Crushing The 3 Peaks Challenge: Records & How To Prepare
The 3 Peaks Challenge is a challenge to get to the top of the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales, all within 24 hours. While this is already a tough endeavour, some people try to break one of the 3 Peaks Challenge records, which would be an awe-inspiring feat considering these records!
First off, let's clarify the parameters of the challenge:
Participants start the challenge by placing a foot in the sea at Fort William in Scotland, before ascending Ben Nevis. After completing the first peak and making their way back down, they drive to the Lake District of England and tackle Scafell Pike, and finally to Snowdon (Yr Wydffa) in Wales.
The clock stops when participants reach the sea at Caernarfon, marking the completion of the challenge.
As you can probably tell, this is a serious challenge to complete within 24 hours, as the driving itself takes around 10 hours without any traffic. However, it is doable! And you can do it with Skyhook.
What is the 3 Peaks Challenge Record Time?
The 3 Peaks Challenge record time is held by the legendary runner Joss Naylor, at an impressive 11 hours and 56 minutes. This record was set back in 1971 and has remained unbeaten ever since.
The main reason why this 3 Peaks 24-hour challenge record was possible was because rally driver Frank Davies drove him between the peaks in a specially prepared Ford Capri Vita 6. This rally-specification car, equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 engine and a 100-litre long-range fuel tank, helped the pair travel between the peaks in record time.
The 1971 National 3 Peaks Challenge record was set during a time when Britain's motorways were far less congested, and road safety regulations were a lot more relaxed. So, the key to the record was the high-speed travel - something you wouldn’t be able to get away with today.
Joss Naylor's record of completing the challenge in under 12 hours is seriously impressive - especially when compared to the modern 3 peaks 24-hour challenge record, where completing it in under 20 hours is considered exceptionally quick.
While this 3 Peaks Challenge UK record still stands today, it’s often spoken about in hushed tones as fast driving certainly wouldn’t be able to pass today’s traffic safety regulations. So, if you want to set the fastest ever 3 Peaks Challenge, chances are very slim that you’ll be able to travel between each peak as quickly as Joss Naylor did back in 1971.
Youngest Person to Complete the 3 Peaks Challenge
If we’re talking about different 3 Peaks Challenge records, then it’s worth mentioning the youngest person to ever complete the challenge.
This title goes to five-year-old Seren Price from Llangennech, South Wales. Seren became the youngest person to complete the UK's Three Peaks Challenge in 48 hours, scaling Snowdon, Ben Nevis, and Scafell Pike in 2022.
Seren and her father, Glyn, originally aimed to finish the challenge in 24 hours but had to pause to assist a climber on Ben Nevis. Seren's efforts raised over £7,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, and she has been nominated for a JustGiving award.
Currently, Seren is preparing to climb the highest mountain in North Africa: Mount Toubkal.
Running Variation of the 3 Peaks Challenge: Fastest Time
When looking at the 3 Peaks Challenge record, it’s also worth mentioning a tough variation of the challenge - running it. As this requires no vehicle transport between the peaks, setting the record for this style of 3 Peaks Challenge is always on the table but requires a great deal more endurance, experience and planning.
Needless to say, running the 3 Peaks Challenge is an extraordinary feat that few attempt due to its gruelling demands.
Group Record:
One notable record was set on August 9th, 1981, when a team of five athletes completed the entire 3 Peaks route, including each summit, as a relay team. This team prepared for months, organising local guides, motorbikes, and minibuses to help their journey.
They covered a staggering 470-mile route that included varied terrain, from rugged mountain tracks to running through city centres. Their impressive record time of 54 hours and 39 minutes remains unbeaten to this day.
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Individual Records:
There are also some impressive individual records for the fastest known time (FKT) on foot. British endurance athlete Imo Boddy recently shattered the 45-year-old female world record for the fastest time to complete the UK 3 Peaks Running Challenge.
