This is my first in a series of post which are going to go through the what’s, why’s, how’s and where’s of the what will be my biggest hiking challenge to date. N3PX – The National Three Peaks Extreme Challenge
So you’ve heard of the National Three Peaks, but this one is different
The National Three Peaks is a popular hiking challenge in the UK which sees hikers heading for the highest summits in Wales Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), England Scafell Pike and Scotland with Ben Nevis. The usual challenge is a task to complete all of these within a 24 hour window.
What is the N3PX (National Three Peaks Extreme) Challenge?
So the three peaks on their own didn’t feel like the type of challenge I wanted to do. This challenge brings in each of the big climbs and follows marked national Ways for the majority of the almost 600 mile trek.
Now I felt that the 24hr challenge just wasn’t it for me, if nothing else the driving alone seems a little much. As much I I do love climbing up mountains since getting into hiking I have grown a preference for longer distance endurance hikes and wanted to mix this in with the challenge.
So N3PX will see me completing each summit but with trekking the almost 600 miles between them as well. This is going to include over 60,000 of elevation gain through the hike. That like sea level to the top of Everest, twice! If that wasn’t enough on it’s own I’ll be carrying all my gear for camping along the way with me too.
Why have I created the N3PX hiking charity challenge?
The short answer is to raise funds and awareness for mental health charities that I owe my life to, mind North Staffs, CALM and the Samaritans.
The longer answer. In the summer of 2024′ inspired by being on the support team for long distance charity cycle rides around Europe with Ride2, I created my own long distance hiking challenge. Stafford2Snowdon started from my front door in Stafford and got me all the way to the highest point in Wales Yr Wyddfa. This was a big hike, over nine days I covered 180 miles of trails and added up a combined elevation gain of 38,500 feet.
My original plan for this year was to take on Stafford2ScafellPike. It seemed like the obvious next stage. It would have been a little bit longer and spread over 12 days.
My circumstances changed in that time and I have started 2026 with a little extra freedom. So I have the opportunity to take on a huge hike. Giving me a chance to give something back to these amazing charities that work so hard support those struggling with their mental health.
Where does the N3PX take place?
This challenge is going to see me trek through three nations of the United Kingdom Wales, England and Scotland as I head through some of my favourite national parks. Starting in the Eryri National Park, in North Wales, before heading through northern England to each the the Lake District National Park and for the last stretch of the West Highland Way I’ll be heading through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
There will be a lot of named paths through this journey and as I complete the final maps in the time coming up to the event I’ll share a more detailed post on each way I’ll be hitting along the way.
Some of these ways I am pretty familiar with and some will be a whole new adventure. Although I am quite excited that, at least for a short time, I will be following stretches of both Hadrian’s Wall and Antonines Wall, which are both places I have wanted to visit since I got into hiking and outdoor adventures.
The Ways
- Llanberis pass
- Pyg track
- Cambrian Way
- North Wales Coastal Path
- Offas dyke
- Cheshire Way
- Trans Pennine Trail
- North England Coastal Path
- Lancaster Canal Path
- Ribbleway
- Brown Tongue
- Corridor Route
- Cumbria Way
- Hadrian’s Wall
- Annandale Way
- Southern Uplands Way
- Cross Border Drove Road
- John Muirs Way
- Antonines Wall
- West Highland Way
This challenge is going to be a big one and there is a lot that is going into making sure I am physically and mentally prepared to take it on. So there are going to be lots of post on fitness training, adventure planning, the gear I’ll be using and even some bits on the nutrition that will be keeping me fuelled both through training and during the event. So be sure to bookmark and hiking.co.uk and keep coming back to read the latest posts.
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