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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0
The Three Peaks of
Yorkshire 40 Years On
In June 1974 I was among a gaggle of Stationers undertaking
the annual pilgrimage to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.
Despite the fact that it bore no affinity to the curriculum of
the day, our enthusiastic geographic teacher - one Mr Geraint
Pritchard - insisted that we should all undertake the Three
Peaks Walk - a gruelling 27 mile hike over three of Yorkshire's
highest fells, nominally to be completed within 12 hours. I
subsequently recounted the trials and tribulations of that
exercise in the 'Geography Field Courses Report' published in
the 'The Stationer' volume 62, a copy of which I recently
unearthed in my loft.
About a year ago I had a phone call from fellow Old Stationer
and Three-Peaker Mike Brookes. He said 'Do you fancy
doing the Three Peaks again before we are both past it?' Both
Mike and I are former members of Hornsey's Oakleaf
Venture Scout Unit, and have continued to meet up at regular
intervals over the years for walking weekends. So we set a
date and organised a training schedule. This was complicated
by Mike having to undergo knee surgery a few months before
the walk. Mike claimed that his long-standing knee problem
was down to playing too much football too late in life (by the
time he stopped playing he was as follicularly challenged as
Bobby Charlton, although there the similarity ends).
Nevertheless, the knee came through the practice hikes
unperturbed, and Mike subsequently got the all clear. Our
respective families, possibly knowing that they would never
hear the last of it unless they relented (we had been welltrained
in the art of persuasion by Mr Pritchard) displayed an
uncharacteristic enthusiasm for also participating. Mike's
younger brother Alan - another Old Stationer/Three Peaker
from a few years after us - had the rather feeble excuse that
he was already booked up to see the Austrian Grand Prix that
weekend, so he generously nominated his wife Jan to do the
walk instead of him.
An early start at Ribblehead Viaduct. From left to right: Mike Brookes, Richard Griffiths, Margaret Griffiths, Alex
Brookes (son of Mike), Charlotte Brookes (daughter of Alan and Jan Brookes); Katy Hardy (girlfriend of Ollie Brookes);
Ollie Brookes (son of Alan and Jan Brookes), Jan Brookes (sister-in-law of Mike). Photo by Gareth Griffiths
So on the Saturday 23 June 2014, a party of nine, comprising
two Old Stationers, one wife, one sister-in-law, and an
assortment of offspring/girlfriends assembled at 7.30 am at
Ribblehead Viaduct for the ascent of Whernside. After much
discussion, we had opted for a non-traditional route, taking in
the highest peak first. The Three Peaks guidebook describes
this ascent accurately and succinctly unremittingly steep! At
one stage Jan was almost using the wire fence that followed
the so-called path as a ladder. However, unlike four decades
previously when we tackled the climb in mist and rain, the
weather was clear and dry. The
downside of the clear weather
was that both Pen-y-Ghent
and Ingleborough were clearly
visible from the summit, and
any raised spirits on
conquering the first peak were
dampened by the realisation
of just how far remained to be
walked. Nevertheless, it was
9.15 am and the first peak was
in the bag. We set off down
the ridge in the direction of
Philpin Farm, where there was
a very welcoming refreshment
kiosk. The GPS told me how
fast we had been walking and
what distance we had covered,
and I estimated that we were
about 45 mins behind
schedule. Urging the group
onwards, we crossed the
Ingleton-Hawes road, and
started the ascent of
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