There can be few better feelings than conquering a mountain, reaching its summit and being greeted with panoramic hundred-mile views, high fives and sweaty smiles from other hikers. From the highs and lows of the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales and dozens more, the UK has some fantastic hill and mountain trails, which we’ve rounded up below.
Mountain walks
Snowdon
The highest summit in England and Wales at over 1km, nearly 400,000 people make it to the top of Snowdon each year (or Yr Wyddfa to give it its proper Welsh name). Not all of them have scaled the 1,085m mountain themselves, however: there’s been a train line to the top since 1896, with regular departures every 30 minutes during the summer months.
Ben Nevis
The UK’s highest peak at 1,345m, Ben Nevis was first climbed back in 1771 and is now scaled by around 125,000 walkers each year. Impressively, some even manage to run up and down the Highland mountain in 90 minutes as part of the annual Ben Nevis race. A much more achievable time is around eight hours, making this one of the most testing climbs in the country. Experienced climbers might opt for the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route, which will take around 10 to 11 hours, while the more popular Mountain Track begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre and should get you up and down in daylight hours during the summer with plenty of time to visit the nearby distillery.
Snowdon, Wales
- Total Distance: 9 miles
- Time to Walk: 8 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Hard
While the mountain railway has its own charm, Snowdon remains one of the best hiking challenges in the UK with six different routes to the top. The Llanberis path – or pony path as it’s locally known – is the easiest and most popular route to the top, while those looking for a challenge can try the Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble. The two hotels that were located at the summit have long since closed, but there’s a visitor centre and café where you can pick up a hot chocolate and psyche yourself up for the descent.
Ben Nevis, Scotland
- Total Distance: 8.5 miles
- Time to Walk: 8 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Hard
The views from the top of the inactive volcano are superb, looking out towards the Nevis range and Fort William, but don’t linger for long. Ben Nevis in Gaelic can either mean ‘mountain with heads in the cloud’ or ‘venomous mountain’, and with quick-changing weather, this iconic peak lives up to its name and can quickly disappear in a maze of thick clouds.
Helvellyn
Scafell Pike might be the highest English peak, but a more rewarding hike is nearby Helvellyn. The third highest mountain in the Lake District, you’ll need to climb and descend over 1,800m on this challenging trail and choose from several routes, all of which offer their own range of problems. The brave (and those with a head for heights) will enjoy clambering along Striding Edge, a spectacular narrow ridge that drops vertiginously down either side to Red Tarn. Slightly easier routes can be found via Swirral Edge and lower-lying bypass paths.
Old Man of Storr
Created by an ancient landslide, the Old Man of Storr on Skye is one of the most recognisable rock formations in the UK. With five jutting lava rock features that loom from the stunning Trotternish Ridge set against lush rolling green hills, the scene feels like something from a movie – which is often the case, as it’s been the backdrop for Hollywood films like Transformers, King Arthur, The Big Friendly Giant and sci-fi flick Prometheus.
Three Peaks
Although often referred to as the Three Peaks Challenge with the aim to complete all three summits in under 12 hours, each climb and peak is worthy of inclusion on its own. Spanning Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Pennines, the three peaks follow the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with Whernside being the tallest at 736m.
Helvellyn, Lake District
- Total Distance: 9 miles
- Time to Walk: 7 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Hard
The hike is easy to access from Glenridding, the small village at the base of Ullswater, with a large car park to start from and several nearby pubs to celebrate in afterwards including The Travellers Rest. Come with the correct kit, check the local forecasts and be prepared to change your route if the weather closes in, as Helvellyn can be very unforgiving.
Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
- Total Distance: 4 miles
- Time to Walk: 2.5 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Easy
The four-mile hike takes in cliff faces, hidden plateaus and jaw-dropping views across the Cuillin Hills, Portree and several sea lochs, but be prepared for queues in and out of the nearby car park during the peak summer months. Like all good west Scotland islands, the twin terror of rain and midges can loom at every turn, but either wait out the showers or avoid June, July and August to escape the worst of the flies.
Three Peaks, Yorkshire
- Total Distance: 24 miles
- Time to Walk: 12 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Spring/Autumn
- Difficulty: Medium/Hard
If you’re attempting the challenge, it’s often best to start the walk in Chapel-le-Dale to avoid the crowds and finish in Horton in Ribblesdale, while dodging the summer heat and the cold of winter can help your chances of making the finish line in time. If you’re taking the hikes one at a time, there’s plenty to enjoy on each trail, with highlights including the caves of Ingleborough, impressive limestone features such as towering gorges and hidden waterfalls, the Ribblehead Viaduct, plus jaw-dropping views over the Lake District and Morecambe Bay.
