I took on the Three Peaks Challenge – hiking the tallest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours – earlier this year, towards the end of August 2020. How did I fare? And is hiking the Three Peaks in 24 Hours worthwhile?
What is the Three Peaks in 24 Hours Challenge?
This challenge requires you to climb the tallest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, including travelling between the three countries, within one 24 hour period.
The three mountains included in the challenge are Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales.
To complete the challenge within the timeframe, you must hike up and back down each mountain much faster than would be typically recommended. It’s not one for the faint-hearted.
Options for Taking the Challenge
There are a few options for undertaking this challenge. Easiest, is to join an organised tour group. Most challenging, to organise it yourself.
Joining an organised trip
Pros:
- Nobody has to drive
- The timings are organised for you
- Professional guides
Cons:
- You’re tied to certain timings
- You may get turned back if you can’t keep up with the group
- More expensive per person
Self-organising your trip
Pros:
- Freedom to schedule as you like
- No pressure to keep pace
- Cheaper per person
Cons:
- Somebody has to drive, and you will be exhausted. You could hire a driver.
- You’ll need to organise your own guides
- You’ll need to work out your own timings and stops
Hiking Ben Nevis
Mountain height: 1345m
Typical hiking time: 7-9 hours
Target time: 5 hours
Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the Three Peaks in 24 Hours challenge, with the summit at 1345m. The majority of people taking on the challenge complete Ben Nevis first, before travelling on to Scafell Pike.
Having met at 8am, we set off up Ben Nevis around 9am. The hour gap? Waiting for people to buy the correct kit that they were missing (an organised trip will not let you begin without boots with ankle support, a head torch, and gloves) from a rather expensive shop.
Check out my Three Peaks Kit List to make sure you have everything you need.
To complete the challenge on time, you need to summit Ben Nevis and return to the start within 5 hours. I didn’t know this before we set off, and wasn’t aware that the trip leaders would turn back any that wouldn’t make it within the time.
My Experience of Ben Nevis
I was squarely in the middle of our group of 15, keeping pace with my friend and one other girl. There were a group racing forward, and a group much slower behind.
Towards the top, the three of us were asked to stop and wait for the slow group and the guide bringing up the rear. We waited a full ten minutes for them to catch up, whilst we were only 2 minutes behind the faster group.
45 minutes from the summit, we were told the slow group wouldn’t make it and we would all need to turn back in 20 minutes. We were devastated. Against the rules of the trip, we pressed on and did reach the summit in time, but it was rather traumatic to be told we would fail on the first mountain!
Desperate for a wee (there are only toilets at the bottom, and nowhere to sneak off trail on the way), I practically ran back down and made it in 4 hours 45 minutes.
We were provided with a small piece of cake and a tea or coffee at the bottom, but there was no opportunity to buy anything more substantial until a service station at 7pm on the way to Scafell Pike.
Hiking Scafell Pike
Mountain height: 978m
Typical hiking time: 5-6 hours
Target time: 4 hours
The shortest mountain of the three, hiking Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head is a short, sharp shock. It’s very steep, and a pretty quick way up to the summit.
As part of the Three Peaks in 24 Hours challenge, you’ll be hiking this one in the dark, in the middle of the night – so a good head torch is essential.
It was foggy the night of my hike, but it did clear on the way down and the stars were beautiful.
My Experience of Scafell Pike
We began to climb Scafell Pike at 10pm, so it was already dark. The start of the route we took was very steep. Determined not to be left behind a second time, my friend and I kept pace with the faster group.
We kept up, but a couple of girls who were a few minutes behind were already turned back by the guides – only 30 minutes in. The guides explained that we could not split the group as it was dark, and foggy, and easy to lose the path. Again, they were devastated.
Hiking a mountain in the dark was a great experience, and one I hadn’t had before. My Black Diamond headtorch did a great job, despite the fog, and it was great to sometimes feel alone on the winding path (though really the rest of my group were never more than a few metres away).
We made it to the top just about in time, but for a second time were almost turned back before the summit.
My knees began to be very painful toward the top, and became worse as soon as I began the descent. I spent the 1.5 hour trip down the mountain hobbling, putting my left leg first and catching up with my right. My Black Diamond Distance FLZ hiking poles were a godsend.
When I reached the (shallow) river crossing, I couldn’t face hopping over small rocks and just walked right through the water.
Despite the pain, I still loved the experience and would like to hike in the dark again. My mountain time was 3 hrs 53 minutes, so again, within time.
We were provided with a small bowl of porridge/oatmeal at the bottom and a cup of tea or coffee, and again, no chance to purchase anything extra.
Hiking Snowdon
Mountain height: 1085m
Typical hiking time: 5-7 hours
Target time: 4 hours
My Experience of Snowdon
Sadly, as my knees were so painful, I was unable to even begin Snowdon. After 5 hours on the bus to Wales, I wasn’t able to step off the minibus without almost crying.
My friend stayed with me also, as she had felt dizzy descending Scafell Pike – probably due to lack of substantial meals. It was also absolutely chucking it down with rain, which may or may not have influenced her decision!
So. We went out for breakfast instead. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are around Snowdon early in the morning and are definitely not going up the mountain, I can thoroughly recommend Pete’s Eats for a big fat fry-up and a pint (yes, literally a pint) of coffee.
Best decision we ever made.
Training for the Three Peaks in 24 Hours Challenge
When I signed up for the Three Peaks in 24 Hours Challenge I was at my peak fitness. I was cycling an hour a day Monday to Friday (30 mins to work and back), walking at least 45 minutes at lunchtime, and climbing three times a week.
By the time I took the challenge, I was not at my peak fitness. 6 months of lockdown, working from home, and climbing more than once a week becoming prohibitively expensive took their toll.
I wish I had thought that through and postponed the trip until next year.
But I didn’t. So I took on the Three Peaks in 24 hours challenge with no training. Which wasn’t the smartest idea I ever had. In fact, I’m still paying for it with a dodgy knee!
Was it worth it?
So, after all that, was hiking the Three Peaks in 24 hours challenge worth doing? Honestly… no. Which is really a shame as it’s something I had wanted to do for a long time.
Yes, with more training I would have managed all three mountains and I would have got a better sense of satisfaction. I would have liked to have had the certificate.
But I would have been exhausted and, more importantly, I still wouldn’t have had enough food for the amount of energy expended. I really don’t think that is at all safe, or healthy.
The bottom line? I’ve discovered that I am a One Peak in 24 Hours kind of hiker! I like to look around me, take in the views, chat to my fellow hikers. And I don’t like my knees to be in a huge amount of pain!
BUT, others in my group really did enjoy it and would thoroughly recommend it. If you do decide to take on the challenge, make sure you pack these things to make the Three Peaks Challenge easier!
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