Walking Britain Yorkshire Dales Walk
Great Shunner Fell from Hardraw
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL20 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL20 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 98 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 98 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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This North Yorkshire walk takes you to the summit of Great Shunner Fell (716 metres), the third highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This linear route uses the Pennine Way which makes navigation an easier task than it might be when you consider the terrain.
The start is the village of Hardraw where limited roadside parking is available at the west end of the village (grid ref. SD865912). After parking walk towards the village. Turn left onto the Pennine Way (signed Thwaite and Cotterdale). You now have about 7 kilometres following the Pennine Way to the summit of Great Shunner Fell. Initially the path follows a walled track. The track climbs steadily and where the walled track ends after 1.5 kilometres, you reach open country (grid ref. SD857921).
A few metres later the track forks. Take the left fork staying on the Pennine Way. The clear track continues to climb across the moor. For a brief section there is a wall on your immediate left and after passing the section of wall, the gradient steepens. Reaching a gate (grid ref. SD848932). Go through the gate, pass a sheepfold on your left, and shortly after turn right still following the Pennine Way.
The way ahead is still easy to follow rising across a wild moorland landscape. As you approach Great Shunner Fell's summit the path bears to the right and a wonderful view opens up for you to enjoy. Highlights of the panorama include Swaledale with its patchwork of green fields and hay barns and the view west to Wild Boar Fell. If like me, you have frequently walked in this area you will be able to identify many of the places you have walked in the past.
With the hard work now over you can retrace your route back to the start at Hardraw. With very few exceptions the path is downhill all the way and you can relax and enjoy the view to the south across Wensleydale to the higher ground of Three Peaks Country.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3621 Great Shunner Fell & Lovely Seat - mod/hard - 11.4 miles/18.5 km
Walk 3524 Semer Water and Cam High Road from Bainbridge - easy/mod - 5.7 miles/9.3 km
Walk 1053 Swinner Gill and Muker from Thwaite - mod/hard - 8.5 miles/13.8 km
Walk 2409 The Upper Eden valley without a car - moderate - 12.0 miles/19.5 km
Walk 2822 Aysgarth & Castle Bolton From Askrigg - mod/hard - 14.5 miles/23.6 km
Walk 1694 Nappa Hall & Whitfield Gill Force from Askrigg - easy/mod - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 1384 Mallerstang Edge from Aisgill Moor - moderate - 8.8 miles/14.2 km
Walk 1340 Muker & Upper Swaledale from Keld - easy/mod - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 1160 Wild Boar Fell & Swarth Fell from Cotegill Bridge - moderate - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 1056 Gunnerside & Surrender Bridge - moderate - 10.3 miles/16.7 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: North and East
This guidebook contains 43 circular day walks in the north and east Yorkshire Dales. It explores the dales, hills and moors between Kirkby Stephen and Pateley Bridge. Walking ranges from gentle 3 mile strolls to more strenuous day-long rambles across the Howgills, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale, Mallerstang and Coverdale.
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Map and Compass
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