Top 5 Mountains to Summit in 2019

As we draw closer to 2019, you may be looking for a new challenge, or a twist on a popular day out. As 11th December is International Mountain Day, we wanted to draw attention to a few options for the coming year to get you excited, and thinking about how you can make 2019 unique for you!

One of the goals for International Mountain day is to raise awareness of the challenges facing mountain communities all around the world. One of the benefits of coming on our weekend trips is that contribution they make to the local places – hostels, guesthouses, pubs, cafés, tea rooms, that we use so often. So sign up and come on an adventure!

Haystacks - Black Sail Adventure Weekend

A rugged and dramatic hill, Haystacks borders the beautiful Buttermere and remote Ennerdale valleys in the western Lake District. Surrounded by slightly higher peaks, it gives a great perspective of the high mountains while being close enough to the valleys themselves to be intimate. It was also the favourite hill (and final resting place) of Alfred Wainwright, who created the first series of guidebooks to the Lakeland fells.

One excellent way of reaching this summit is to join us on our two day walking expedition in the area, spending the night at the Black Sail hut, one of the few English hostels no reachable by road.

Cadair Idris

Steeped in myth and legend dating back to the time of the druids, Cadair Idris lies in south Snowdonia near the town of Dolgellau and overlooking the Irish Sea and the stunningly beautiful Mawddach Estuary. Despite not being as high as many other North Wales peaks, Cadair Idris’ impressive northern crags and the way it rises straight up from the valley gives it a grand presence, and has made it one of the most popular mountains in the area.

The best way to reach the summit is to join one of our Cadair Idris weekends, where we head on a day walk to reach the summit on Saturday before exploring another part of the area on Sunday.

Carrauntoohill - Ireland

Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil is a worthy objective itself, standing the edge of the fantastically named range of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks in County Kerry. If, however, you’ve already summited the UK country peaks of Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike, then Carruntoohil and Ireland is surely the next step. You’ll also get to stay in Killarney, which is a buzzing town with live music every night.

We run a series of Carrauntoohil weekends, all of which include transport and a pick-up from Cork airport.

Snowdon in Winter

If you’re considering summiting a major UK peak then you’ll almost certainly have thought of Snowdon, but why not consider doing it in winter? With a blanket of snow and hopefully crisp blue skies, it’s an experience like no other. You’ll be led by an experienced Winter Mountain Leader who will run through the use of extra equipment like crampons and an ice axe as you walk to the top. Really taking advantage of the short winter days you'll gaze out over North Wales and the Irish Sea with the UK's most popular mountain nearly to yourself!

This is definitely an adventure with a difference, and as you’d expect being winter we have dates coming up for you to Summit Snowdon in Winter...

Ben Nevis - The UK's highest peak

As the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis should definitely be on your list as a 2019 challenge. To give you the opportunity to see it in a totally different way, we’re organising walks up for sunrise, and overnight under the light of the moon and the stars. Of course, if you want to see it during normal daylight hours as part of one of our extremely popular Ben Nevis weekends then there are plenty of those to choose from!