Conquer the National Three Peaks: Your Ultimate Success Guide

On Saturday, 2nd October 2021, me and five loyal mates (plus one epic volunteer driver) touched down at the base of Ben Nevis, Scotland, pumped to tackle the National Three Peaks Challenge. 🥾

Famed as one of the UK’s toughest hikes, the challenge pushes you to conquer the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales—all within 24 hours:

Ben Nevis – Scotland’s tallest at 1,344m
Scafell Pike – England’s highest at 978m
Snowdon – Wales’ peak at 1,085m

Climbing even one of these mountains is no joke, but when you throw in tight time limits, tricky logistics between peaks, and crushing sleep deprivation—it’s a whole new level of beast mode.

Out of roughly 30,000 hikers attempting this each year, only 40% finish under 24 hours.

Proud to say, despite brutal weather and a few bumps along the way, we pushed through and smashed it in 23 hours 14 minutes.

Absolute legend status unlocked! 🌄

Even better, along the way we managed to raise over £2,100 for Macmillan Cancer Support! 🎉

Sure, the Three Peaks Challenge throws unpredictable twists at you, but careful prep was still the real game-changer.

With that in mind, here’s a round-up of our top tips and lessons learned from taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge.

Start training early 💪

Let’s be real – this challenge is TOUGH 😅

You don’t have to be a gym rat, but a lot of people underestimate just how demanding it is. Keeping up the pace and constantly going up (and down) the mountains will test you big time.

No matter how strong your mind is, if your legs can’t keep up, hitting that 24-hour target is impossible.

I’d say I’m pretty fit—gym most weekdays, hiking most weekends—but this challenge still pushed me to the max 😅

If you’re not feeling super confident, hit the hills! Lots of hill walking is the secret to building the endurance you need.

Even better, try climbing one or two of the peaks on their own before the big day.

Running, sports, or anything that gets your lungs working will boost your fitness and get you ready for the challenge.

For the full scoop, check out my post: “Training For The National Three Peaks Challenge.”

Pack the right fuel 🍎

The Three Peaks Challenge is a grueling 24-hour marathon, so keeping your body fueled is 🔑

What worked for me? Big carb meals after each peak—think pasta or sandwiches—and quick sugary snacks during the climbs.

Jelly babies were a total lifesaver 🍬—one handful and I was back in the game. A sip of Lucozade also saved me during the night climb up Scafell Pike when all I wanted was my warm bed!

Water is a must. We packed plenty to stay fully hydrated throughout.

Other snack heroes: flapjacks, banana bread, fruit, and nuts.

Rule of thumb: over-pack, don’t under-pack.

For more snack inspo, check out our guide: “10 Best Hiking Snacks To Fuel Your Next Adventure.”

Set a solid schedule 🕒

Before the challenge, plan time slots for each stage ⏱️ – it keeps you on track and stress-free.

One of our crew used a smartwatch to track our average pace, helping us know exactly how fast we needed to move.

Sticking to our schedule like clockwork kept us on track 🏃‍♂️💨 We even pushed a bit faster when we could, giving us extra breathing room for the drives between peaks.

For timing tips, check out the link—we went with option 2, perfect for dodging traffic.

Pack extra clothes 👕

British weather is totally unpredictable 🌧️ – packing plenty of clothes is a must to stay warm and comfy.

We got soaked most of the trip, and at the summits it got wild: a hailstorm on Scafell Pike and a blizzard on Ben Nevis, dropping temps to -10°C! ❄️

Waterproofs help, but even the best jackets and pants eventually give up against relentless rain.

Having spare clothes saved us big time—we’d have been freezing in the mini bus if we didn’t change after each climb.

Pro tip: bring an old pair of trainers and a small towel for Scafell Pike 👟

About a third of the way up, you have to cross a river. With all the rain, it was nearly knee-deep!

To keep our boots dry, we swapped into old trainers, rolled up our pants, and waded through the water holding our walking boots. A quick dry on the other side and we were back in action.

Have a designated driver 🚗

Have a dedicated driver – after each climb, you’ll be wiped, and the last thing you want is a 5+ hour drive to the next peak.

At first, we thought about splitting the driving between us, but honestly, that would’ve been risky. Driving tired on country roads at night? Big nope.

We got a volunteer driver who skipped the walking, grabbed some sleep while we hiked, and had the kettle ready when we returned. Absolute legend move!