Have you ever wanted to climb the highest peaks in the UK? The island is renowned for its breathtaking summits and the annual UK 3 Peak Challenge. The event is held yearly where participants have to climb the highest peak in Wales, Scotland and England. The challenge is to climb nearly 10,000 feet (2926 meters) in a 24 hour period. Nonetheless, the UK is a great adventure for both novice and experienced mountain climbers.
The UK has a wide range of mountains to climb. In truth, many of their summits have been well known for centuries. Here are five of the best mountains to climb in the UK:
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the Scottish highlands and has one of the most breathtaking sites. It reaches a sheer 4,409 feet (1,344 meters) above sea level. The summit is collapsed dome of an old volcano that features an historical observatory. The south face of the mountain attracts around 100,000 climbers a year. About 3/4ths of the south side utilizes the well-built Pony Track from Glen Nevis. The north face is for experienced mountain climbers with a challenge of 2,300 feet (700 meters).
Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at 3,209 feet (978 meters). It is located in Cumbria in Lake District National Park. There are several routes hikers can take to the summit such as Borrowdale, Eskdale, Langdale and Wasdale; each with its own challenge. The hike takes about between two and three hours depending on the size of a group and individual skill level. Scafell Pike is characterized by overall ruggedness and crags.
Helvellyn
Helvellyn is a magnificent mountain in the English Lake District. It is the peak of the Eastern Fells with a height of 3,117 feet (950 meters) above sea level. It is the third highest peak in England as well as the Lake District. On the north-south ridge hikers have a fantastic view of the small village Patterdale to the east and the vast Thirlmere valley to the west. However, the eastern side is the most panoramic. It has two spiky arêtes (Swirral Edge and Striding Edge) that fork off the summit with both side of the Red Tarn Lake. Swirral Edge goes to the high barren landscape of Catstye Cam. Striding Edge leads to most popular scrambles. Red Tarn gets its name from the surrounding red stones.
Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is an outstanding geological climb. It is made up of igneous rock that dates back to the Ordovician period almost 45 million years, ago. It is the highest mountain in England with an altitude of 3209 feet (978 meters) and there are a few different climbing routes. The mountain is one of a horseshoe of high fells that open to the south. Contiguous is the Eskdale, Cumbria which is majestic glacial valley. At the summit, climbers with be engulfed by a knobby plateau that is entirely surrounded by crags.
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is the fourth highest mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. The summit is 3054 feet (931 meters) above sea level. It sits north of the town Keswick, Cumbria which can be seen by all who reside there. Of the Lake District mountains, it is the easiest to climb. It is perfect for the novice climber. There are a few steep slopes to east and west near half a mile long. However, hikers can rest at an altitude of 1,299 feet (396 meters) where there is a marshy treeless plateau. From north to south the summit ridge carries the South Top, Middle Top and the North TopI the summit). Here there are cairns and various stone wind shelters. The view from the summit is superb.
