Estimated Time for the Three Peaks Challenge

Q. What is the estimated time to complete the three peaks challenge - Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike [Scafell Pike], Mount Snowdon, in less than 24hrs.

Roseline Benard, London

A. Most people seem to climb Ben Nevis in the evening, then drive through the night and climb Scafell Pike in the early morning and Snowdon in late afternoon. However this can mean getting held up in traffic between the Lakes and North Wales and being unable to park at Pen y Pas [Pen y Pass].

Therefore we climbed the Ben [Nevis] in the morning, travelled on relatively traffic-free roads to the Lakes during the day in order to climb the Pike [Scafell] in early evening and then drove overnight to Snowdonia. The only problem was we arrived at Pen y Pas well before daylight and wasted an hour or more through missing the turn uphill off the Miners' Track. However we still got back to Pen y Pass in under 23 hours.

Hugh Martin, Henfield

A. In order to do [The Three Peaks Challenge] within 24 hours you are looking at 5 hours for Ben Nevis, 4 hours for Scafell Pike and less than 4 hours for Snowdon.

I did it last year and had about 3 1/2 hours left to do Snowdon which I did, just, but had to run the flat bit on the Miners' track (see Walk Walk gw100 Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from Pen y Pass).

If traffic gets you between Scafell Pike and Snowdon you've got no chance!

Obviously this is if you do it in the order I've mentioned above. To be honest I wouldn't fancy doing Ben Nevis last as Snowdon is relatively easy. Providing you can navigate in the dark on Scafell Pike you should be OK!

Lee Bridgwood, Stoke-on-trent

A. With a group of colleagues, I completed the [Three Peaks] challenge on 27/28 May 2010 in 22 hours, 45 minutes. There were several other groups doing the challenge at the same time and at least 2 other groups also completed it in around the same time.

There are several factors you need to take into account:

Fitness: We had been training for 3 months, walking on average twice a week for 2 to 5 hours.

Weather: This was relatively kind to us. Apart from strong winds and hail on top of Ben Nevis (see Walk h100 Ben Nevis from Achintee), we had fairly cool, clear weather.

Driving: At legal speeds and without traffic holdups, you should have 14 hours walking time. Our drivers gained us an hour, but on reflection I would have preferred a smoother transit with more sleep.

Your 14 hours walking is split 5/5/4 (north to south). We completed Scafell [Pike] in less than 4 hours, (see Walk c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale)but injury/stamina made Snowdon so slow we needed almost 5 hours for 2 of the team (see Walk gw100 Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from Pen y Pass).

If you can do Snowdon or Scafell Pike in 3.5 hours (I recommend you do Scafell [Pike] at least once in daylight), then you should be able to complete the 3 peaks challenge in less than 23 hours with no injuries and without having to exceed speed limits.

Steve Worrall, Bolton

A. Depends on how fit you are, but you should aim for 5 hours for the Ben and 4 hours each for Scafell Pike and Snowdon, plus a minimum of 10 hours driving within the speed limits.

The Wasdale route up [Scafell] Pike is the shortest (see Walk c111 Scafell Pike from Wasdale), but entails a longer drive than to Borrowdale (see Walk c370 Scafell Pike from Seathwaite).

I think the PYG track (see Walk gw100 Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from Pen y Pass) is the quickest way up Snowdon - at least in the daylight.

Hugh Martin, Henfield

Add your answer to THIS question | Ask a NEW question

Return to the main list of Walking and Hiking Questions

Search for an existing Walking and Hiking Question or Answer