It may be on the Pennine Way, but that aside, Great Shunner Fell is a byword for solitude.
Walking Route - Great Shunner Fell, Dales
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Hardraw > Great
Shunner Fell >`Lovely Seat > Hardraw
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Distance: 12 miles
(19.2km)
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Height Gain: 2183 ft
(665m)
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Great Shunner Fell is one one of the few summits
traversed by the Pennine Way, but apart from the procession
of long distance walkers this is a place for solitude.
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Maps: OS LR 98 Explorer
OL19
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: SD
866 911
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Overview Great Shunner Fell is one one of the few summits
traversed by the Pennine Way, but apart from the procession of long
distance walkers this is a place for solitude.
Although starting out just north of the popular Dales village of
Hawes it's often the "big three" peaks of the Yorkshire Dales that
draw the attention and the only view most people get of Great Shunner
Fell is from the road to Butter Tubs.
Wendsleydale? Cracking scenery, Grommit - Dave Mycroft
Section 1: Hardraw to Great Shunner Fell
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Distance: 4.6 miles (7.4km)
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Height Gain: 1604ft (489m)
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Average Time: 2 hour 45 mins
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From Hardraw
the route commences at the signposted footpath to Thwaite, climbing
steadily along the Pennine Way long distance trail. For the first two
miles the path hides between drystone walls before emerging ontoopen
moorland at a stile.
At the fork continue uphill along the Pennine Way footpath, which
cuts a wide swathe across the moorland and is visible even in bad
weather. Between Hearne Top and Black
Hill Moss the area to the right is pitted with swallow holes
so take great care not to stray too far off the path.
The path continues its slow steady progress over Hearne Edge to
Hearne Head, where the gradient eases as you approach the summit of
Great
Shunner Fell. From here the views extend north over Swaledale
to the Northern Pennines, south east down Wensleydale and east to the
eastern fells of the Lake District.
Great
Shunner Fell's summit - John Fitzpatrick
Section 2: Great Shunner Fell to Lovely Seat
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Distance: 3 miles (4.7km)
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Height Gain: 532ft (162m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 30 mins
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From the summit of
Great Shunner Fell the Pennine Way
continues its way north east, but our route turns right, heading
east.
Birkdale
Common from the Grat Shunner Fell - John
Fitzpatrick
The 200ft height difference between Great and Little Shunner Fells
is almost inperceptible and though not quite the highway of the
Pennine Way the path is easy to pick up.
At Grimy Gutter Hags the path turns right in an arc before
dropping down the last few yards to the road at a cattle grid.
Cross straight over the road and commence the climb on the
opposite side. Five hundred feet of ascent brings you to Lovely
Seat, and more views of Ingleborough, Pen Y Ghent and
Whernside to the south and south west.
Section 3: Lovely Seat to Hardraw
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Distance: 4.4 miles (7.1km)
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Height Gain: 47ft (14m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 45 mins
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From the summit of Lovely Seat the route heads almost due south
across open moorland to the twin edges of High and Low Millstones.
Now the geology shifts from millstone grit to limestone again, and
below Bleak Haw the water runs off into more swallow holes.
On reaching the wide track above High Clint turn left and head
east to North Rakes Hill. Now swing round sharply to the right and
descend steeply to join Shutt Lane and the short walk into Sedbusk.
A narrow path runs between the houses opposite a phone box to a
series of stiles and fields and into Simonstone. From the Simonstone
Hotel take the footpath signposted to Hardraw and back to your
starting point. If you didn't include it on your outward journey now
is a good time to take in the impressive Hardraw Force falls -
above.
