National Three Peaks in Three Days
Challenge yourself by taking on the National 3 Peaks guided over three days, joined by a group of fellow peak-baggers and a qualified Mountain Leader.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 3 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Meeting Location: Glasgow
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Tough (Walking)
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a nutshell:
Attempt the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales over three days.
Walk with a qualified Mountain Leader, who’ll make sure everybody is walking safely and comfortably, and having a fantastic time!
Relax in our vehicle, with a dedicated driver who will get you to your accommodation and to the starting point of each walk.
Experience some magical locations - the beauty of Lochaber, The Lake District and Snowdonia.
Suggested Itinerary
The National Three Peaks are the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales. Conquering all three within 24 hours is a challenge many people choose to take on. But why rush? A much more sociable challenge is to attempt the National Three Peaks over three consecutive days. You'll have time to eat and sleep in the evenings and do all three walks in daylight!
This very special fully guided and hosted three day adventure up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon is still a proper challenge - walking approximately 27.5 miles (44.3km) over three consecutive days - but you'll experience more of the beauty of the mountains while taking it slower. You’ll have more time to soak up the views and learn about the landscapes and wildlife from your guide. What’s more, you’ll walk with a small group, so there should be plenty of camaraderie to give you the boost you’ll need to conquer the National Three Peaks challenge!
Day 1 (Thursday)
Your Large Outdoors host will collect you from Glasgow city centre at 1pm, or the airport shortly after. From Glasgow, we'll transport you into the Highlands, travelling alongside Loch Lomond and enjoying the fantastic vistas en route. Before reaching our accommodation for the night, we'll have a stop at a supermarket so you can pick up any snacks you'll need for the next few days. Dinner will be enjoyed at a local restaurant, where your host will explain the plan for the next few days and you’ll have chance to get to know your fellow challengers.
Day 2 (Friday)
After breakfast and making up your packed lunch, your host will take you to the foot of Ben Nevis, where you'll meet your Large Outdoors guide and begin the ascent. Ben Nevis is 1,345m (4,413ft) tall and the route is approximately 11 miles (17.7km) long, which typically takes between 6 to 9 hours for our National Three Peaks participants to complete. You'll be taking the Pony Track, which was used by ponies who used to resupply the weather observatory that sat on the mountain's summit - the ruins of which are still visible near the summit cairn. From the sight of the islands of the Hebrides and the ocean, across to the surrounding mountain peaks, the views from the top are spectacular and quite humbling.
Once you're down from Ben Nevis, we begin the drive to the Lake District and your accommodation there. It'll be a late arrival, so we'll stop for dinner on the way.
Day 3 (Saturday)
Today it’s time to tackle Scafell Pike from Seathwaite, where you'll meet your Large Outdoors guide and begin the ascent. The peak stands at 978m (3,209ft) and the route is approximately 9.5 miles (15.3km) long, which typically takes around 5-7 hours for our National Three Peaks participants to complete. You'll be heading up the famous Corridor Route, a winding path that skirts impressive crags and gives you views down into the deep valley of Wasdale.
Once you're back down, your host will transport you to North Wales, where your accommodation will be located, but there'll be a dinner stop on the way to refuel, ready for the final day of adventure.
Day 4 (Sunday)
After another early breakfast, it's time to tackle Wales’ highest peak - Snowdon. You'll be attempting this from Pen-y-Pass, the highest point you can start from, and the dramatic top of the Llanberis Pass. Your Large Outdoors guide will take you up the Pyg Track, with incredible views of Crib Goch, Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn to distract your tired legs from the final climb.
Snowdon is 1085m (3,560ft) high and the route is approximately 7 miles (11.3km) long, taking typically between 4 and 6 hours for our National Three Peaks participants to complete. Once you're down there'll be time for celebration in a local café before your host transports you to Chester train station. We recommend you book an open train ticket from Chester to allow for traffic and other potential delays.
Good to Know
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Meeting Time: 1pm
Pickups (Day 1): when booking, you can let us know which of the two Pickup locations below you’d like to be collected from.
Glasgow City Centre (Hotel) 1pm at the ibis Styles, Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN. Please note: a discount code for this hotel is available if you plan to stay in Glasgow the night before/after the trip - details will be shown on your booking confirmation email.
Glasgow International Airport 1:15pm at the Pick-up & Drop-off area located outside the main terminal building in Car Park 2.Returning to Chester (Day 4): we will transport you to Chester Train Station on the final day. Please book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return train ticket), to allow for flexibility with the arrival time into Chester. This will be dependant on how long your walk up/down Snowdon takes your group as well as other factors - we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.
Public Transport: Glasgow is easily accessible by train (with services into Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street) and there are flights from various UK airports into Glasgow International Airport.
Chester Train Station has services to/from London, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh. -
On this challenge experience you’ll stay in three different hostels, as you travel between the National Three Peaks.
Room Types:
All rooms are Shared Rooms (you’ll be sharing a single-sex dorm room with other participants). You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room -
Included:
3 nights’ accommodation at three different hostels.
A Large Outdoors host to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.
Guided walks on three days (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon).
Transportation from Glasgow, to your accommodation each evening - including transfers from the accommodation to the walk start/finish points - and on to Chester.
A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
A DIY packed lunch for your three walks.
Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to the meeting location and from the finish location.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our National Three Peaks Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed. -
What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is a real challenge, so you will need a good level of fitness to tackle the National Three Peaks, walking approximately 27.5 miles (44.3km) over three consecutive days.Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian, vegan, and/or provide meals with gluten free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking.
Please see our FAQs for more information about dietary options.What transport is provided during this trip?
Transportation from Glasgow, to your accommodation each evening - including transfers from the accommodation to the walk start/finish points - and on to Chester is included.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog on an experience, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
Fancy this as your charity challenge?
The National Three Peaks
Ben Nevis
Height: 1,345m (4,413ft)
Location: Grampian Mountains, Lochaber, Scotland.
Season: May to October
Scafell Pike
Height: 978m (3,209ft)
Location: Lake District National Park, Cumbria
Season: March to October
Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa
Height: 1,085m (3,560ft)
Location: Snowdonia National Park
Season: March to October