| Gragareth(627m) |
| Green Hill(628m) |
| Great Coum(687m) |
| Whernside(736m) |
Peaks climbed : Gragareth (627m), Green Hill (628m), Great Coum (687m), Whernside (736m)
Total Distance : 18.7km, Total Ascent : 764m
The road to the parking area is a very narrow single track road with some passing places. Parking is available very close to Yordas Cave in a space which would allow maybe four cars, so worth arriving early, although it is worth parking either right at the back or right at the front otherwise there is a risk of grounding the car if trying to get out mid-way. We parked right at the front but even so, some muppet decided the passing place was suitable parking so parked right in front of us! Clearly unconcerned that it would be difficult for us to get out.
Packed and ready we walked the few minutes through the gate and into the wooded area where we quickly located the entrance to the cave. It is quite a small entrance but soon opens up into a huge cavern with water running everywhere, including dripping from the ceiling! A short explore and we were out into the bright sunshine and on our way up the first mountain of the day; Gragareth (627m) which was also the lowest peak we would climb today. Having said that, it was a good pull up on very steep ground to reach the ridge, then a short walk left to the trig point that signified the summit. From here we had great views across to Whernside and beyond, plus views across to Morcambe Bay and Ingleborough. Today was clear and bright and whilst there were clouds, they were several thousand feet higher than us and nothing to worry about.
Soon bored with this summit we retraced our steps to the wall and followed it on the left hand side in the direction of Green Hill (628m). The route was quite boggy and we had to deviate from the line multiple times to avoid the worst, needless to say, our boots were quite damp at the end of it, some boots damper than others as certain people ignored the rather sensible avoiding advice, convinced there was a direct line - there isn't! Drier ground was reached as we ascended the final section of Green Hill. My Outdoor Active had the summit at one point and Chris, who was using the OS maps had it some 200m further on. Unable to resist I walked across to what was given as the summit, then happy with that, we continued to the OS version which actually proved to be the right one! Either way, I'd summitted.
Onward and upward we soon reached the summit of Great Coum (687m) which was also disappointing as a summit but an excellent view point of the Yorkshire peaks all around.
Not stopping long, we headed down the valley in the direction of Whernside on a vague path. This took us steeply down to the, so called, Occupation Road, which we would soon discover, was something of a misnomer. Before we set off along the road, however, it was lunchtime so we settled down for our sandwiches and a well earned rest.
That done, off we went. The road was really hard going, being very wet, very bouldery and very slippery! Finally we reached better ground which then led us to the same narrow lane that we had driven up, although a mile or two further on. A short way along this to the right, we picked up the main ascent path on our left. It immediately goes steeply up following a wall which appears to flatten out when viewed from below, but is a long way from the actual summit! Reaching the first ridge gives a short but well earned break from the climbing, but then goes steeply up again to meet the final ramp to the summit trig point.
It is a popular mountain with several groups arriving from different directions including a couple of guys doing the 'Three Peaks'. What a day for it, sunshine, great views and cool but not cold.
We enjoyed the views and the rest then set off down the ridge, breaking off right at a stile which took us into pathless countryside. We could see the wooded area by the cave so had something to aim at, then located tracks made by a large caterpillar tracked vehicle so used those as an easy way down, although we did still manage to step into some holes, resulting in spectacular acrobatics trying to recover. Finally we reached the road again with one final bridge to cross, we had a short walk along the road back to the car.
