North Pennines
Little Whernside
605M
1985FT
About Little Whernside
Often overlooked in favour of its 'Great' neighbour, this peat-clad Tump offers a wilder, lonelier experience than the more famous Dales peaks. Rising between Wharfedale and Nidderdale, the terrain is notoriously boggy, but the reward is a tranquil summit looking directly down onto the shimmering Angram and Scar House reservoirs.
Key Statistics
Rank
94th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
78.5m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
You are walking on layers of hardy sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These tough rocks, part of the Millstone Grit, form the fell's rugged and solid foundation.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SE028776
Latitude
54.1942°N
Longitude
1.9586°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Whernside' likely derives from the Old English 'cwern', meaning millstone, indicating that the gritstone found on these slopes was historically used to produce hand-mills for grinding grain.
- •To the north lies Dead Man’s Hill, part of a ridge that formed an ancient corpse road once used by residents of Upper Nidderdale to transport their dead to the church at Horsehouse for burial.
- •The summit offers a clear, bird's-eye view of the Victorian engineering at the head of the Nidd valley, specifically the massive stone dams of the Angram and Scar House reservoirs.
- •The 'Little' in its name is strictly relative; while it sits lower than its neighbour Great Whernside, the absence of a paved path means you will likely work much harder for this summit than you would on the Three Peaks.