Little Whernside is a hill in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 1 kilometre north‑west of the summit of Whernside, the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The hill reaches an elevation of about 604 metres (1 982 feet) above sea level and has a prominence of roughly 30 metres, qualifying it as a Nuttall and a Hewitt.
Geographically, Little Whernside lies on the western flank of the upper Wharfe valley, on the boundary between the parishes of Fewston and Burnsall. The Ordnance Survey grid reference for the summit is SD 834 692. The ridge on which the hill stands consists of carboniferous limestone and millstone grit, typical of the upland terrain of the Yorkshire Dales. The summit is marked by a trig point and offers views of the surrounding high fells, including Whernside, Ingleborough, and the Pennine escarpment.
Access to Little Whernside is generally achieved via a series of footpaths that link the surrounding valleys, notably the circular route that combines the three peaks. The hill is frequented by walkers and hikers undertaking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, as well as by hill‑baggers pursuing the Nuttall and Hewitt classifications.
The name “Little Whernside” derives from its relationship to the adjacent summit of Whernside; “Whernside” is thought to originate from Old English elements meaning “the side of the (river) Whey” or “the hill on the river’s side.” The “Little” prefix indicates its status as a lower subsidiary summit.