Take Part In This Year’s 3 Peaks Race In April

Join the annual event to walk across some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful scenery by signing up to the 3 Peaks Race in April.

For those looking for a bit of a challenge, April sees the return of the annual 3 Peaks Race. 2015 is the 61st year the race has been going on for and due to its popularity it is sure to continue for many more years to come. Tough to climb, with heights of over 2,500 feet above sea level, and 24 miles in length, it is quite some ‘marathon’ to compete in.

Covering three of Yorkshire’s glorious mountains in the Yorkshire Dales, the race is not for the faint hearted. The beautiful views from the top though are definitely worth the climb! At Country Hideaways we found out more about each of the individual peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside.

Pen-y-ghent

It is the easiest and smallest of the 3 Peaks to climb and there are many easy-to-follow paths and tracks to lead you to the summit. The area offers some of the most spectacular views in the Dales and is one of the most famous mountains there.

The name for this fell, which is found to the east of Horton in Ribblesdale, comes from the Cumbric and Welsh languages. In the Cumbric language which was widely spoken in the Early Middle Ages, pen meant ‘top’ or ‘head’, and ghent referred to ‘edge’ or ‘border’. Thus the name for the peak could mean ‘hill on the border’. In Welsh though, the name is more a nod towards the word gwynt meaning ‘wind’, thus the translation could be ‘head of the winds’.

Ingleborough

As the second highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales, Ingleborough reaches 723 metres (2,372 feet). At the top of the mountain lie the remains of an old walled enclosure, inside which the foundations of Iron Age huts were found. Due to this, the name of the mountain has more significance. Looking at the last part of the name, ‘burh’ referred to ‘a fortified place’ in Old English, thus the mountain is a hill fort.

Whernside

The largest of the peaks in the race, Whernside is also the highest point in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. Its summit, however, lies on the county border with Cumbria. Two other peaks share the name, with one being called Great Whernside and the second being Little Whernside.

This mountain is the least popular to climb, with views believed to be better from the other two peaks. Views are still impressive though and on a clear day you can expect to see out across the Lake District and Morecambe Bay. Despite its height it is also no harder than the others and has its own paths and tracks to help you along the way.