The UK National Three Peaks Challenge, but better

The National Three Peaks is undoubtedly the most famous hiking challenge in the UK. Over the years, the allure of linking Wales, England and Scotland’s highest mountains in a single 24-hour push has wormed its way into the public consciousness. It’s thought that around 30,000 people take on the challenge every year.

In outdoor circles, taking on the Three Peaks can be a controversial topic. Some describe it as a ‘driving challenge’ – after all, there’s 462 miles (743 km) of road between the peaks. Others bemoan the additional pressure it puts on mountain rescue services and on the already creaking trails of three particularly popular mountains. However, there’s no doubt that the challenge must have raised millions for worthwhile charities and kindled many people’s interest in exploring our wild places.

Brothers Tom and Sam – who are my wife’s cousins and all round top blokes – were keen for a new challenge for the summer of 2023, after we’d completed a north to south running traverse of Dartmoor National Park in 2022. They suggested the National Three Peaks and, as a mountain lover who’d never done the challenge before, I was keen.

However, I immediately knew I didn’t want to do it the usual way, as much for Tom and Sam’s benefit as for myself. I’ve been up each of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis several times and know, with some certainty, that the quickest ways up these great mountains are far from being the finest.

For adventurous hikers, the best way up Yr Wyddfa is undoubtedly via the iconic, razor sharp ridge of Crib Goch and the higher, but less edgy, Crib y Ddysgl. On the Ben, the Cárn Mòr Dearg (CMD) Arête is hard to beat. There was the option of the Ledge Route scramble but, having never done it before and with the need for speed, the CMD was the clear front runner. Choosing the route for Scafell Pike was trickier, as perhaps the most spectacular approach is via Upper Eskdale, but this would have taken far too long. The Corridor Route followed by a traverse of the main ridge to Great End and down seemed the best option. Plus, the three routes had a certain alliterative appeal: Crib, Corridor and Cárn.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say our version of the Three Peaks is the best way to do it. For me, that would be an approach that jettisons the time pressure entirely, allowing more opportunity to explore the incredible landscapes and other peaks that accompany Yr Wyddfa, Scafell Pike and the Ben, perhaps spending a few days in each region. After all, as magnificent as these mountains are, so too are Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Great Gable, Bowfell, Sgùrr a’ Mhàim and Binnein Mòr. However, I digress.

For Tom and Sam, the 24-hour challenge aspect was appealing and, I have to admit, it also piqued my more competitive side too. So, the approach we intended wasn’t so much ‘the National Three Peaks Challenge done right’ but more ‘the National Three Peaks Challenge, but better’. Tom and Sam’s dad, Mike, was to do the majority of the driving, though we’d all chip in where necessary. We’d start at 10:00am, intending to get Yr Wyddfa and Scafell Pike done before dark, sleeping on the way up to the Highlands and hitting Ben Nevis as the sun was rising.

So, on June 17th 2023 at 9:55am, the three of us stood at the bottom of the Pyg Track, five minutes before setting out on our, possibly unique, Three Peaks adventure. I wasn’t overly confident my proposed itinerary would fit into our 24-hour schedule, or how we’d cope with it both physically and mentally, but I knew we’d have a lot of fun finding out…