This superb mountain challenge aims to ascend Scafell Pike, Skiddaw and Helvellyn, 3 mountains in the English Lake District all exceeding 3000 feet in height. The challenge can be attempted over 24h but it is often walked over a long weekend, which makes it an enjoyable social event with a tremendous sense of achievement.
This Bank Holiday Social Circle have secured accommodation at the lovely YHA in Patterdale, a village located at the southern end of Ullswater in the English lakes. It is a truly beautiful place, of which Wordsworth once wrote: "Ullswater, as being, perhaps, upon the whole, the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur, which any of the Lakes affords".
The plan
Saturday
Car sharing in the morning (2h drive from Manchester) we will arrive to Keswick and begin our challenge weekend by scaling Skiddaw (approach from Millbeck; 6 miles, 4-5h, difficulty 3.5), at 931m (3054ft), the fourth highest mountain in England after the Sca Fells and Helvellyn. After the walk we will stop for a pint at Keswick (and perhaps visit the famous pencil museum?) and drive back to the accommodation stopping on the way to admire the beautiful Castlerigg stone circle. Then it’s back to the accommodation for hot showers and a cup of tea and a short walk down to the village for a well-deserved dinner and a pint or three.
Sunday
After a lazy breakfast over Sunday papers we will make our packed lunches and set off from the accommodation to climb the second mountain of our challenge, Helvellyn (approach from Glenridding; 7.5 miles, 5h, difficulty 4, optional scramble through Striding Edge). Helvellyn is 950 metres (3,117 ft) high and it is the third highest peak in both the Lake District and England as well as the traditional border of Cumberland and Westmorland. For the more adventurous (weather permitting) there will be an option of a scramble up the famous Striding Edge, one of the best-known scrambles in Lakeland. Helvellyn offers beautiful views of both Ullswater and the Thirlmere valley and is strongly associated with the poet William Wordsworth, who used to climb the mountain regularly. After the climb we will relax with a well-deserved pint and the views of the Ullswater Lake before enjoying a locally cooked dinner.
Monday
Scafel Pike is a final mountain of our challenge and needs no introduction. At 978 metres (3,209 ft) this extinct volcano is the highest mountain of England and the neighbouring Sca Fell is the second highest. The quickest ascent route up Scafell Pike is from Wasdale and this is the route used during the National Three Peaks Challenge. However, the most scenic route starts at Seathwhite and offers fantastic views of the neighbouring fells and valleys (9.5 miles, 6-6.5h, difficulty 4; optional scramble through the Corridor route). After a full English breakfast we will make our packed lunches and drive to Seathwaite where the walk begins. After the walk, we will stop at the nearby village of Seatoller which boasts an excellent restaurant where we will celebrate our achievement with a lovely meal before heading back to Manchester.
What’s included: accommodation, dinners Sat and Sun night, breakfasts and packed lunches, two professional guides and certificates of completion
What’s not included: Monday pub lunch (optional)
Kit list: walking boots (broken in), walking trousers (no jeans), fleec, hat, gloves, waterproofs, gaiters, tea flask, water bottle, comfortable day pack.
