Whernside

Coming down from the top of Whernside and looking back, at this 'flat top' and one of the Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge. We were on a saunter on a glorious warm sunny day.  But soon after this gate we met someone doing the challenge who had set off at 8 this morning and was on his way to do Pen-y-Ghent, the last one on the list. How lucky was this young man from Herefordshire to find such a day.

And he looked remarkable fresh and clean from mud for the ground underfoot was a squelchy ooze. There also was still a few slivers of ice near the top.  This walk to the summit was a bit of a first for us. We have done it in rain, cloud and have even set off in sunshine for the mist to come down and cover the top. In fact we have never had a view from the top of Whernside, and this is view has some potential, of the Lakeland hills, the Yorkshire Dales the Howgills and even Morecambe Bay.

Today we got the lot. A full panorama, here is just one direction. We sat on the top, and felt those failed attempts to see the view made today even more special.   

Whernside

A sunny breezy day as we set off from the Ribblehead Viaduct to walk up to the top of Whernside to enjoy the views. The last time we were here, some years ago, staying at Horton-in Ribblesdale for the week, it rained every day but one. The day to Whernside was one of those rainy days so no views from the top. No different today either as the wind increased and the mist rolled in. On the plus side no need for weatherproofs and no mud as the ground is quite dry after a spell of good weather.
Stopped for a drink of water on the top, sheltering, on the west side of the wall, out of the wind but mist all around us. See the opening to the right of the trig point? I believe this was part of a the millennium project . The dry stone wall had fallen into disrepair, so it was completed rebuilt and two easy access openings put in so you can shelter on whichever side the wind is not blowing.
Coming down out to deep mist to slight mist, all the hills had little caps of cloud on them and this view was the best it was going to get.
Back to Ribblehead as the train trundles over the top, and the mist still hangs on the top of Whernside. Will it be third time lucky next time?