大象传媒

More than 200,000 walkers have completed the 3 Peaks challenge walk in the Yorkshire Dales in the last 35 years.

That figure is according to records kept at the starting point, the Pen-y-Ghent caf茅 in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. But it鈥檚 still probably a conservative estimate.

Some of the team

Four of us attempted to add to that number. Myself, Ben Cryer, Colin Hazelden and Michelle Lyons set off at 6.04am to walk the 25 miles, including the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, and be back at the caf茅 within 12 hours.

We were on the top of Pen-y-Ghent, 2,273ft high, just over an hour later. But it would be another five hours before we reached the second summit of Whernside, itself the biggest of the three at 2,419ft.

It feels a long way between the two hills, passing Hull Pot on the way, walking short sections of the Ribble Way, crossing difficult limestone terrain, before reaching the path by the Settle to Carlisle railway line which takes you, eventually, to the top.

On the day we walked the circuit we were blessed for the most part with clear skies and stunning views of each of the hills. So we could see where we鈥檇 been and where we still had to go.

Clear skies, stunning views

The next section to the top of Ingleborough, 2,373ft high, passes a wayside caf茅 and a pub. Don鈥檛 dawdle too long at either or you鈥檒l lose time because, tired as you are by now, it鈥檚 a long way to the foot of Ingleborough. Then it鈥檚 straight up.

Even when you鈥檝e reached the top of Ingleborough you still have another five miles to go to return to the caf茅. And on the way ignore a weathered finger-post which says it鈥檚 one-and-a-half miles to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

It鈥檚 not, it鈥檚 probably about double that. Back at the caf茅 you can clock back in as long as you registered with them before you left.

Hopefully you鈥檒l have done it within the time of 12 hours. We did. Ten hours, 34 minutes. In so doing we raised a goodly sum for 大象传媒 North Yorkshire鈥檚 Follow the Rainbow Appeal.