The 3 Peaks of Yorkshire Challenge, Saturday July 7th 2007

[Jon]

Dear All,

You might be interested in this…

The Three Peaks of Yorkshire Challenge – Saturday July 7th 2007

The charity Marie Curie organises the three peaks challenge on this date: [url](http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/events/mountainchallenges/[/url]

I ran it last year independently (but made a donation). Because of the large numbers attempting this challenge (mostly walking) you seldom need to refer to a map.

“Suits You!”So here’s the idea…pick the challenge that suits you:
Run the whole distance or run/walk the whole distance or walk/run one or two peaks, what ever you feel like.

The start is from the Pen-y-ghent café in Houghton in Ribblesdale, where you register by way of an ancient factory clocking on machine. An 8am start will give most of the walkers time to mark out the route! Then set off on the 24+ miles of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

We plan to stay at the Little Stainforth campsite – they give you more space and I only have to deal with my own snoring!

Any ideas/questions please get in touch.

Cheers

Jon


There are plenty of pubs to stay in:

Houghton in Ribblesdale
The Crown Hotel - Main Rd, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle, BD24 0HF (01729 860209)
http://www.crown-hotel.co.uk/

The Golden Lion Hotel - Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle, BD24 0HB (01729 860206)
http://www.goldenlionhotel.co.uk/

Stainforth
The Craven Heifer Hotel - Main Rd, Stainforth, Settle, BD24 9PB (01729 822599)
http://www.cravenheiferhotel.co.uk/index.html

Or if you enjoy camping then perhaps try one of these:

Houghton in Ribblesdale
Holme Farm, Horton In Ribblesdale Settle, BD24 0HD (:01729 860281)
Basic site but right in the centre of Horton next to the start and walking distance from the two pubs above. Also very cheap. No caravans.

Little Stainforth
Knight Stainforth Hall Caravan & Camping, Little Stainforth, Settle BD24 0DP (01729 822200)
http://www.knightstainforth.fsnet.co.uk/home.htm
Bigger site with better facilities, located by Stainforth Force (waterfall on River Ribble) and walking distance from The Craven Heifer pub in Stainforth.

Related links:
The Horton Post office…
http://www.hortonpostoffice.co.uk/index.cfm

The Three Peaks Race Committee have been awarded the honour of hosting the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge in 2008 (In 2006 Mike Nelson got around in 3:38, and placed 38th - well done!!)
http://www.threepeaksrace.org.uk/[/b]

[Beneficial Dictator]

My personal view is that members should think carefully before supporting these large scale organised events which although for worthy charitable causes can cause a lot of disturbance to local residents etc.
I have no experience of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks being used for this purpose but much of the British 3 Peaks. Here I have personally experienced car / minibus parking mayhem at Wasdale Head in the Lakes and lots of noise at unsocial hours ( very early in the morning ) and followed a trail of litter to Scafell Pike. The participants tend to get very focussed on their important fund raising venture and loose site of the nuisance they are causing. I have seen similar issues ocurring at Pen Y Pass with regard Snowdon.

I speak with my former British Mountaineering Council committee members hat on. The BMC generally discourages these large events.

Much better to do the 3 Peaks independantly as a small group as Jon did and make a donation to charity if you wish.

[Julian Brown]

We did the Marie Curie Y3P event a couple of years ago, it's very well run and organised and not really large scale (I think about 150 folk did it - so not even many compared to the race !), the organisers get support from (and give a donation to) mountain rescue, so have radio contact, transport for retirements etc.

It's basically a walk, but we told them we'd set off late and jog a bit, they were fine with that.

Didn't actually see many people on the route compared with eg edale skyline, chatsworth, dovedale etc.

Paths are much improved these days (but that's another debate!!) so reducing erosion etc.

Fully agree with Craig re UK 3 peaks etc. though, it's just a totally inappropriate 'challenge'.

There should also be a reasonable limit on the number on any event, based on what the local infrastructure can take.