Walking the boggy part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk?

Q. I am intending to do the Three Peaks Yorkshire this May. Having read some comments, I am concerned about the boggy bit, I have some mobility probs, ie-am unable to bend my Knee beyond 80 degrees, is the boggy bit gonna be too much, ie - will I easily loose my balance.

Is no alternative route considered acceptable to qualify as completing the three peaks challenge?

Alan Robinson, Keighley

A. The Yorkshire Three Peaks route was changed during the winter of 2012 after a number of challengers ended up waist deep in boggy ground. Instead of crossing Todber Moss, Black Dubb Moss and Red Moss, it now goes south of Hull Pot to cross Whitber Hill, Sell Gill Beck, Sell Gill Hill, Jackdaw Hole and Penyghent Churn to rejoin the original route on High Pasture.

The good news is that this new route avoids the boggy bit altogether.

Our definitive route guide has been amended to reflect this change - so don't risk attempting this walk without all the latest route information.

Mike (editor)

A. The Horton Moor section is very, very, boggy in winter when it is wet and after melting snow very, very, very boggy and there is no way of avoiding it. There is one stream 3 foot wide(I forget the name)which to add insult to injury is in the middle of the worst boggy bit and the only way over is to jump! And then there is Hull Pot Beck which when full can only be crossed by wading (I have seen people take to putting black bin liners around their legs??. But if you pick the middle of summer on that dry day we get each year - you should be alright. I was told recently by folk repairing the path down from Whernside that the reason none of the section between Penyghent and Whernside has been improved is because the land owners consistently refuse permission but that may not be correct?

Roger Pollard, Shipley

A. If my memory serves me well, the section on Horton Moor, coming down from Pen-y-Ghent, was not so much boggy as very uneven, being rocks and heather for the most part. The ground was not really boggy, although it was quite wet. It just means paying careful attention to where you are putting your feet. It doesn't compare one bit with Black Hill, near Crowden, on the Pennine Way!

Peter Royle, Uckfield, East Sussex

A. Unfortunately, the section across Horton Moor can be boggy - particularly after heavy rain and the passage of many pounding but determined feet.

Unfortunately, this boggy area is very wide and pretty much unavoidable. However, if you choose to do the walk in the summer and after a longish dry spell you should not have any difficulties since it won't be that boggy - more just a bit squelchy and soft really.

Give it a go - you'll enjoy it.

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

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