National Three Peaks 24-Hour Challenge 2025
National Three Peaks 24-Hour Challenge
21st June 2025 · 23 Hours 54 Minutes · United Kingdom
What is the National 3 Peaks 24-hour challenge (UK)
The National Three Peaks Challenge is one of the most popular endurance challenges in the UK, testing both physical fitness and mental determination. The challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours.
Peaks to summit:
Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345m)
Scafell Pike in England (978m)
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in Wales (1,085m)
The total walking distance is around 23 miles (37 km), with a total ascent of roughly 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). Including travel between the mountains, the total distance covered by road is about 450 miles (725 km).
The challenge can be completed as part of a team or individually. It demands good preparation, strong teamwork, and a commitment to safety, especially given the unpredictable British weather, overnight hiking and long driving elements.
Brief overview of our experience
We tackled the UK Three Peaks Challenge, and successfully climbed Scotland, England and Wales’ highest mountains within 24 hours as an extension to Martin's Couch 3 Marathons in 2 weeks within 14 months challenge fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust.
We experienced every weather and every emotion along the way. Starting with sunshine and smiles on Ben Nevis, getting hours ahead of our target timings, then a long drive to the Lake District, where torrential downpours and lightning brought the mental challenges on Scafell. Finally, a stormy drive to Wales for the most physical challenge of ascending Snowdon in darkness, fog and gale-force winds on zero sleep with knackered legs, with a mad dash descent to hit that 23h56m finish time.
Breakdown of each mountain
Ben Nevis:
That is Ben Nevis done, the first of our National 3 Peaks challenge, representing Scotland 🏴 in the UK nations and the highest point in the British Isles. We stayed overnight at Perth University Of The Highlands and Islands to get some rest before the start, though it was still 2 hours away. So up at 4:10, left the hostel at 4:45. The drive through the Cairngorms National Park was extremely stunning and scenic. Passing lochs, rivers, castles and so many lush forests and mountains.
We arrived at the car park a little later than scheduled at 7:06 after filling up the car with Diesel , to reduce any unnecessary stops on the journey and to grab a couple of coffees. After getting our bags on and paying for parking, we set off walking at 7:25.
The walk up went well, again being treated to a feast of fabulous views for the eyes that refreshed the soul. Unsurprisingly, there were a number of groups also doing the National 3 Peaks challenge, some for charity and others for themselves. Plus, many are climbing the Ben for their challenge.
It didn’t take long to reach the summit by 9:55 (2.5 hours). We spent 15 minutes enjoying the views from the top, along with taking the obligatory photos, which included Dom posing on the edge for that extra special looking shot. We couldn’t stay for too long before having to set off back down. Again, taking in the amazing scenery and enjoying gravity doing part of the work.
That said it took us the same time coming down as going up, 2.5 hours as we were delayed on the way down by splitting up with some going ahead and waiting, thinking we were behind, then happened again though the opposite way round, adding about 25 minutes of waiting time for us to regroup, meaning we arrived back at the car by 12:35.
This means we are running ahead of schedule by 2 hours, though due to heavier traffic we will end up being 90 minutes ahead as due at Wasdale Head in the lakes around 18:30. The adventure continues…
Ben Nevis Summit
Scarfell Pike:
That is Scafell Pike done, the second of our National 3 Peaks challenge, representing England in the UK nations and the smallest of the four highest points in the British isles. The drive down through the highlands was spectacular from Fort William, along loch Linnie and Loch Leven through Glencoe, past the Green Welly Stop and along the banks of Loch Lomond where we swapped drivers Before hitting Glasgow and a bit of a wrong turn. A quick 10 minutes round Glasgow to make our way to the M74.
Next stop was Gretna Green, for coffee and Switch drivers for the final leg to the lakes, which took another 10 minutes, eating into the 2 hours we generated. This was reduced by another 10 minutes thanks to an incredibly slow Peugeot driver, meaning our 2 hours ahead because 90 minutes at the start of Scafell Pike.
The weather report was forecasting thunderstorms and heavy rain later in the evening, so the plan was to go as quick as we can to miss them and be back in the car by the time they started. This would mean 2 hours up and down, a challenge though we would give it a go.
We only got half way up when the heavens opened and the sky fell. From then on our pace slowed as the ground became more slippery and the worry about the storms were in the forefront of our minds. As we approached the final 1/2 km the fog descended and we had to have a serious conversation as to whether to proceed or return.We did press on reaching the summit in 1 hour 45 minutes and so far missing the storms.
The way down was even worse as the rain continued having us losing balance as we slipped and pirouette like ballerinas, until on one section my legs were swept from beneath me and I fell to the ground flat on my back. It wasn’t long before after this moment that the storm arrived and we were hosed from the heavens to the claps of thunder and bolts of lightning.
