Great Whernside

[Fellhound]

Certainly one of the best if not the best descent in the Dales

Blimey.... I like this race but these are seriously big accolades guys!! Is there really notthing better in the Dales..?

[Derby Tup]

Blimey.... I like this race but these are seriously big accolades guys!! Is there really notthing better in the Dales..?

Are we safe in saying it is one of the better races that start in Kettlewell, in the second half of the year, before dinnertime, err, on a Saturday?

[Fellhound]

Hang on, lemme check....

[Stolly]

Blimey.... I like this race but these are seriously big accolades guys!! Is there really notthing better in the Dales..?

I think Great Whernside's descent is liked because so much of it is on almost a perfectly banked sheep grazed lawn. It is fantastic fun to run down - a bit tricky near the top but super fast nearer the bottom. I'm not sure what constitutes a 'great descent' anyway and presumably everyone prefers different things. I personally think that the best descent I've been down in the Dales (that actually appears in a fell race) is the Pen Y Ghent fell race route descent where, having come off the main bit of the hill you then whiz down through the grass on a fairly slick trod all the way to Hull Pot.

If you're talking about non-fell race descents, then there are frigging loads of good 'uns: Gragareth trig down to Yorda's Cave in Kingsdale, Park Fell into Ribblesdale, Firth Fell down to Buckden, Whernside trig down into Kingsdale (albeit a bit short), Whernside trig down to Ribblehead (the reverse of the 3P ascent and an absolute humdinger), the monks path just above Yew Cougar Scar down into Arncliffe, Weets Top down to Calton, Kirkby Fell down to Malham, Moughton down to Helwith Bridge (on the grassy slope between the quarries) and...well the list could go on.

Don't you diss the Dales Fellhound

[Tussockface]

Blimey.... I like this race but these are seriously big accolades guys!! Is there really notthing better in the Dales..?

I can't actually think of of a Dales race with a more insanely runnable finish.

[mr brightside]

The narrow wall gap is fun too, slows down a lot of the *ahem* larger competitors allowing whippets like myself to gain ground.

[Trog]

Where does the route go?

Thanks

[mr brightside]

Where does the route go?

Thanks

Start in registration field in Kettlewell SD975726, run NE up footpath to Hag Dike bunk barn thing at SD990733, continue NW to summit trig at SE002738, back same way.

[Fellhound]

Don't you diss the Dales Fellhound

No Dales-dissing here Stolly

Actually, having thought about it, it IS probably the best in a race.

A favourite of mine is Buckden Pike down to Buckden by the main path, which actually used to be part of the race many years ago. The new route is better overall but the more direct descent used now is broken by a long undulating traverse.

[Trog]

Start in registration field in Kettlewell SD975726, run NE up footpath to Hag Dike bunk barn thing at SD990733, continue NW to summit trig at SE002738, back same way.

Thank you