The National Three Peaks Challenge

Mountain Challenges in the UK

Ben Nevis Panorama

The National Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks Challenge is a demanding endurance challenge in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of each of Great Britain's three countries, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales. Often, but not necessarily, this is attempted within 24 hours.

Great Britain's National Three Peaks Challenge has steadily grown in popularity over the years and thousands of people now undertake it every year. The majority aim to complete the challenge within 24 hours, recording their time from the base of the first mountain to the base of the last, but there are no official rules on how it should be done, no official route, no official body overseeing the challenge, not even an official website. It could be said that the challenge has grown "organically" from the grassroots.
However there is plenty of information available about how best to organise a successful and safe challenge and we have tried to bring together the best advice and experience on this website.
Firstly, the National Three Peaks is not reserved for the super fit. It is a demanding physical challenge of course, but it's a mental challenge as well, and success requires careful planning and preparation. A successful team challenge involves organisation, logistics, navigation, good driving skills, communication, training, team work and group catering. On top of that you need the right equipment, stamina, determination and a bit of good luck. If you are planning to have a go at the National Three Peaks Challenge please don't hesitate to give us a call or visit our main challenge guide page.
The vital statistics of this mountain challenge are as follows:-
Ben Nevis, near Fort William, Scotland - Height: 1,344m 4,409 feet
Scafell Pike, Western Lake District, Cumbria, England - Height: 978m 3,210 feet
Snowdon, near Llanberis North Wales - Height: 1,085m 3,560 feet
Road mileage: 450 - 500 miles
Total ascent and descent: 2,900m 9,800 feet
Distance to be walked: Approx. 44 km 27 miles
In summer people often attempt to complete the challenge in under 24 hours. Under winter conditions it is occasionally attempted over a 3 day period by teams with appropriate experience. Even given ideal summer conditions completing the challenge in under 20 hours is outstanding under today's road conditions, most teams will find completing within 24 hours a very demanding challenge, but of course they can be climbed over a longer period for a more relaxing adventure. For more info. about times and three peaks challenge records see challenge times.
Having the mountain walkers involved with the driving on the day in a 24 hour challenge is a complete non-starter - challenge teams need good drivers / navigators to support the challenge and they are a very important part of the team.
Navigation issues should not be underestimated. Good weatherproof maps and a walker's compass, together with the knowledge of how to use them properly, are vital in tackling these mountains whatever the weather conditions. Safety and navigational accuracy is more important than just speed. This applies equally on the mountains and on the roads! If you are thinking about doing the Three Peaks, or just want to see more information and related links visit our main challenge guide.
The Welsh Three Peaks Challenge
The Welsh Three Peaks is an increasingly popular mountain expedition that encompasses three truly iconic Welsh peaks - Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, this is the highest mountain south of Snowdonia and has been made famous as the training grounds of the SAS and the Ghurkhas - then Cadair Idris in the south of Snowdonia, an impressive and really outstanding mountain to climb, but one that should never be underestimated and of course the highest mountain in England and Wales, the well known Snowdon. Beacon Maps have just produced a new set of mountain guide-maps for the Welsh Three Peaks especially for the Prostate Cancer Research Centre event this May Snowdon 500 - please contact us for more info. and map set availability.
Other UK Mountain Challenges
Our upland environment provides endless scope for devising anything from a pleasant afternoon stroll to a challenging multi-day "expedition." The National Three Peaks have been completed using cycle transport between the mountains, by relays of runners and by using only public transport. They can be extended to the whole of the UK by including Slieve Donard, the highest point in Northern Ireland. A further extension makes the challenge an "International 5 Peaks Challenge" by also including the highest mountain in the Republic of Ireland, Carrauntoohil in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Co. Kerry. Occasionally this is done using helicopters for transport between the mountains! In the UK a charity called the Railway Children organises a unique Three Peaks by rail every year and there is also an annual Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race held in late June.
The well known Yorkshire Three Peaks "walk" can be completed within 12 hours without using road transport and is regarded by some as good training for the National Three Peaks challenge. We plan to add information and maps for the Yorkshire Three Peaks shortly.

