A Guide to the Welsh 3 Peaks
This is a guide to the Welsh 3 Peaks. Here we will look at what the challenge contains and the benefits of going with a provider or doing it as your own group.
The Challenge
First, The Challenge is to take on the highest mountains in North Wales (Snowdon) , Mid Wales (Cadair Idris) and South Wales (Pen y Fan) in under 24 hours.
In reality 24 hours is plenty of time to complete the challenge and if anything is a bit too long. From what we have seen, taking this long will lead to the competitors getting cold and seizing up. In our experience even the slowest of groups will get the challenge done within 20 hours.
Our recommended routes and times are,
Start in the North at approximately 0600 hrs and finish in the South at around 0000 hrs to 0200 hrs. This way you finish on the easiest peak and you get to do Snowdon in the daylight. Which is much better for views and morale.
Mountain Distances and traveling Timing guidelines
- Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa – 7.5 miles 4 hr 30 mins to 5 hr 30 min (Up the Miners Track, Down the Llanberis Path).
- Travel time – 57 miles 1 hr 30 mins approx. (From Llanberis to Cadair Idris).
- Cadair Idris – 5.8 miles 5 hours to 6 hours (Up Minffordd Path and around the HorseShoe and back down).
- Travel time – 102 miles 2 hr 30 mins approx. (From Cadair Idris to Pen Y Fan).
- Pen Y Fan – 4.4 miles 2 hr 30 mins to 3 hr (Up and Down the Tourist Path as it will be dark).
The above adds up to 18 hours and adding on 2 hours at turnarounds for food and sorting out admin gives us the standard time of 20 hours for completion. We have done it a lot faster and a bit slower.



Fitness Levels
What fitness levels do you need and what training should you do? First of all you do not need to be a runner or start running lots of miles as part of your training programme. What you do need to do is build up your walking stamina. There is no substitute for doing hilly or mountainous walks as part of your training schedule. You need to train on the terrain you will be on during the challenge.
You have got to get used to walking on steep gradients and uneven ground. This will build up your leg and core strength. There is no comparison to walking 10 miles on flat ground in 3 hours. To Hiking 6 miles up and down an 800 metre elevation gain and loss, Which will take 5 to 6 hours. If you have no experience in mountain walking. It is vital to get these hilly walks in. If you live in an area where this is difficult to do regularly and the gym is your only source of regular training. Then make sure you do plenty of stairmaster sessions, squats and leg work. But whatever training you do, be prepared for the challenge to still take you out of your comfort zone as tiredness and time on your feet will be greater than any training.
Fitness Considerations
Starting on the miners is a great way to start the day. With 2 easy miles to loosen the legs. Followed by a steep section that lasts about 1 to 2 hours. Followed by a long down hill, that tests the knees. However, on completion of Snowdon, everyone should be feeling good.
Mountain 2, Cadair Idris, Is the toughest of the day, it has the most gradient and is the most remote. Sections have paths that are not obvious and are difficult under foot, and if the weather or visibilty turns poor in can be difficult to navigate and if fitness is poor or legs are tired it can seriously prolong the time on the mountain and it can become uncomfortable to dangerous.
Once down off Cadair Idris (It could be dark) We head to Pen y Fan. This is a long drive and people seize up and become very tired both physically and mentally. The Pen y Fan section as a stand alone challenge is easy! but there are those that can’t bring themselves to start it due to lack of energy. Plus there are those who do but turn around early into the climb as overuse or fatigue injuries just won’t allow them to carry on. The feedback we have from these people is, “I didn’t listen to you and didn’t eat or drink enough” Lack of energy will catch up on you.
The Team
Only as quick as the slowest person!
This is the biggest bone of contention and issue on the challenge. The difference in fitness levels. Having people in the group who have a high level of fitness and a moderate level is not a problem. We can manage that and can get the group up together and down within an hour of each other. This separation is ok and will not affect the overall challenge.
The problem occurs when there are members of the group that are of low fitness levels and not prepared. When Snowdon turns into a 6hr 30min hike and then the gap on Cadair idris becomes a 3 hour gap. Such as the first being down for 5 hours and the last for 8 hours. This causes problems for those who are first down, becoming cold, tired and stiffening up. Whilst those that have taken 8 hours become seriously fatigued.
In 2024 we experienced an increase in groups that had people that were not prepared enough and who in turn seriously affected the challenge for all. This may sound harsh, but there needs to be honest pre challenge conversations about fitness levels, training efforts and robust procedures and actions taken to identify these people and take action before committing to Cadair Idris.
A guide to the Welsh 3 Peaks
Weather
You are spending the day in the Welsh mountains, It does not matter what time of year it is or to an extent what the forecast states. You have to be prepared for all conditions, With the wet and cold being two things that you have to take seriously. We have done the challenge when there has been no visability on any of the mountains and it has rained none stop on all 3 hikes. So your kit, back up kit and warm dry clothes to travel between mountains need to be thought out and taken seriously. Plus how this will affect you as a person and your motivation and ability.