Starting at 7 am on May 15th, Boddy placed her hand in the sea in Scotland and, after covering more than 680 kilometres and over 10,000 meters of elevation, finished at 12:43 pm on May 21st in the Welsh ocean. Her time of 6 days, 5 hours, and 43 minutes comfortably broke the previous female record of 7 days and 31 minutes set by Ann Sayer in 1979.
The men's FKT was set by Arthur Eddleston, who followed in Ann Sayer’s footsteps a year later. Eddleston ran the 3 Peaks Challenge in 5 days, 23 hours, and 37 minutes.
Running the 3 Peaks Challenge Barefoot
Another crazy 3 Peaks Challenge record was set by ultra-endurance athlete Tony Riddle for running it barefoot.
Tony ran the entire National 3 Peaks Challenge in nine days, seven hours, and 18 minutes without wearing any shoes.
Starting at Mt Snowdon in Wales and finishing at the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland, Tony ran over 450 miles, including 23 miles of combined ascent and descent of the peaks, barefoot.
For the 400 miles of roads between the mountains, he wore Vivobarefoot footwear to mimic barefoot conditions with added protection. His effort, which raised over £7,000 for Survival International, broke the previous record by four hours and 31 minutes.
3 Peaks by Bicycle Record
Not all 3 Peaks Challenge records are done on foot. Angus Young set a new record for the Three Peaks Challenge by bicycle, completing it in 32 hours and 10 minutes - which is about five hours faster than the previous record.
The challenge involved climbing the tallest mountains in Wales, England, and Scotland, and cycling the 670 kilometres between them.
Starting at Snowdon and finishing at Ben Nevis, Young's well-planned and supported effort saw him navigating some serious difficulties, including traffic delays, nighttime riding challenges, and fueling issues, to ultimately achieve a massive feat in ultra-endurance cycling.
Records Aside, How Long Does It Usually Take to Complete the 3 Peaks Challenge?
The 3 Peaks Challenge needs to be done in 24 hours, which is typically the time it takes people to finish the challenge.
When planning your route, you need to factor in both hiking times and driving times. Here’s a breakdown of what this typically looks like.
Hiking Times
Ben Nevis (Scotland)
Ascent and descent: Approximately 5 hours.
Ben Nevis is the tallest of the three peaks at 1,345 meters, and the hike is around 16 kilometres round trip.
Scafell Pike (England)
Ascent and descent: Approximately 4 hours.
Scafell Pike stands at 978 meters, with a round trip of about 11 kilometres.
Snowdon (Wales)
Ascent and descent: Approximately 4 hours
Snowdon is 1,085 meters tall, and the round-trip hike covers roughly 14.5 kilometres.
Driving Times
Fort William to Wasdale Head (Ben Nevis to Scafell Pike): Approximately 6 hours. The journey covers around 264 miles (425 kilometres).
Wasdale Head to Pen-y-Pass (Scafell Pike to Snowdon): Approximately 5 hours. This leg of the trip is about 180 miles (290 kilometres).
Total Time:
So, when we combine these segments, the estimated time breakdown could look like this:
Ben Nevis Hike: 5 hours
Drive to Scafell Pike: 6 hours
Scafell Pike Hike: 4 hours
Drive to Snowdon: 5 hours
Snowdon Hike: 4 hours
This is a conservative estimate though, and there’s a good chance you’ll complete the challenge quicker if you’re fit enough and well prepared. However, factors like weather conditions and traffic can slow your challenge down, and these are out of your control.
If you’re interested in the fast challenge you can do, then be sure to plan for the best time to do the 3 Peaks Challenge. You’ll also want to check out our top 3 Peaks Challenge tips to help you prepare more efficiently.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, purely due to road conditions and travel between the peaks, breaking the 3 Peaks Challenge record is pretty much impossible. However, that’s not to say you can't set records on the time it takes to ascend each peak or set a new running the 3 Peaks Challenge record.
Interested in attempting this challenge with expert guides and a great support team? Then check out our 3 Peaks Challenge for an incredibly rewarding experience. Or, opt for the slower (but equally enjoyable) 3 peaks in 3 days.
