12 Highest UK Mountains ‘in 12 Months’ Challenge

12 Highest UK Mountains in 12 Months Challenge

My new year resolutions are usually focused around weight loss, healthy eating and just getting in better shape generally (which I literally never stick too!) so this year I wanted to really step up my fitness game and challenge myself, both physically and mentally with my ultimate goal of completing the 12 highest UK mountains in 12 months! 

The past 6 months or so I’ve really struggled to find motivation with my training, so the aim with this challenge is to give myself something to really focus on and structure my training around. The mountains I’ve chosen are some of the toughest and highest peaks across the UK, including Scafell Pike in England, Snowdon in Wales and Ben Nevis (my Everest) in Scotland.

I will be capturing all the climbs using my GoPro for video content and GPS watch to show kilometres, duration, calories tracked for anyone interested in following these routes. After summiting each mountain I will update this blog with useful details about each climb, tips / advice, hazards to be aware of and hopefully a summit selfie!

Snowdon (January)

The highest peak in Wales and 3rd in the highest UK mountains. There are 8 paths in total to take up Snowdon including; Crib Goch (the toughest and only for experienced climbers), Watkin Path, South Ridge, PYG Track, Rhyd Ddu Path, Miner’s, Ranger and Llanberis Path. 

Location: Snowdonia, Wales

Elevation: 1085 metres 

Track: PYG

Ascent: 673 metres

Distance: 5.1 km

Start point: Pen Y Pass

Estimated time: 4 hours

I’ve completed Snowdon a few times using the PYG track and it’s a really simple route to follow (even during poor weather conditions), so it seemed like the best option for our first  Mountain in January.

Completed 12.01.20

It took us just over 4 hours to complete Snowdon, a lot longer than we’d expected (comparing it to previous visits) even though we got lucky with the weather, the path was still extremely slippery with icy wind on the summit path. With the rocks being so icy and wet on the descent, we decided to take the Miner’s track down the mountain as its mostly flat ground once you climb down from the summit, so it’s an easier descent in Winter.

Hazards: The route can be challenging during most months of the year, but if you are tackling Snowdon in Autumn / Winter be prepared to face all weather conditions! There are some steep cliffs along this path and a lot of the route is over rough / rocky terrain, so you will need to be reasonably fit to reach the peak.

Left to complete…

Pen Yr Ole Wen (February)

Location: Snowdonia

Elevation: 978m

Track: Ogwen Valley

Ascent: 788m

Distance: 8.1 km

Start point: Ogwen Valley

Old Man of Coniston

Location: Lake District 

Elevation: 803m

Track: Jack Diamond

Ascent: 882m

Distance: 12.7 km

Start point: Coniston

Estimated time: 4 hours

Glyder Fach & Glyder Fawr

Location: Wales

Elevation: 994 (Fach) and 1001 (Fawr)

Track: Devils Kitchen

Ascent: 855m

Distance: 12.5 km

Start point: Idwal Cottage

Estimated time: 5 hours

Hazards: Lose scree and steep climb.

Ben Nevis

Location: Scotland 

Elevation: 1344m

Track: Mountain 

Ascent: 1356m

Distance: 16.6 km

Start point: Ben Nevis Visitor Centre

Estimated time: 6-7 hours

Hazards: Navigation off the summit in mist and covered in snow most months of the year.

Skiddaw

Location: Lake District 

Elevation: 931m

Track: Alongside Edge

Ascent: 1002m

Distance: 13.74 km

Start point: High side house

Estimated time: 5 hours

Hazards: Steep path, slippery so needs to be dry day

Tryfan

Location: Wales

Elevation: 918m

Track: North Ridge

Ascent: 691m

Distance: 7.3k

Start point: Idwal Cottage

Estimated time: 5 hours

Hazards: Grade 1 scramble that’s steep and exposed.

Helvellyn

Location: Cumbria, England

Elevation: 950m

Track: Swirral Edge

Ascent: 1059m

Distance: 12.9 km

Start point: Glenridding

Estimated time: 5 hours

Hazards: Exposed scramble, knife edge ridge. Dry weather needed.

Scafell Pike

Location: Lake District 

Elevation: 978m

Track: Wasdale

Ascent: 910m

Distance: 8.73 km

Start point: Wastwater – Wasdale

Estimated time: 3 hours

Hazards: Navigation from summit in mist

Ben Macdui

Location: Scotland 

Elevation: 1309m

Track: Cairngorm Ski Centre Aviemore

Ascent: 1093m

Distance: 17.37 km

Start point: Cairngorm ski area car park

Estimated time: 5-6 hours

Pen Y Fan

Location: South Wales 

Elevation: 886m

Track: Storey Arms

Ascent: 566m

Distance: 7.5 km

Start point: Storey Arms

Estimated time: 3-4 hours

Hazards: Steep scrambling and route difficult to follow in mist

Penydader

Location: Wales 

Elevation: 893m

Track: Minffordd Path

Ascent: 862m

Distance: 4.9 km

Start point: Minffordd car park

Estimated time: 4h hours

Hazards: Steep scrambling and route difficult to follow in mist

Read Next: The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Hiking

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