The Yorkshire Dales has a bit of a bottleneck problem. If you ask most people about the highest points in the area, they’ll point you straight toward the Three Peaks—Whernside, Ingleborough, and Pen-y-ghent. They are great hills, but because they are so well-known, they’ve become incredibly busy. The Dales 30 was created to solve that. It’s a list that encourages walkers to look at the map differently, moving away from the paved paths of the tourist hotspots and into the quieter, often more rewarding corners of the National Park and its Cumbrian fringes.

The Dales 30 at a Glance

Statistic	Detail
Total Count	30 Original (Plus 4 added after the 2016 boundary extension)
Height Requirement	Minimum 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
Prominence / Drop Rule	30 meters (98.4 feet) on all sides
Authority / Keeper	Jonathan Smith (Where2Walk)
Highest Point	Whernside: 736 meters (2,415 feet)
Lowest Point	Birks Fell: 610 meters (2,001 feet)
Most Remote	The Calf: 676 meters (2,218 feet)
Easiest Access	Whernside (from Ribblehead) or Pen-y-ghent
Hardest to Summit	High Seat (due to terrain/peat hags) or The Calf (distance)
Record (Men)	19 hours 58 minutes (Traditional 30 - Brennan Townshend, 2020)

The History and the "Why"

The list isn't an ancient classification. It was compiled by Jonathan Smith, a mountain leader and researcher who runs the Where2Walk website. His motivation was simple: he wanted to highlight that the Dales is about much more than just the "Big Three."

Before the Dales 30 became a recognized challenge, walkers in the North of England were often obsessed with the Wainwrights in the Lake District or the Munros in Scotland. The Dales tended to be viewed as a place for valley walks or for the singular challenge of the 24-mile Three Peaks circuit. By identifying every summit over 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) with a qualifying drop, Smith created a framework that forced people to visit places like the Howgill Fells and the wilder ridges above Mallerstang.

The name "Dales 30" originally referred to the count—when the list was first drawn up, there were exactly 30 peaks that met the criteria within the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. In 2016, the park was extended to the north and west, bringing a significant chunk of Cumbrian land into the fold. This expansion meant that four more peaks—The Calf, Calders, Fell Head, and Bush Howe—now technically met the criteria. While the name "Dales 30" stuck for branding purposes, most people now recognize the full set of 34 as the complete challenge.

The Classification Logic

The Dales 30 is built on a very specific set of rules. For a hill to make the cut, it has to meet two criteria:

Height: It must be at least 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) above sea level.
Prominence: It must have a "drop" or "re-ascent" of at least 30 meters (98.4 feet) on all sides.

It’s a bit of a happy coincidence that the 30-meter (98.4-foot) prominence rule aligns with the original count of the hills. Many hills in the Dales are part of long, high-altitude plateaus. Without a prominence rule, you could argue that every little bump on a ridge is a separate summit. By requiring that 30-meter drop, the list ensures that each peak is a distinct geographical feature. You have to go down and come back up again to claim the next one.

This logic is similar to how "Hewitts" (Hills in England, Wales, and Ireland over Two Thousand feet) are classified, but those require a 30-meter drop as well. The Dales 30 essentially takes that Hewitt logic and applies it strictly to the geography of the Dales.

The Terrain Identity

One of the best things about working through this list is seeing how the character of the land changes. The Dales isn't one giant slab of limestone; it’s a mix of different geological stories.

In the south and east, you have the classic "Yorkshire" feel. This is the land of limestone pavements, dry stone walls, and gritstone caps. Hills like Ingleborough 723 meters (2,372 feet) and Pen-y-ghent 694 meters (2,277 feet) have that iconic stepped profile. The ground here is often firm, but the paths are heavily managed because of the sheer volume of walkers.

As you move north and west into the "plus four" territory of the Howgills, the limestone disappears. The Howgills are often described as looking like "a huddle of sleeping elephants." These are steep, rounded fells covered in short, velvet-like grass. There are very few walls and even fewer crags. It’s a completely different experience—no rocky scrambles, just relentless, steep gradients and massive, sweeping views.

Then you have the "in-between" fells like High Seat 709 meters (2,326 feet) and Wild Boar Fell 708 meters (2,323 feet). These are the wilder, boggy ridges. This is where you encounter the infamous "peat hags"—deep, black trenches of mud that can make a mile of walking feel like three. This is the terrain that gives the Dales its reputation for being "tough underfoot." It’s not technically difficult in a climbing sense, but it’s physically draining.

Cultural Elements and Names

The names of these hills tell you exactly who was living here a thousand years ago. The Dales was a Norse stronghold, and the language of the Vikings is still written all over the summits.

