Up for some mountain climbing in the UK? While the British Isles may not boast the towering giants of the Alps or the Himalayas, it still has its fair share of impressive peaks with breathtaking views. In fact, there are mountains all across Great Britain that cater to all levels of mountain climber. In this post, we’ll explore 7 of the most rewarding mountains to climb. Got your hiking boots on?
Ben Lomond
Location: Scotland
Height: 3,196 ft
Climbing difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Offering incredible views of Loch Lomond, this mountain was the inspiration behind the famous Scottish folk song ‘The Bonnie Banks ‘O Loch Lomond’. It’s often considered a suitable mountain for fit beginners, providing a well-signposted path with steady ascents. It takes about 4 to 6 hours to ascend and descend and is about an hour away from Glasgow.
Ben Nevis
Location: Scotland
Height: 4,413 ft
Climbing difficulty: Challenging
Being the tallest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis could be considered the toughest climb on this list, and may be a peak for beginner climbers to work their way up to. It’s a pretty steep ascent that includes boulder fields and everchanging weather conditions (snow is a possibility at the top at any time of the year). Spare at least 8 to 10 hours to climb and descend this mountain.
Snowdon
Location: Wales
Height: 3,560 ft
Climbing difficulty: Moderate-to-challenging
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the tallest mountain in Wales. The climb can be moderate to challenging depending on which of the six paths you take – Pyg Track requires a fair amount of scrambling, whereas Llanberis Path is the most popular and straightforward trail. Alternatively, if you want a really easy ascent, you can take the mountain railway! Consider booking a hotel near the base such as Royal Victoria Hotel and set aside 5 to 7 hours.
Scafell Pike
Location: England
Height: 3,209 ft
Climbing difficulty: Challenging
Located in the Lake District, Scafell Pike is the tallest mountain in England. Together with Ben Nevis and Snowdon, it’s part of the famous Three Peaks challenge (scale the tallest mountain in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours!). The rough and rocky terrain of this mountain makes it a fairly challenging climb.
Hellvellyn
Location: England
Height: 3,117 ft
Climbing difficulty: Moderate-to-challenging
Hellvellyn in the Lake District is renowned for its narrow knife-edge ridges – which add a fear factor to the climb. There are a few different paths that you can take up this mountain and some are easier than others. Striding Edge is the most famous and challenging route, featuring some of the most exposed ridges and lots of hands-on scrambling.
Pen y Fan
Location: Wales
Height: 2,907 ft
Climbing difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Pen y Fan could be considered the easiest climb on this list. Its well-maintained paths, gentle gradients and lack of scrambling make it an excellent family-friendly choice for a mountain climb. The popular ‘Horseshoe Route’ offers breathtaking views of the Brecon Beacons and takes about 3 to 5 hours to complete.
Cairn Gorm
Location: Scotland
Height: 4,085 ft
Climbing difficulty: Moderate
This tall mountain located in the Scottish Highlands is known for its blustery winds, but has some fairly broad paths that don’t require any technical climbing. You can cut out some of the ascent by taking a funicular. Cairn Gorm is also part of a ski resort and there is the option to ski several trails down the mountain (providing the snow is good).