Giving you the Best Chance
To give yourself and the group the best chance of successfully completing the challenge you will need to ensure the following is all in order.
- Everyone is physically prepared.
- Everyone knows how to manage their own personal admin/kit and has the appropriate kit.
- Everyone maintains their energy levels by eating appropriately and staying hydrated (Can not stress the importance of this).
- Team members are honest about ability if it becomes too hard or injury occurs.
- A member of the team (if not guided) has extremely good knowledge of the routes and can navigate in no visibility and during hours of darkness).
- That there is a designated driver that knows the routes and parking spaces well and can navigate unexpected road closures and diversions.
Do it Yourself or With Provider
Friends / non commercial
If you are a small group of friends who have a good sense of adventure and some experience in the mountains, doing it by yourself could well be the way forward. Just make sure you have a good designated driver and at least one of the group has done the planning. Make sure that you all have the right kit and a map for each mountain.
Corporate / Charity Group
My personal opinion, which is formed from our experience. Will lead me to say that if you are organizing a trip as a business venture, whether this be charity or commercial or part of a workplace team building exercise. The best practice would be to have as a minimum, a mountain leader who is qualified, insured and first aid trained to lead you on the mountains.
Accidents and injuries can easily occur in the mountains and if they do, you want to make sure that they are not made worse by inexperienced personnel dealing with the situation. Or if I take a step further back, having a good ML will help in a preventative manner and we all know prevention is the best cure. There is a real danger in this day and age that if someone in your party is injured, that they will be looking for someone to blame and financial compensation. And if this was to happen would you be able to say and prove in a court of law that the trip was fully risk assessed and led by a competent and suitable experienced person? Plus and on a lighter note, having a guide and someone to do all the safety and logistical planning, make for a far more enjoyable day.
Lead By A Provider
If you choose to have a provider, these are the things you need to consider and ask.
- Will they provide the transport as well?
- What are there ratios on the mountain?
- Will they have at least one staff member consistent throughout the challenge, or will you be meeting a different leader at each mountain.
- Will each mountain be overseen by a Mountain Leader.
- What are there emergency action plans.
- What are the procedures for bad weather.
- Are there cut offs for each mountain.
- What is the policy if they stop the challenge due to unforeseen circumstances.
- What is their experience for the challenge they are taking you on?
- Will you be on a bus with another group or is the challenge just for your group? (This is important, there is nothing worse that a challenge failing because the other group sharing transport with you fails, Please note this when you book online onto set date events).
The above list is not exhaustive, but it is also good practice to speak with a point of contact on booking and establish as many details as possible and have clear guidelines of what is expected of both parties.
Cost Difference
There are a lot of costs involved in running the 3 peaks, whether you are doing it privately or with a provider. Please consider the following, Which are based on minimum costs, I.e 1 ML, 1 Vehicle, no accommodation and traveling distance between Pen y Fan and Snowdon and back. If you were to have a group of 12 or more we would likely bring a support vehicle to carry bags and guides, therefore adding to the cost.
- Fuel for a mini bus £150 ( 1 vehicle)
- Mini bus hire approx £420 (1 x Minibus)
- Mini Bus Driver £250
- Car Parking £36
- Mountain leaders £480 (x1 per mountain)
- Snacks / Tea Coffee £50.
If your company, school or charity are lucky enough to have a minibus and voluntary driver, costs can be reduced drastically.
We are also big fans of staying as a group overnight in North Wales before the challenge, this is a good social aspect of the event and also helps with preparing and getting the appropriate sleep/rest before. We have driven overnight from South Wales to start the challenge in the morning. This is not something I would recommend. Accommodation in North Wales can be obtained from £20 to £40pp depending on group size and quality.

Muuk Adventures – A guide to the Welsh 3 Peaks
Please see our packages for booking a Welsh 3 Peaks Adventure