There’s no denying that the view from a mountain summit really stirs the imagination and is a fitting reward for the effort made to get there. Here are six mountain walks from The Outdoor Guide that offer a variety of challenges and rewards around the UK.
Latrigg
Starting and finishing in the iconic town of Keswick, this circular walk from Keswick will lead you to the 368m summit of the small peak of Latrigg.
It offers one of the finest viewpoints in the Lake District National Park, stretching across Derwent Water and most of the northern fells.
With the huge sprawling peak of Skiddaw to the north providing an impressive backdrop to the whole route, this is a walk you’ll want to do again and again.
Crinkle Crags
Lakeland legend Alfred Wainwright said, “Crinkle Crags is much too good to be missed.” We know what he meant.
Starting at the top end of Great Langdale, you head up to Oxendale and cross the beck before taking a steady climb beside Browney Gill to Red Tarn.
From here you head northwest across peaty grassland before scrambling as you head up between Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.
You then pass a superb feature known as Great Slab. It is then a short walk to one of the shapeliest summits in the whole of Lakeland.
Cairngorm
At 1245 metres, Cairngorm it is the sixth-highest mountain in the UK and a must for anybody wanting to explore the Scottish Highlands. This stile-free walk starts from the Cairngorm car park. There is a good track, used by the rangers which lead up to the Ptarmigan; unfortunately, no longer open. From the Ptarmingn there is a path that lead off to the left and skirts around towards the mast. Follow this round until the footpath off to your right that leads up to the summit.
AccessTOG Director and OS Champion Debbie North says, “The views from the summit are amazing. The track to the Ptarmigan is good but from there on the path is very rugged and you do require a robust 4×4 all-terrain wheelchair, such as the TerrainHopper.”
Great Shunner Fell
This route follows part of the Pennine Way, along the bridleway to the summit of Great Shunner Fell, which stands at 680m, making it the third highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales. Guaranteed stunning views over Wensleydale and over to Cotterdale and beyond, this walk is ideal for someone who enjoys a challenging climb.
Debbie North says, “I used a TerrainHopper (a sturdy 4×4 all- terrain wheelchair) for this walk. The route starts at Hardraw and follows the bridleway. The start on the track is wide but uneven. It is a gentle climb all the way to the summit.” The summit of Great Shunner Fell is marked with a stone shelter, which gives a bit protection from the wind. With the right wheelchair, this route is a rewarding challenge for wheelchair users who want an adventure.
Ben Nevis
This route was voted 15th in a 2017 ITV poll to find Britain’s Favourite Walk and follows the Mountain Track to the mighty summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland. It’s Britain’s highest mountain at 1345 metres and is a long, steep and strenuous walk that starts with solid paths and stone steps and finishes on scree slopes, snow fields and a summit plateau that veers dangerously close to sheer cliff edges.
On a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with views that feel like they cover the whole of Scotland, with layer after layer of mountains, lochs and islands stretching to the horizon in every direction. When you reach the summit, take some time to explore the ruins of the old observatory that once marked the highest point in Britain – and look out for the resident snow buntings who’ll aim to steal your lunch!
Pen y Fan
This route was voted 11th in a 2017 ITV poll to find Britain’s Favourite Walk. Though short, this stunning walk gives easy access to the summit of Pen y Fan – the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons and the whole of South Wales. Starting from the car park at the Storey Arms, which at 435 metres high cuts out half of the overall ascent, you’ll follow the Beacons Way on a good footpath up the western slopes of Corn Du. When you reach Corn Du’s plateaued 873m summit, Pen y Fan is just a short walk away across a stretch of wide ridge.
From the summit of Pen y Fan, you’ll deeply appreciate the beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park, with rich green valleys, shapely mountains, curved ridgelines and fluted cliffs stretching in every direction. Apart from neighbouring Cribyn – a stunning 795m pyramid – many of the peaks have distinctive flat tops, a result of the region’s unique geology and weather systems.
