Great Shunner Fell is actually the third highest summit in the Yorkshire Dales and can be climbed either from Wensleydale or Swaledale.
- Highest point is 716m (2349 feet)
- The Pennine Way runs over the hill between Hawes and Thwaite
- Coal used to be mined on its slopes
Great Shunner Fell is a big lumbering hill which lacks a distinctive summit shape like Ingleborough or Wild Boar Fell. But what it lacks in character is made up for by the views from the summit, where you can look in to the North Pennines, the Lake District and the other Yorkshire Dales fells including the Three Peaks.
The usual route up is from Hawes following the Pennine Way. This takes you past Hardraw, with its famous waterfall, and then up an easy angled climb of 4.5 miles (7km) to the summit. The path is good with much of it now flagged. Unless you are going for a long walk, the normal way back is to retrace your steps.
