Top 10 Tips for completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks
Planning and preparation are key for this physically demanding challenge, and having escorted numerous groups around this 25 mile circuit, our top 10 tips can certainly help you to a successful outcome.
Don’t try this walk with a brand new pair of boots, the boots haven’t had chance to shape to your feet, and you WILL get blisters. (See our guide for tips on walking boots). Similarly old boots with collapsed heels and worn soles will be uncomfortable and potentially damaging to your feet, consider some good insoles which have been shown to help with pain and inflammation in the knees, hips and lower back.
Trim them toe nails, after a few miles, long toe nails can dig into your toes and become very uncomfortable, sometimes the nail can cut into the toe next to it causing bleeding and discomfort.
Most people trying the Y3P will travel up the previous day, many do this in groups for various charities. The group night away mentality can lead to late nights and lots of alcohol consumed, leaving you hungover and dehydrated on the morning of your challenge. You really need to bring your ‘A’ game to complete this challenge.
A good healthy breakfast with some slow burning carbs like porridge will certainly give you a good start. Bacon sarnies will leave you thirsty and its the wrong type of fuel for probably the hardest challenge most people will ever attempt.
Keep yourself hydrated prior to and throughout the walk. During the summer months there are a couple of locations where you can refill your water bottles, which means you don’t have to carry any more than 3 Litres of water at a time. The Snack Bar at Philpin Farm Campsite, at Chapel-le-Dale (between Ingleborough and Whernside) offers hot and cold drinks, there is also a tap inside the barn to fill your water bottles. The next water stop is by Ribbleshead Viaduct (between Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent), during the summer months there is a snack bar in the car park where you can purchase bottled water, or alternatively The Station Inn opposite Ribblehead railway station are Y3P walker friendly.
Although the route is generally well defined, there are places where you can easily take a wrong turn and end up miles away from your end destination, so our recommendation would be to hire a guide. Not only will the guide ensure that you don’t get lost, they will know cut off times, and be setting a steady pace to ensure that you complete the challenge within the 12 hours.
There are a couple of steep sections (depending which way you do the circuit), coming down from Ingleborough towards Whernside can be tricky, and very often any surface water here can be frozen. Take your time, little steps so watch you footing and balance. Depending which way around you walk the route, another problem area is coming down from Pen-y-Ghent towards Horton in Ribblesdale, the rock here is Limestone which has been smoothed out where tens of thousands of walkers have walked over it. During wet weather this can be really slippery and treacherous, so again, small careful steps and watch you footing.
Toilets can be a problem, there are free public toilets at the car park at Horton in Ribblesdale, however on my last 2 visits some kind person has removed all toilet roll from both the men’s and ladies toilets. There are toilets at the Snack Bar at Philpin Farm Campsite, however there is an honesty box for donations from walkers not purchasing any drinks or snacks. Similarly at The Station Inn, a donation in the Mountain Rescue Charity jar on the bar is an acceptable way of using their facilities without purchasing a meal or drink.
There are limited escape routes between the 3 peaks, the obvious 2 are at Ribblehead and Chapel-le-dale. From both locations it is either a walk to Ribblehead station or ring for a taxi which can be expensive, and that is provided you can get a phone signal. There is limited bus coverage in the area and you could also be tempted to hitch a lift with one of the numerous companies ferrying their clients around the area, but obviously there are other hidden dangers with this tactic. There is also an escape route at Tarn Bar (near to Hull Pot on the western flank of Pen-y-Ghent) with a track leading back to Horton in Ribblesdale.
Pack everything that you need for the trip, waterproofs are essential, a warm jacket or extra layer for the summits is highly recommended as you may well be sat around for a while waiting for the rest of your group to catch up. Other essential items are map, compass (and the knowledge of how to use them, we also offer navigation courses to help your map reading skills), head torch and spare batteries, warm hat, gloves and sufficient energy snacks for the day. Other items to consider are spare laces, camera, GPS unit or other tracking device, first aid kit, medication and a fully charged phone. This list is unlimited, but you need to be able to cater for all eventualities with the balance of not carrying too much weight.
