Buckden Pike
| Buckden Pike | |
|---|---|
 The hill from Tor Mere Top, a mile to the south. | |
| Elevation | 702 m (2,303 ft) |
| Prominence | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Parent peak | Great Whernside |
| Listing | Hewitt, Marilyn |
| Location | |
  Buckden Pike | |
| OS grid | SD961787 |
| Coordinates | 54°12′15.5″N 2°3′32.5″W / 54.204306°N 2.059028°WCoordinates: 54°12′15.5″N 2°3′32.5″W / 54.204306°N 2.059028°W |
| Topo map | OS Outdoor Leisure 30 |
Buckden Pike is a mountain at the head of Wharfedale, a valley in the Yorkshire Dales, that stands above the village of Buckden. At 702 metres (2,303 ft), it narrowly misses out on being the highest peak in the area, the title instead going to nearby Great Whernside (704 metres). The summit is marked by a trig point.
Routes of ascent
Unlike other nearby mountains, such as the ever popular Yorkshire Three Peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent - Buckden Pike is less frequented by walkers, possibly because of its location on the edge of the National Park. Nevertheless, it is still a popular objective for fellwalkers. Perhaps the easiest and shortest route up the mountain is a bridleway from Buckden, although this is steep and boggy in parts, and therefore somewhat unsuitable for cyclists and those on horseback.
Another route, on Access Land, follows Buckden Beck as far as the disused Buckden Lead Mine, then joins a Permitted Footpath to the summit.
A longer and more challenging walk is one that includes Buckden Pike and nearby Great Whernside, which would typically start/finish (and vice versa) at Kettlewell or Buckden, and could be made into a circular walk by returning to the starting village on the Dales Way alongside the River Wharfe.
Buckden Pike Memorial Cross
To the south of the summit is a memorial cross, dedicated to the memory of five Polish airmen of the Royal Air Force who crashed their Wellington Bomber on 30 January 1942. The memorial was created by, with help from various locals, the sole survivor of the crash Jozef "Joe" Fusniak, and completed on 8 August 1973. Read more at: www.buckdenpike.co.uk
The view
The views from the summit can be described as some of the finest in the area. The most extensive are to the East and West. To the East is the ridge running from Little Whernside to the summit of Wharfedale's highest peak, Great Whernside. To the West are views into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, including mountains such as The Yorkshire Three Peaks, as well as closer peaks such as Firth Fell and Yockenthwaite Moor. To be found close to the summit is a large wooden pole, standing vertically; it has a number of large holes focused on different views and is labelled with information cards.
Buckden Pike Fell Race
Every year, Buckden Pike is host to the Buckden Pike Fell Race, on the day of the village gala in June. The route covers 4 miles and nearly 500 metres (1500 ft) of ascent. The race record is held by Colin Donnelly who, in 1988, completed the course in a time of 30:51; the women's record is held by Carol Greenwood who ran 36:32 in 1996.
See also
References
- "Buckden Pike", Buckden, Wharfedale Community Website
- The Buckden Pike Memorial Cross Homepage
- Buckden Pike Walk
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buckden Pike. |
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