Visiting the summit of 10 of the Lake District's mountains in one day - we have various route options for this challenge, with varying distances and levels of difficulty. This challenge is our 'environmentally friendly' alternative to the national 3 peaks challenge.

You'll climb up to 2,500 metres (8,000 feet)

You'll walk up to 26 km (16 miles)

Target time 14 hours

You will cover some of the most rugged and dramatic terrain you are likely to experience in the whole of Great Britain. If the weather is kind you will also experience the best views available in the whole of the Lake District, some would say in the UK!

This is a great challenge and we believe it's as tough as, if not tougher than the 3 peaks challenge. Some of our clients have done both the Lake's 10 peaks challenge and the 3 peaks challenge with us and all have preferred the ten peaks challenge with most saying it's more enjoyable, even though it is a little tougher.

The ten peaks challenge is our environmentally friendly alternative to the 3 peaks challenge and has many advantages over the three peaks challenge such as:

• shorter timescale required
• no long drives between the mountains
• no sleep deprivation
• no problems with getting stiff sitting in a minibus
• no waiting in traffic queues
• less people on the mountains
• one base with superior accomodation
• wide variety of terrain
• better scenery
• more flexible route
• less cost

To book tel: 07584 177506

e-mail: enquiries@bigwalks.com

This challenge includes some of the Lake District's highest mountains, including THE highest, Scafell Pike.

We start the challenge in Buttermere, one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District, and end in Langdale - equally beautiful - having covered some of the most dramatic terrain the Lake District has to offer.

Buttermere looking towards Fleetwith Pike

The High Stile ridge rises abruptly from the shores of Buttermere to over 2,000 feet, apparently vertically, and is a geologist's delight with hanging valleys, volcanic rocks and extinct volcanoes.

On the High Stile ridge looking back to Red Pike with Bleaberry Tarn below - reputedly hiding the crater of a dead volcano

You traverse the ridge over the summits of Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag and descend to Scarth Gap via the steep and rather unpleasant path down Gamlin End.

Gamlin End, High Crag, this is your dscent route to Scarth Gap

You then pass over Haystacks, the favourite mountain of Alfred Wainwright, the man who's name is synonymous with the hills of the Lake District. He wrote the pictorial guides to the Lake District that became best sellers and encouraged legions of tourists to descend on the region ever since.

Haystacks Alfred Wainwright had his ashes scattered here

The 'Gables' are next - Green and Great - Gable that is! Great Gable is widely recognised as the birthplace of the modern sport of rock climbing and was the unlikely scene of illicit whisky distilling hundreds of years ago!

The Gables seen on the approach from Haystacks

Climber on Napes Needle Great Gable

Great Gable was purchased by the Fell & Rock Climing Club and was dedicated to it's members who fell in the Great War. The club donated it to the National trust and a plaque adorns the North facing aspect of the summit area.

There is a Remembrance Day ceremony on the summit every year attended by hundreds of people.

The plaque on the summit of Great Gable

From here there's a long descent to Styhead where we join the Corridor Route for our next mountain, Scafell Pike.

Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Scafell and Lingmell as seen from Great Gable

From Styhead we make our way downhill slightly to join the Corridor route that winds it's way along the West side of Great End and Broad Crag. This route is simply superb and the finest walker's route up any mountain in the district, affording intimate views into the gaping chasm's that cut so deeply into this side of these mountains.

Forbidding and repelling at any time but a truely awesome sight in stormy conditions. Well worth exploration but on another day and with qualified guides as these chasm's require climbing skills.

The lower reaches of Piers Gill with Lingmell above. An unwary trap for many three peakers descending form the Pike.

From here it's a rather steep and unpleasant ascent of loose rock and scree to Broad Crag col. A few hundred metres further and we're on the summit of England!

At 3,210 feet above sea level the summit is the highest land in all England and the most rugged terrain you are ever likely to encounter in Great Britain. Weather conditions here can be extreme and can change in the blink of an eye. Navigation on 'the Pike' is notoriously difficult and is the one hill on the National 3 peaks challenge that is guaranteed to highlight any weaknesses in the inexperienced or ill-prepared. The statistics of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue team tell their own story!

Scafell Pike summit cairn in Summer

Fortunately you will be guided by our experienced mountain leaders who know this mountain extremely well.

Great End is next, aptly named as it descends, apparently vertically, in chaotic cliffs for over 800 feet. Needless to say we avoid these and take the more 'pedestrian' route!

Great End

Esk Pike follows where you will notice a marked change in the colour of the rocks under your feet, providing yet more evidence of the violent volcanic activity that formed this region over millions of years.

The start of sunrise over Bowfell and Crinkle Crags from Scafell Pike - hopefully you won't need to be still walking at this time!

Your final 'top' is Bowfell, who's summit is every bit as rugged as 'the Pike's' though more compact. You descend from here to the valley of Great Langdale via the Great slab, a tilted mass of almost flat rock which has to be seen to be believed. This area is a geologists' heaven as evidence of the turbulent history and formation of the region is so clearly on display.

The Great Slab overlooking the Mickleden valley, Great Langdale

Your finish for the day is at Stool End farm only a few hundred metres from a number of refreshment houses below DungeonGhyll and the Langdale Pikes.

An alternative route includes climbing Brandreth and Lingmell instead of Bowfell and Esk Pike, before descending to Seathwaite in Borrowdale. This option is ideal for those using Keswick as a base.

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To book your ten peaks challenge tel:

mob: 07584 177506

e-mail: enquiries@bigwalks.com

Please contact us to discuss your plans and exact requirements.

To book tel: 07584 177506

e-mail: enquiries@bigwalks.com