In Wales we have the famous Welsh 15 all over 3,000 feet, the highest being Snowdon. They are all reasonably well grouped together in north Snowdonia which means that they can be done as one continuous walk without using any intermediate road transport. For many years they were called the Welsh "14 Peaks" until, after a new survey, it was decided that a summit in the Carneddau deserved to given the status of a separate mountain. Completing the Welsh 15 in 24 hours is even more physically challenging than the National Three Peaks. There is a lot of up and down!

Snowdonia News: The Welsh 3000 nearly became the "14 Peaks" again, but new survey confirms iconic 3,000 feet status of Tryfan - read more
Glyder Fawr above the Ogwen Valley and not far from Tryfan has also recently been re-surveyed and found to be just over 1,000 metres, making it one of Snowdonia's five so-called "super mountains" - BBC news story.
In the English Lake District Wainwright described 214 peaks in his iconic guides to the Lakeland Fells, and for top-flight long distance fell runners there is the Bob Graham Round which encompasses 42 of Lakeland's highest peaks in 24 hours.
Although perhaps not strictly a mountain challenge Wainwright has inspired many walkers by his description of a fascinating northern England coast to coast walk starting at St Bees Head on the west coast and ending at Robin Hood's Bay in the east www.thecoasttocoastwalk.
In Scotland there are 283 Munros, which are Scotland's mountains over 3,000 feet, the official Munro list gets revised periodically and the number may get reduced to 282 shortly. Climbing all these mountains can provide a lifetime of challenge and entertainment - the Munro Society. Recently Fell runner Stephen Pyke got into the record books by completing a round of the Munros in just 40 days!
If you are interested in doing the National Three Peaks Challenge or any other mountain challenge careful preparation is vital. Have a look at our main challenge information and guide page which has links to the information that teams will require to plan and prepare for the challenge. The information is kept up to date and is based on many years of combined experience.