Fell: From the Old Norse fjall, meaning mountain. Most of the hills in the list carry this suffix, like Great Shunner Fell 716 meters (2,349 feet).
Ghyll or Gill: From gil, a narrow valley or ravine. You’ll often follow a gill up to reach the high ground.
Pen: This is an older, Brittonic/Celtic word for "head" or "hill." Pen-y-ghent 694 meters (2,277 feet) is a rare survivor of the language spoken before the Vikings and Saxons arrived. It roughly translates to "Hill of the Border" or "Hill of the Winds."
Whernside: The name comes from quern, the stone used for grinding corn. The gritstone on Whernside 736 meters (2,415 feet) was perfect for making these stones.

In terms of conservation, the Dales faces a constant battle with "path braiding." This happens when a path becomes boggy and walkers move to the side to find firmer ground, eventually killing the vegetation and widening the scar. Organizations like the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority spend a huge amount of time and money pitching paths with stone to prevent this. When you see a paved section of path on Whernside, it’s not there to make it easier for you; it’s there to protect the peat and the heather from being trampled into a swamp.

Beginner Recommendations

If you’re looking to start exploring these summits but don't want to dive straight into a ten-mile bog-trot, there are a few sensible entry points.

Whernside 736 meters (2,415 feet): It’s the highest in the Dales, but from the Ribblehead Viaduct, the path is so well-trodden that navigation is straightforward. It gives you the best view of the Ingleton fells and the Irish Sea on a clear day.
Great Knoutberry Hill 672 meters (2,205 feet): This is a fantastic "bang for your buck" hill. You can start from the top of Coal Road near Dent station, which is already quite high up. It’s a short, steady climb to a summit that offers one of the best 360-degree views in the entire park.
Pen-y-ghent 694 meters (2,277 feet): Starting from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, it’s a classic. There is a very short, easy scramble near the top that makes it feel like a "proper" mountain without being dangerous.

Warnings and High-Difficulty Peaks

While the Dales 30 doesn't involve any Grade 1 scrambles or narrow ridges like the Lake District, it has its own dangers.

The Howgill Fells (The Calf and surrounding peaks):
The Howgills are notoriously disorienting. Because the fells are so rounded and look so similar, it is incredibly easy to lose your bearings if the mist comes down. There are very few landmarks—no walls, no cairns, just grass. If you’re heading to The Calf 676 meters (2,218 feet), you need to be very confident with a map and compass.

The Mallerstang Peat Hags:
Hills like High Seat 709 meters (2,326 feet) and Archy Styrigg 682 meters (2,238 feet) are famous for their peat. In wet weather, the ground between these summits can become almost impassable. There is a real risk of sinking waist-deep if you aren't careful. It’s not "dangerous" in the sense of falling off a cliff, but it can lead to exhaustion and hypothermia if you get stuck out there in bad weather.

Wild Boar Fell 708 meters (2,323 feet):
This is one of the most magnificent hills on the list, but it has a very steep eastern escarpment. In winter, when there’s snow on the ground, these edges can form cornices (overhanging snow). It’s a beautiful spot, but you need to give the edge a wide birth in winter conditions.

Walking the Dales 30 isn't about rushing to finish a list. It’s about realizing that the beauty of the Dales isn't just in the famous views, but in the miles of empty, wind-swept moorland in between. Whether you’re standing on the gritstone edge of Wild Boar Fell or navigating the steep grass of the Howgills, you’re seeing a side of the country that most people never bother to find.

View The Dales 30

View The Dales 30 Database

Learn About Other Classifications

Essential Resources

If you’re planning to head out, avoid relying solely on digital apps. The battery life on a phone won't last a full day in the cold, and GPS can be patchy in the deep gills.

The Official Guidebook: The Dales 30 by Jonathan Smith is the primary resource. It contains the history and suggested routes for every peak.
Local Knowledge: The "Where2Walk" website remains the best digital hub for updates on path closures or new access rules.

Hills Featured in this Guide

Hill Name	Metric Height	Imperial Height
Whernside	736m	2,415ft
Ingleborough	723m	2,372ft
Great Shunner Fell	716m	2,349ft
High Seat	709m	2,326ft
Wild Boar Fell	708m	2,323ft
Gregory Chapel	695m	2,280ft
Pen-y-ghent	694m	2,277ft
Hugh Seat	689m	2,260ft
Great Haw	684m	2,244ft
Archy Styrigg	682m	2,238ft
The Calf (Howgills)	676m	2,218ft
Lovely Seat	675m	2,215ft
Great Knoutberry Hill	672m	2,205ft
Fountains Fell	668m	2,192ft
Birks Fell	610m	2,001ft

The Dales 30: A Quieter Way to See the High Country