Nearing a year in Manchester, it seemed appropriate to continue exploring as many of the surrounding landscapes as possible. With the taste of a challenging Bromptoneering escapade still lingering, and no ‘proper’ bike of my own, stomping over Yorkshire’s Three Peaks sounded plenty fun.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks is a popular hiking challenge taking you around a 24-mile circular route. This route has a total ascent of 1,585m, going over famous hills Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Whilst most aim to finish this challenge in about 10 hours or so, the record time to complete the route is a fair bit quicker at 2 hours 46 minutes, set by Andy Peace in 1996. But regardless of how quickly you aim to do it, I’d recommend giving it a go. 

Not being one to adventure much alone, I gathered six more pals consisting of Alec, JP, Mitch, Brandon (all four of whom I’ve seen many miles bikepacking the south with), Harry (friend/flatmate) and Tom (Head of Merchandising at Outsiders). 

Starting the bank holiday weekend, we converged at a busy campsite situated along the circular route. Introductions and catching up completed; the firepit was now ready for Brandon’s freshly-made dough and Alec’s interestingly grilled haloumi. As gloomy skies became rainfall, we went to bed, hoping for the weather to blow over by morning. Reading the forecast and listening to raindrops tapping my tent, I couldn’t help but think about Charlie’s stern warning to remember sunscreen. 

Once brekkie had been eaten and coffee drank, it was time to set off. An odd bunch putting one foot in front of the other, clad in an array of ‘anti-trad’ attire. 

Much of the journey filled with muttering comments that it’d be faster and ‘funner’, laden upon a saddle and two wheels. The walk became a time to scout potential bike routes where bikes weren’t allowed anyway.  

Before reaching the second peak, we’d reached the fourth. Rather than a looming mountain, it came in the shape of a food van. Whilst Mitch enjoyed a monster pork pie, some indulged in bacon and egg baps, freshly made. We all enjoyed this quick pit stop before the final leg towards Ribblehead Viaduct and the highest peak of the three, Whernside. 

In our usual competitive spirits, a few of us had decided that overtaking other hikers was now some sort of priority. We sped along far ahead, before halting when the path widened and awkwardly waving at the hikers we’d passed, as we now needed to wait for our friends. This pattern repeated, but it was enjoyable to keep saying “hi” to the lovely lady who smashed this same hike solo. 

Yet again, at the top we were rewarded with foggy, misty, windy conditions. With nothing to view from here, it was best to make our way down below the clouds. Itching for a change of pace, JP, Mitch and I ran to the bottom of Whernside, with JP occasionally slamming the brakes to conduct his botany research; photographing flowers he found interesting and/or couldn’t identify. 

Caning it downhill tested how well my knees were holding up under the mass amounts of sports tape — with an uncanny resemblance to a kneepad wearing ‘vert skater’ (or at least according to JP). 

As we neared the base of Ingleborough, we used some scattered rocks as seating for our second lunch. Mitch and JP enjoying their now-cold dehydrated meals that had been prepared in the morning and Brandon his partner’s homemade ‘love mix’. Energy now restored, marching continued. Not long after, we were gawking at the steep ascent ahead. Luckily whilst climbing we were able to enjoy the stunning views, until the fog swept in along the paved straight section, and we were greeted with a stomach-turning mega turd…