as well as a bronze Foxes head are contained within the brickwork - the significance of the Foxes head can be found in the fascinating story of how one airman survived - a link can be found to this amazing story of survival here.
A path continued south from the Memorial, dropping steeply at first to resume over boggy ground to reach Tor Mere Top. From here the bog continued and it was just a question of side stepping the worst bits with the odd peat hag thrown in for good measure - all in all it wasn't too bad. Reaching the Park Rash Pass it was time to head uphill again over Tor Dike - a former fortified ditch built around AD70 to repel the Romans. After a boggy start we climbed up a steep gradient to eventually reach Black Dike where the gradient eased. The path then angled up to meet the summit ridge at Blackfell Crags before heading along the rocky terrain to Great Whernside's bouldery summit. The summit is well worth lingering over - it is a mass of boulders, some very large, a Trig Point and a massive cairn - once again there are good views to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.
It was now time to make our descent towards Kettlewell - the terrain stayed dry for a while but turned to bog as we approached the flatter ground. Nearing Hag Dyke there was a steep descent of about 150 metres or so, firstly over loose rock and as the slope eased this became a grassy path. The route passed through the buildings to reach a track from where the view opened out to reveal the walk into Kettlewell - a superb grassy descent which hand railed the ravine of Dowber Gill most of the way to the village. Kettlewell in the early evening sun was a hive of activity as people were out and about enjoying the mild temperatures. We were about 11 miles in at this point therefore stopped off at the Cottage Tea Room for refreshment.
All that was left to do now was to cross the River Wharfe and follow The Dales Way back to Buckden. This part of the walk is an absolute delight and whilst it is approximately 4 miles from Kettlewell, the walking is so good that it never actually feels like it. Reaching the bridge at Buckden, we crossed back over the Wharfe to walk the short distance along the road to the Car Park. Another superb day out in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Buckden was busy - so much so that when we arrived there were not many parking spaces left in the large village Car Park. After sorting our kit out, we headed north up the gently rising track that is Buckden Rake to reach a gate that gave access to Cow Close where we then walked north east uphill on a good path to reach a wall gap below some crags. Here the gradient increased and we climbed steeply to reach the delightful plateau summit of Buckden Pike, adorned with a Trig Point, cairn and wooden pike. From the summit there are great views over to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, The Howgills and Great Shunner Fell.
From the summit we followed the wall south, passing a large group of walkers coming the other way. Crossing a stile we reached the Memorial Cross, dedicated to the memory of five Polish airmen of the Polish Air Force, 18th Polish Operational Training Unit based at RAF Bramcote who sadly crashed their Wellington Bomber here on 30 January 1942 - thankfully one airman survived. Fragments of the aircraft as well as a bronze Foxes head are contained within the brickwork - the significance of the Foxes head can be found in the fascinating story of how one airman survived - a link can be found to this amazing story of survival here.
A path continued south from the Memorial, dropping steeply at first to resume over boggy ground to reach Tor Mere Top. From here the bog continued and it was just a question of side stepping the worst bits with the odd peat hag thrown in for good measure - all in all it wasn't too bad. Reaching the Park Rash Pass it was time to head uphill again over Tor Dike - a former fortified ditch built around AD70 to repel the Romans. After a boggy start we climbed up a steep gradient to eventually reach Black Dike where the gradient eased. The path then angled up to meet the summit ridge at Blackfell Crags before heading along the rocky terrain to Great Whernside's bouldery summit. The summit is well worth lingering over - it is a mass of boulders, some very large, a Trig Point and a massive cairn - once again there are good views to the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.
It was now time to make our descent towards Kettlewell - the terrain stayed dry for a while but turned to bog as we approached the flatter ground. Nearing Hag Dyke there was a steep descent of about 150 metres or so, firstly over loose rock and as the slope eased this became a grassy path. The route passed through the buildings to reach a track from where the view opened out to reveal the walk into Kettlewell - a superb grassy descent which hand railed the ravine of Dowber Gill most of the way to the village. Kettlewell in the early evening sun was a hive of activity as people were out and about enjoying the mild temperatures. We were about 11 miles in at this point therefore stopped off at the Cottage Tea Room for refreshment.
All that was left to do now was to cross the River Wharfe and follow The Dales Way back to Buckden. This part of the walk is an absolute delight and whilst it is approximately 4 miles from Kettlewell, the walking is so good that it never actually feels like it. Reaching the bridge at Buckden, we crossed back over the Wharfe to walk the short distance along the road to the Car Park. Another superb day out in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Ready for the off in Buckden - it was busy here today
A bovine reception committee as we head up Buckden Rake
A nice gentle transit up Buckden Rake
Looking back to Buckden from the ascent of Buckden Rake - Old Cote Moor provides the backdrop
Hubberholme from Buckden Rake
Reaching the top of the rake it was time to turn right - straight on leads to Cray
Ascending through Cow Close
Looking back down our route of ascent from the final climb to the summit of Buckden Pike - Yockenthwaite Moor is in the distance
Ingleborough & Pen y Ghent
The summit of Buckden Pike
A view over the Yorkshire 3 Peaks from Buckden Pike
Buckden Pike is a lovely summit and the views were just superb today
Next stop the Memorial which is due south along the ridge
Timed it right as shortly we passed a huge group of walkers heading for Buckden Pike
The Memorial Cross near the summit of Buckden Pike to commemorate the Wellington Bomber crash here in 1942 during a snowstorm.
The crew consisted of 6 Polish Airmen - only 1 survived. The stone plinth has fragments of the bomber contained within the brickwork.
The story of the crash and how 1 man survived his ordeal in appalling weather is captured here - http://www.buckdenpike.co.uk/mainstory.html
The crew consisted of 6 Polish Airmen - only 1 survived. The stone plinth has fragments of the bomber contained within the brickwork.
The story of the crash and how 1 man survived his ordeal in appalling weather is captured here - http://www.buckdenpike.co.uk/mainstory.html
The long trek out to Great Whernside ahead
The long flat top of Great Whernside
Crossing the Park Rash Pass Road a sign points the way up the boggy hillside to Great Whernside
Looking back on our route from Buckden Pike which is in the distance. The white vehicle is parked on the Park Rash Pass Road
Almost on Great Whernside's summit ridge as we arrive at Blackfell Crags
Great Whernside's summit ahead
The summit of Great Whernside
Huge stone blocks surround the summit Trig Point & Cairn on Great Whernside
Our route of descent stretches out before us
The stony summit of Great Whernside
A Great Whernside panorama
Looking back to Great Whernside
Great Whernside's summit ridge
Hag Dyke ahead with Kettlewell nestling further down below and the layered Gate Cote Scar above
To get down to the buildings at Hag Dyke we had to negotiate a steep descent on loose rock - not overly difficult just needed a little care taking
Hag Dyke looking back to the steep descent - some of it over loose stone. Hag Dyke is a Scout Hostel administered by the Ben Rhydding Scout and Guide Group. It is available for hire and a link to the site is here http://www.hagdyke.co.uk
From Hag Dyke it was a superb descent over lush grass all the way in to Kettlewell - do you think Fudge looks tired?
Approaching the early evening as we near Kettlewell
The steep sided ravine of Dowber Gill
Stampede in Kettlewell
Alright for some - we still had a few miles to go before dusk.......
...... although we did stop here for tea & cake - and very nice it was too
The long transit begins from Kettlewell to Buckden hugging the River Wharfe along the Dales Way
Buckden Bridge
All done and what a superb 15 miles that was. Not many cars left in the Car Park!