Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Weekend

Welcome to the Yorkshire Dales! You can arrive at our lovely, comfy bunkhouse for the weekend at any time after 5pm. You’ll be welcomed by your Large Outdoors host, who’ll help you settle in, introduce you to fellow arrivals, and show you where to grab a cuppa.

Your only task this evening is to relax, meet your fellow challengers, and enjoy a home-cooked (by your host) meal together ahead of some shut-eye before tomorrow’s big challenge! Your host will discuss how the challenge will work, timings for the day, give you a weather update, and answer your questions over dinner (but do check out the Good to Know section and FAQs further down the page before booking).

After dinner, there’ll be the customary cheese board, as well as ingredients for you to make up your packed lunch for tomorrow’s walk. Build the sandwich of your choice for the big day ahead - you’ll need it! Feel free to bring along any extra snacks you personally enjoy though - a treat or two on such a long walk is always a welcome reward.

After an early breakfast at 5am, we’ll be ready to start the challenge at 6am sharp. The good news is we start right from the door of our accommodation, so you’ll be on the challenge route straight away!

We walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge starting with Ingleborough and then Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside. Most of the route is on mountain paths and lowland tracks, with one section of road walking. There are steep sections and steps on each of the hills. You can enjoy the glorious Yorkshire Dales scenery along the way as you socialise with your fellow walkers and have an all-round great - albeit tiring - day out.

Depending on how quickly you complete the challenge (we allow up to 12 hours - most groups complete the walk in 10-12 hours), you’ll arrive back at our warm and cosy accommodation with some time to spare before the evening meal. Kick off your walking boots and relax as your host prepares dinner for you and the rest of the team. As you’re staying the night, feel free to open a bottle and toast your achievement - the Yorkshire Three Peaks is no mean feat!

After enjoying a bit of a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast, it's time to pack up and leave our accommodation. If you have time, it's definitely worth exploring the local area before heading home, perhaps taking a short stroll to the waterfalls just outside Ingleton, or the caves near Ingleborough - or perhaps you might like to grab a cuppa in a local tearoom with your fellow participants.

We hope you’ll leave the Dales happy, having made some new friends, and deservedly proud of conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks!

This Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Weekend will see the group start and finish the walk from the door of our accommodation, which is really handy!

As we’re on the 25 mile circular route, we’ll tackle the peaks in this order: Ingleborough (2,372ft/723m) will be summited first, then Pen-y-Ghent (2,277ft/694m), and finally Whernside (2415ft/736m).

The Yorkshire Three Peaks is a proper challenge - some say the most formidable walking challenge in Yorkshire! This is a long day with 25 miles to cover, as well as 1,585m (5,200ft) of ascent. It’s important we walk at a good pace to complete the challenge within 12 hours.

You should ensure you have a good level of fitness before embarking on the challenge, comfortable with walking long distances with a good level of ascent and descent. The more training you do, the more enjoyable you’ll find the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

In terms of Large Outdoors experience levels, we grade this walk as Tough (Walking) - see Large Outdoors experience levels here.

The guide determines the pace, based on the group as a whole. They will do their very best to accommodate the speed of the group they are leading, whilst providing the encouragement needed to complete the challenge. The pace might be a little slower or faster than you’re used to but your guide will advise you of the pace required to complete the challenge by the 12-hour deadline.

There are a number of cut-off times and points that your guides will inform you of. If you miss these cut-offs then you will be unable to continue with the challenge - this is for safety and the fairness of the group experience.

When training for the walk, a pace of 3-4 mph (5-6.5 kmph) should be suitable - but don’t forget to include hills on at least some of your training routes!

Your guide will advise you of the pace required throughout the walk to complete within the 12 hours. There are a number of cut-off points and/or times that you must make in order to continue. Your guide reserves the right to ask you to drop out of the walk at a safe point if they are concerned about your ability to complete within the time limit. This is for safety and the fairness of the group experience.

If at any point you feel that you cannot keep up and/or will not be able to complete the challenge, it’s vital you let your guide know as soon as possible. Your safety and that of the group is their paramount concern, so the sooner they know the sooner they can assist.

As per the Compulsory Kit List, it is important that you have money and a mobile phone with you if for any reason you are unable to complete the challenge and need to leave the group - you may need to arrange a taxi or public transport back to the accommodation/for onward travel.

For Large Outdoors’ Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Weekend, please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed. Failure to attend with all of these items may mean you are unable to take part, as per our Terms & Conditions.

There are usually toilets available near Ingleborough, at a farm shop. The farm shop does charge a small fee to use the toilet or asks that you purchase something from the shop, so please make sure you have some money with you, as per the Compulsory Kit List.

Please note this is an independent business, so we can’t guarantee opening times and/or availability.

There are no guaranteed stops for water refills or food along the route, so you should bring sufficient water (at least 2-3 litres per person) and plenty of food for the day. On Large Outdoors’ Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Weekend we provide a packed lunch, but make sure you bring whatever snacks you’d like and suitable bottles or water carriers to fill up with tap water or squash before leaving the accommodation.

There is a farm shop and a refreshments van usually available along the route, but these places are independent businesses, so we can’t guarantee opening times and/or availability.

Always remember: your Large Outdoors guide is there to help you! If you experience any difficulties please let them know as soon as possible.

If you think you are developing a blister, let your guide know and they’ll take a little time to make sure you get a plaster on it and try to advise you on stopping your boots rubbing.

The best way to deal with blisters is always prevention: a good pair of socks (or two - spare socks are a luxury worth having on a big challenge walk!) and a pair of boots that are already worn-in. The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge is not the place to break-in a new pair of boots, so make sure you take them out for several good training walks before the big day.

All of our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenges are guided and undertaken as a group. This is part of the experience and we hope you have a fantastic time.

We strongly recommend that you stay with the group and your guide throughout the challenge.

If you choose to leave the group, our guide will advise you that you are leaving the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge organised by Large Outdoors and we will therefore not be responsible for your wellbeing going forward.

As good practice, your guide may ask you to contact them by text message when you have returned to the accommodation. However, your guide cannot be your ‘emergency contact’ when they are out leading the remainder of the group, so you must notify a trusted third-party of your intentions so they can contact the emergency services if you do not report in at an advised time.

As per our Compulsory Kit List, we ask you to ensure you have a mobile phone and money with you.

There may be an opportunity on the route to use a toilet, but this requires a purchase to be made, or small charge to be paid, to support a local business.

Also, if for any reason you are unable to complete the challenge and need to leave the group, you may need to arrange a taxi or public transport back to the accommodation/for onward travel. Taking a mix of cash and a card is advised.

If, for any reason, you leave the group, we ask that you contact your guide by text message when you have returned to the accommodation as a courtesy.

Plus, it’s always a good idea to have a mobile phone with you when you’re exploring the outdoors, just in case of emergency. There’s usually a good signal in Horton-in-Ribblesdale and at each of the summits. In between the peaks there often isn’t a signal, or it’s very patchy if you can find one.

Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs (with prior agreement from us).

If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the activity/accommodation and any additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

Large Outdoors’ Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Weekend includes evening meals, breakfasts and a packed lunch.

Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.