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The National Three Peaks Challenge The National Three Peaks Challenge is a demanding endurance challenge in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of each of Great Britain's three countries, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales. Often, but not necessarily, this is attempted within 24 hours. Great Britain's National Three Peaks Challenge has steadily grown in popularity over the years and thousands of people now undertake it every year. The majority aim to complete the challenge within 24 hours, recording their time from the base of the first mountain to the base of the last, but there are no official rules on how it should be done, no official route, no official body overseeing the challenge, not even an official website. It could be said that the challenge has grown "organically" from the grassroots. However there is plenty of information available about how best to organise a successful and safe challenge and we have tried to bring together the best advice and experience on this website. Firstly, the National Three Peaks is not reserved for the super fit. It is a demanding physical challenge of course, but it's a mental challenge as well, and success requires careful planning and preparation. A successful team challenge involves organisation, logistics, navigation, good driving skills, communication, training, team work and group catering. On top of that you need the right equipment, stamina, determination and a bit of good luck. If you are planning to have a go at the National Three Peaks Challenge please don't hesitate to give us a call or visit our main challenge guide page. The vital statistics of this mountain challenge are as follows:- Ben Nevis, near Fort William, Scotland - Height: 1,344m 4,409 feet Scafell Pike, Western Lake District, Cumbria, England - Height: 978m 3,210 feet Snowdon, near Llanberis North Wales - Height: 1,085m 3,560 feet Road mileage: 450 - 500 miles Total ascent and descent: 2,900m 9,800 feet Distance to be walked: Approx. 44 km 27 miles In summer people often attempt to complete the challenge in under 24 hours. Under winter conditions it is occasionally attempted over a 3 day period by teams with appropriate experience. Even given ideal summer conditions completing the challenge in under 20 hours is outstanding under today's road conditions, most teams will find completing within 24 hours a very demanding challenge, but of course they can be climbed over a longer period for a more relaxing adventure. For more info. about times and three peaks challenge records see challenge times. Having the mountain walkers involved with the driving on the day in a 24 hour challenge is a complete non-starter - challenge teams need good drivers / navigators to support the challenge and they are a very important part of the team. Navigation issues should not be underestimated. Good weatherproof maps and a walker's compass, together with the knowledge of how to use them properly, are vital in tackling these mountains whatever the weather conditions. Safety and navigational accuracy is more important than just speed. This applies equally on the mountains and on the roads! If you are thinking about doing the Three Peaks, or just want to see more information and related links visit our main challenge guide. The Welsh Three Peaks Challenge The Welsh Three Peaks is an increasingly popular mountain expedition that encompasses three truly iconic Welsh peaks - Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, this is the highest mountain south of Snowdonia and has been made famous as the training grounds of the SAS and the Ghurkhas - then Cadair Idris in the south of Snowdonia, an impressive and really outstanding mountain to climb, but one that should never be underestimated and of course the highest mountain in England and Wales, the well known Snowdon. Beacon Maps have just produced a new set of mountain guide-maps for the Welsh Three Peaks especially for the Prostate Cancer Research Centre event this May Snowdon 500 - please contact us for more info. and map set availability. Other UK Mountain Challenges Our upland environment provides endless scope for devising anything from a pleasant afternoon stroll to a challenging multi-day "expedition." The National Three Peaks have been completed using cycle transport between the mountains, by relays of runners and by using only public transport. They can be extended to the whole of the UK by including Slieve Donard, the highest point in Northern Ireland. A further extension makes the challenge an "International 5 Peaks Challenge" by also including the highest mountain in the Republic of Ireland, Carrauntoohil in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Co. Kerry. Occasionally this is done using helicopters for transport between the mountains! In the UK a charity called the Railway Children organises a unique Three Peaks by rail every year and there is also an annual Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race held in late June. The well known Yorkshire Three Peaks "walk" can be completed within 12 hours without using road transport and is regarded by some as good training for the National Three Peaks challenge. We plan to add information and maps for the Yorkshire Three Peaks shortly.
	In Wales we have the famous Welsh 15 all over 3,000 feet, the highest being Snowdon. They are all reasonably well grouped together in north Snowdonia which means that they can be done as one continuous walk without using any intermediate road transport. For many years they were called the Welsh "14 Peaks" until, after a new survey, it was decided that a summit in the Carneddau deserved to given the status of a separate mountain. Completing the Welsh 15 in 24 hours is even more physically challenging than the National Three Peaks. There is a lot of up and down!
Snowdonia News: The Welsh 3000 nearly became the "14 Peaks" again, but new survey confirms iconic 3,000 feet status of Tryfan - read more Glyder Fawr above the Ogwen Valley and not far from Tryfan has also recently been re-surveyed and found to be just over 1,000 metres, making it one of Snowdonia's five so-called "super mountains" - BBC news story. In the English Lake District Wainwright described 214 peaks in his iconic guides to the Lakeland Fells, and for top-flight long distance fell runners there is the Bob Graham Round which encompasses 42 of Lakeland's highest peaks in 24 hours. Although perhaps not strictly a mountain challenge Wainwright has inspired many walkers by his description of a fascinating northern England coast to coast walk starting at St Bees Head on the west coast and ending at Robin Hood's Bay in the east www.thecoasttocoastwalk. In Scotland there are 283 Munros, which are Scotland's mountains over 3,000 feet, the official Munro list gets revised periodically and the number may get reduced to 282 shortly. Climbing all these mountains can provide a lifetime of challenge and entertainment - the Munro Society. Recently Fell runner Stephen Pyke got into the record books by completing a round of the Munros in just 40 days! If you are interested in doing the National Three Peaks Challenge or any other mountain challenge careful preparation is vital. Have a look at our main challenge information and guide page which has links to the information that teams will require to plan and prepare for the challenge. The information is kept up to date and is based on many years of combined experience.
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