You won’t find a more epic hike in the UK than the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. 🌄

Stretching over twenty-five miles, this legendary circular trail in the Yorkshire Dales National Park takes you to the summits of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough.

Each of these peaks is a serious climb on its own, so many hikers spread the Yorkshire Three Peaks over several days. 🏞️

But if you’re taking on the full challenge, you’ll need to summit all three within twelve hours!

As an experienced hill walker who’s completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks in under nine hours, I can confidently say I know what it takes to get ready for this adventure.

I won’t sugarcoat it—the challenge is tough. Most hikers will need some training before attempting it.

Still, the breathtaking countryside views along the route and the incredible sense of achievement at the finish make every step worth it.

Do I need to train for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks?

If you’re an experienced hiker with solid fitness, you might not need special training for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

But for beginners or anyone not used to long walks, I recommend at least eight weeks of consistent training to prepare both body and mind for the adventure.

Often underestimated, the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge sees up to twenty-five percent of hikers unable to finish each year. ⛰️

A smart way to test your fitness is by tackling just one of the peaks and timing your climb.

If you can summit in a decent time without overexerting yourself, you’re likely ready for the full route.

I decided to push myself on this trail as training for the National Three Peaks Challenge later in the year—and let’s just say, I underestimated how tough it would be…

Honestly, in some ways, it felt even harder than the National Three Peaks!

While the National challenge involves higher mountains, you at least get breaks as you travel between them.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks, on the other hand, is one continuous grind.

With a total distance equal to a marathon and a staggering fifteen hundred eighty-five meters of ascent, it’s no surprise this challenge catches many hikers off guard.

Training for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks

You don’t need an overly strict, one-size-fits-all training plan, but there are some key tips that can really help you prepare for the challenge. 💪

You know your body best, so be honest about your fitness and figure out how much training you truly need.

You don’t have to follow every single tip below, but they can guide and even inspire your sessions leading up to the big day.

Get walking up those hills

First, a fun fact to kick things off… 🌟

By the time you finish the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, you’ll have hiked the equivalent of climbing the Eiffel Tower more than five times!

That’s a serious amount of uphill.

There’s no shortcut—if you want to be ready, you’ve got to get out there and start climbing plenty of hills!

Start powering up those hills and get used to the burn! 🔥

For more experienced walkers, dive straight into the toughest hikes and peaks you can find. Push your body on steep, rocky terrain to build real strength and endurance.

If you’re a beginner, start with shorter distances you’re comfortable with and gradually increase both distance and elevation each week.

The body adapts quickly—consistency is key—and you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make in just a few weeks.

Remember the old saying: slow and steady wins the race.

Begin your training early and increase distances gradually, avoiding pushing too hard too soon.

Even adding just a mile or two each week will add up to serious mileage over a couple of months!

Try your hand at rucking

Rucking is simply walking with weight in your backpack. 🎒

A long-time military training method, it’s one of the most effective ways to build both strength and stamina for hiking.

During the challenge, you’ll be carrying all your gear, clothing, snacks, and water in your rucksack. 🎒

Pro tip: check out our blog on How to Pack Your Rucksack the Right Way to make sure you don’t forget anything!

The extra weight can quickly strain your shoulders, back, and legs over long distances, so it’s smart to get your body used to carrying it.

While training, try to match the weight you’ll have on challenge day—either pack your actual gear or use a suitable weighted alternative.

Get used to all weather conditions

The weather in England is famously unpredictable, and rain is often part of the picture. 

With that in mind, you never quite know what conditions you’ll face on challenge day. 

Safety comes first, so avoid hiking in dangerous conditions. ⚠️

That said, don’t skip a planned hike just because the sun isn’t shining!

Training in different weather will toughen you up and teach you exactly what clothing and gear you’ll need for any conditions on challenge day.

Build your strength at the gym

Adding strength training at the gym alongside your hikes can seriously boost your performance. 💪

It keeps your training fresh and, by strengthening key muscle groups, makes your body more stable and resilient on the trails.

