Anyone who’s into their hiking will be more than familiar with the Three Peaks Challenge. Whilst the challenge forces you to race over the mountains, this week-long adventure will give you more time to take them at your own pace, giving you the chance to enjoy each hike and appreciate the stunning scenery you’re treated to.
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For those of you starting in Leeds, the journey up there is a bit of a trek and will take just over 6 hours with no stops. Although it’s long, you’ll be treated to some amazing stretches of road, especially along the A82 beyond Glasgow. We’d also recommend heading west out of Leeds and passing through the lake district, as it would only add about 15 minutes to your journey. Kendall, Dumfries and Loch Lomond all make nice places to stop for a break.
Sitting at the foot of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, Fort William has a lot to offer. With a quaint town centre and the old fort overlooking the loch below, there’s a lot to like about the town. The main highlight though is Ben Nevis, and a day hiking up the mountain wouldn’t be complete without a generous portion of traditional haggis, neaps and tatties at the Ben Nevis Inn at the bottom. With your spare day, take a ride along Fort William’s Jacobite railway. Used as the Hogwarts’s Express in Harry Potter, the train passes through some stunning valleys, treating you to some incredible scenery.
Travelling down to the Lake District for your next peak should take between 5 and 6 hours. The main advantage of this route over the three peaks challenge is you’re not rushing so you have time to take the scenic route. Passing through Buttermere on your way into the Lake District won’t add too much time to your journey but the drive through fully makes it worth it.
Spend your next full day exploring the wonders that the Lake District has to offer. Dedicate a morning to hiking by tackling the second of the three peaks, Scafell Pike. Use your left over time to potter around some of the beautiful small towns and villages, such as Grasmere and Windermere, and make the most of some of the water sports available on Lake Windermere or Coniston water.
The 4-hour journey from the Lake District to Snowdonia is a pleasant one, and any route will take you through some scenic areas. We would recommend taking the route through Windermere to really make the most of the scenery you’ll be passing.
Round your trip off by conquering your third and final peak, mount Snowdon. There are several routes up it or people of all walking abilities! After Snowdon, treat yourself to a one of the famous all-day breakfasts at Pete’s Eats café. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve hiking to wind down at the end, take the Llanberis Lake Railway, an old-fashioned steam train ride with a stunning view of the lake and valley below. Alternatively, the beachfront promenade at Llandudno is well worth a visit and there are plenty of outdoor adventure activities at both Bala and Betws-y-Coed.
After defeating your third mountain of the week, you’ll have to call time on what will have been an unforgettable few days. Your quickest route from Snowdonia back to Leeds should take roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes, but if you have time, we’d recommend taking the route cutting through the top of the peak district for the most enjoyable route back.
