Wardle Scouts complete Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise over £2,600 for international trips

Wednesday, 7 May 2025 00:20

By David Murphy

A group of Scouts and Explorers from Wardle Scout Group successfully completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday 3 May to raise funds for future international travel opportunities.

The group, which included young people aged 11 to 17, adult volunteers, leaders, parents and supporters, began the challenge at 7am in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. They walked the full 26-mile route, taking in the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, with a total ascent of around 1,500 metres.

The walkers completed the challenge in under 12 hours, the standard time target for the Three Peaks route, which is often used for charity or team endurance events.

So far, the group has raised more than £2,600. All funds will go towards helping members of the Wardle Scout Group participate in international trips organised by the group.

One of the participants, 13-year-old Scout Orla, described the effort involved in the final stretch: “Once we got to the bottom of Ingleborough, we just kept going and never stopped. All the way up and all the way back down and back to the campsite to do it in under 12 hours. When we reached the railway station at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, we only had minutes left to do it, so we ran the final bit back to site, finishing with 20 seconds to go.”

She added: “I was very tired but happy and very proud of myself once we’d completed the challenge. Amazing views and lovely weather helped, everyone was great, and it kept us all going.”

Another Scout, 13-year-old Ethan O’Reilly, received his Chief Scout’s Gold Award, the highest award available in the Scout section, at the summit of Pen-y-Ghent.

The challenge was organised and supported by adult volunteers from Wardle Scout Group, who regularly run activities for young people in the area. The Three Peaks route is a well-known challenge route in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, covering three of its highest peaks.