After following a strength routine for a while, my body feels so much stronger and more comfortable both on and off the trail. 💪

You don’t need complicated exercises—stick to big basics like squats, lunges, deadlifts, push-ups, and pull-ups for the best results.

That said, hill walking should always remain your main focus.

For example, if you have a big hike on Saturday, don’t overwork your legs at the gym the night before—it will only hurt your performance. Common sense really!

Start running

If the gym isn’t your thing, running outdoors is another excellent and time-efficient way to build endurance and leg strength. 🏃

Distance running is simple—just jog a set distance at a steady pace.

Another running method I’ve grown to love is HIIT—High-Intensity Interval Training. ⚡

It alternates short bursts of intense effort with brief recovery periods.

For example, sprint all out for twenty seconds, then slow jog to recover, and repeat.

This is a super effective way to boost lung capacity faster than regular cardio, and if you really want a challenge, you can even try hill sprints!

Honestly, I feel exhausted just thinking about it…

Sports and other physical activities

Even when you’re not in official training mode, it’s smart to keep your body active by doing what you enjoy! 🌟

For me, that’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s a great way to stay fit, and even while training for a hike, I make sure to hit the dojo a couple of times each week.

We all have sports or active hobbies we love, and training for the Yorkshire Three Peaks doesn’t mean you have to give them up. 🎾

Whether it’s tennis, mountain biking, or ultimate frisbee, if it gets your heart pumping, keep doing it!

Ditch the car when you can

Here’s another simple way to boost your fitness—choose walking over driving whenever you can. 🚶

In the weeks leading up to the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, I was hitting seven to ten thousand steps some days just by making small changes like walking part of my commute.

Whether it’s a trip to the local shops, walking to the gym, or visiting a family member a mile or two away, these little journeys quickly add up over time.

Get that diet in check

While there’s no “perfect” weight for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, shedding a few pounds can help if you’re carrying a bit of extra bulk. ⚖️

On the flip side, if you’re not eating enough, you’ll need to increase your calories to fuel your training properly! 🍎

You don’t need to meticulously count every calorie, but giving your body the right fuel is essential for both performance and recovery.

Carrying less excess weight also means less strain while climbing each peak, and it reduces the impact on your knees from steep ascents and descents.

There’s no need to overthink your weight—eat the right foods in the right amounts and follow your training plan, and any extra weight should come off naturally.

According to the NHS, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men, though this can vary depending on activity levels.

Rest and recover

Rest is a key part of any training plan. 🛌

Include rest days to prevent injury and give your muscles time to recover fully.

This isn’t an excuse to slack off, but skipping recovery can quickly lead to both physical and mental burnout.

It’s especially important in the final week before the challenge—taper your training so that on challenge day, you’re feeling fresh and ready to go!

Weekly training schedule for The Yorkshire 3 Peaks

As mentioned, everyone starts this challenge with different fitness levels, so there’s no one-size-fits-all training plan.

That said, for those interested, here’s an example of my weekly training schedule leading up to a hiking challenge.

I’m already fairly active, so I usually stick with my regular activities and make sure to tackle a couple of challenging hill hikes on the weekends!

Weekday Activity

Monday

Gym & short walk

Tuesday

Sporting activity

Wednesday

Rest day & short walk

Thursday

Sporting activity

Friday

Gym + short walk

Saturday

Big hike

Sunday

Hike or rest day

The short walks I mentioned were just easy evening strolls with my wife after work, usually around an hour in our local neighbourhood. 🚶‍♂️

I’d also rack up extra steps during the week by choosing to walk instead of drive whenever I could—practice what you preach!

Sometimes I’d swap a gym session for an outdoor run, and the longer weekend hikes would always vary to keep things interesting. Plus, if I felt too tired, I’d simply replace a weekday workout with a rest day.

Conclusion

The Yorkshire Three Peaks is an amazing challenge, though if hiking isn’t your strong suit, a couple of months of training may be needed. ⛰️

The plan isn’t complicated—it just takes discipline and consistency.

I hope the tips and weekly template above help guide your own training.

And if you have any questions about the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, or anything you’re unsure about, feel free to send me an email. I’m happy to help however I can!