Buckden Pike
| Buckden Pike | |
|---|---|
The hill from Tor Mere Top, a mile to the south.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 702 m (2,303 ft) |
| Prominence | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Parent peak | Great Whernside |
| Listing | Hewitt, Marilyn |
| 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 |
| Geography | |
| OS grid | SD961787 |
| Topo map | OS Outdoor Leisure 30 |
Buckden Pike is a fell 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.
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 the circular route taking in Buckden, Buckden Pike, Great Whernside and Kettlewell. Walkers can start and finish at either of the car parks in Buckden or Kettlewell - traditionally the leg along the River Wharfe (part of the Dales Way) is completed at the end of the day for an easier finish.
To the south of the summit is a memorial cross, dedicated to the memory of five Polish airmen of the Polish Air Force 18th Polish Operational Training Unit based at RAF Bramcote 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. Fusniak is in his nineties and is still alive to recall the tale ( Autumn 2016) http://www.buckdenpike.co.uk
There are fine views from the summit. 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 - this used to be labelled with information cards but is no longer.
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Wikipedia