Timing of the National Three Peaks Challenge

Annual timing

The National Three Peaks Challenge is typically attempted over the summer, but be aware that the Institute of Fundraising asks participants to abide by the following three guidelines:

  • Avoid weekends
  • Avoid the period from late June to mid July
  • Limit events to 200 participants

This is due to criticism from locals, as the influx of so many walkers at one time, particularly at unsociable times of day, is not desirable.

We would recommend not organising challenges of more than two or so car loads of people.

Timing on the day

Typically, you should allow the following times for each mountain:
  • Five hours for Ben Nevis
  • Five hours for Scafell Pike
  • Four hours for Snowdon

These times are quick - for example, Snowdon would be completed comfortably by most people in six hours. A quick pace is needed, without wearing out too early. The best way of testing if you and your team are able is doing a mountain trial on whichever of the three is closest to you.

Add to those estimates, no less than ten hours driving - else you would be breaking the speed limits and make the climbing too easy, which isn't the idea of the Challenge.

Start and finish times vary greatly, depending on whether participants would prefer to get up very early, or stay up very late.

Option One - Split in Two

As long as your challenge team has a dedicated driver, this is probably the best time plan. Ben Nevis is climbed in the evening, then all walkers can have a seven hour sleep while being driven to Scafell Pike. This also means Scafell Pike and Snowdon can be climbed in daylight, so navigation should be as easy as it gets.

Arrive and start climbing Snowdon
5pm Start Ben Nevis.
10pm Finish Ben Nevis and start drive to Scafell Pike (seven hour drive).
5am Arrive and start climbing Scafell Pike
10am Finish Scafell Pike and start drive to Snowdon (three hour drive).
1pm Arrive and start climbing Snowdon
5pm Finish Snowdon, and complete challenge.

Option Two - Long Day

This option allows both Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike to be climbed in daylight, leaving an easy Snowdon path to be climbed at night.

6am Start Ben Nevis.
11am Finish Ben Nevis and start drive to Scafell Pike (seven hour drive).
6pm Arrive and start climbing Scafell Pike
11pm Finish Scafell Pike and start drive to Snowdon (three hour drive).
2am Arrive and start climbing Snowdon
6am Finish Snowdon, and complete challenge.

The direction of travel can be done the other way around, but these two options are provided here as they are the most popular. Weather on Ben Nevis tends to be worse than that on Snowdon, so these challenges also allow attempts to be delayed should very bad weather be evident on Ben Nevis.