Completely bedraggled even with quality outdoor equipment, we made it back to the car in 1:45, eroding another 30 minutes from our time, though very glad for the dry, warm space. After we all changed into dry clothing, grabbed some food and drink, we set off again on our way to Snowden and our final peak of the challenge. The adventure continues…
Scarfell Pike Summit
Snowdon:
That is Snowdon done, the third of our National 3 Peaks challenge, representing Wales in the UK nations and the completion of our 24 hour event. The drive between the Lakes and Pen-Y-Pass started more hair raising than expected as the narrow winding roads in the pitch black with mobile hazards standing in the road including sheep, foxes and wandering bulls, along with Dom driving my truck like a 2 seater sports car were enough to raise the heart rate as well.
Getting on to the slightly more major roads, those that have road markings, speeded up the journey and the remainder of the journey from Kendal onwards was smooth. We arrived at 3:16 and set off walking in the pitch black with head torches at 3:35 giving us 3 hours 50 minutes to complete the trek. The route we decided on was the Pyg track, which felt so much easier than the previous day. Still, even with sure footings and a good path, it took 2 hours 10 minutes to ascend making it to the summit at 5:43.
The weather at the top was blowing a hooley along with the rain made for an experience that must be akin to standing in from of a snow cannon on full power, though pelting you with icy cold water. This made the stay at the top both viewless and brief. With only 1 hour 40 minutes to defend within the 24 hours, it was a rapid decent running or fast walking where we could. Dom & Amy asked me to go ahead, making it back to the car at 7:14, meaning I finished 23 hours 49 minutes and Dom & Amy arrived at 7:18 still achieving the sub 24 hours with 7 minutes to spare.
It has been an amazing adventure with such variations in scenery and weather from the glorious sun and views provided by Ben Nevis, to the rain, mist and thunderstorms of Scafell, with finally the night climb and what felt like tornado speed winds that knock you over on Snowdon. Can’t wait for the next adventure!
Snowdon Summit
Remembering our National 3 Peaks attempt
The laughs, the struggles and the enCOWnters! 3 mountains,3 countries,24 hours to climb them all. Ben Nevis gave us views for days, Scafell Pike gave us thunder, lightning and a bruised backside, Snowdon gave us wind that nearly knocked us off our feet, and a 3:35am start in the pitch black. We made it, just 23 hours, 49 minutes. Wet, tired, buzzing.
This challenge was so much more than ticking boxes. It was about showing up when you’re shattered, carrying on when it would be easier to stop, and trusting your training, your mindset, and your team 12 months ago, I was lifting in the gym. Then it was three marathons in two weeks. Now, the four highest peaks across the British Isles. What next, Kilimanjaro?! 🇹🇿
Every step, every hill, every climb is building the strength we need for the next challenge. And not just physically, mentally too. The discipline, the commitment, the ability to laugh through exhaustion, regroup in the storm, and keep moving forward. That’s the real goal, because when you work on yourself first, everything else gets better. Whatever your mountain is, literal or not, go after it. You’ll be amazed at who you become on the way up. Let’s keep climbing.
UK Three Peaks Challenge in Under 24 Hours! | Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike & Snowdon Highlights
From muscles to marathons to mountains
From Muscles to Marathons to Mountains, 24 hours, 3 countries, 3 mountains, 23 hours, 49 minutes to be exact, and what a ride. The National 3 Peaks Challenge wasn’t just a physical test; it was a mirror. One that asked the real question: What are you really made of? Ben Nevis gave us stunning views, sunshine and the energy of being at the start, Scafell Pike threw down thunder, lightning, wind and rain, and still we climbed. Snowdon greeted us in the pitch black, then battered us with winds so fierce they’d knock you sideways. We made it with just minutes to spare before the clock hit 24 hours.
It’s easy to look at the photos and think “that looks tough.” It was. But more than that, it was revealing. These challenges have a way of pulling things out of you that normal life never will. Over the last 12 months, I’ve moved from lifting weights in the gym, to running three marathons in two weeks, then straight into hiking the four highest peaks across the British Isles — Ireland’s Carrauntoohil back in February, then Scotland, England and Wales in June.
And I’ll say this, transformation doesn’t happen in a comfort zone. It happens when your legs are soaked, your back aches, your face is being pelted by icy rain, and you’ve still got hours left to go. It happens when you’re not sure if you’ve got anything left in the tank, but something in you keeps moving anyway. The real win isn’t just the summit, it’s the version of you that shows up when things get hard. That version… that’s the one I’m interested in, that’s the one I want to keep building. If there’s one message I’d love you to take from this post, it’s this: don’t wait for a perfect moment to begin. Start with where you are, and build from there.
Work on yourself first, your discipline, your mindset, your habits. And then apply that to whatever matters to you. Fitness, family, business, goals. We all have more inside us than we think, But you don’t find it by staying still.
