Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge day walk 
Distance (the challenge): 24.5 miles
Difficulty: 5 (steep ascents, strenuous)
Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is one of the main and oldest mountain challenges in the UK. The first recorded ascent of the three hills was in July 1887 by J.R. Wynne-Edwards and D.R. Smith in a time of 10 hours. With three amazing peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and the official route covering nearly 25 miles in under 12 hours it is a very challenging endeavour and not for the faint hearted. However, the views are stunning and with walkers on the path nearly every day, you really feel a part of something special.
Starting at 8:30am from a café at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (where we need to register for official certificates) we will climb Pen-y-ghent (694m/2,277ft) and then descend towards the picturesque Ribblehead viaduct before climbing Whernside (736m/2,415ft), the highest point of North Yorkshire. From there we will follow onto the third peak in the challenge, Ingleborough (723m, 2,372ft), a site of an Iron Age hillfort and the second highest peak of the Yorkshire Dales. We will then descend towards Horton, sign in at the café and head for a well deserved dinner and a pint in one of the local pubs.
Official certificates can be obtained from the café in Horton and cost approx. £6. Social Circle will also be issuing certificates upon completion of this walk, free of charge. As it is a recognised mountain challenge, please feel free to use this walk as an opportunity for fundraising for a charity of your choice.
Kit list: walking boots (well broken into), a pair of trainers/sandals to rest your feet afterwards, walking trousers (no jeans!), warm clothes, waterproofs, gaiters (parts of the walk may be boggy), hat, gloves, packed lunch, tea flask, water bottle, personal first aid kit (blister plasters, pain killers, eye drops etc), spare socks, head torch, comfortable day pack.
CAUTION: this walk is a recognised mountain challenge and as such requires a certain level of fitness!
Kit list: hat, gloves, warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, walking trousers walking boots as may be slippy tea flask.
Regular walking can...
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fill you with energy and confidence
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help you beat stress
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make your heart fitter and strengthen your bones
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help you keep your weight down
