Our Top 10 UK Peaks

From the South Downs to the Lake District and Highlands, the UK has hundreds of spectacular mountains and hills just waiting to be explored. We've picked our top 10, but fill in the comments form below to let other walkers and hikers know your favourites and lesser-known gems!

1. Snowdon
At 1,085m, Snowdon, which lies in the Snowdonia National Park is the highest mountain in Wales, and the highest in the UK south of the Scottish Highlands. There are a variety of routes up Snowdon depending where you want to start, from the very popular Pyg Track to the more difficult mountaineering route Crib Goch.

The Snowdon Horseshoe is a great route (12km) which offers a great selection of gradiants and terrains, from the scrambling up Crib Goch to the quieter ridge walk Y Lliwedd. This route is very well known throughout the hill walking community, comes with some spectacular scenery and can be completed in just 6hrs 30mins.

For those of you who do not wish or are unable to walk up there is a steam railway which can take you to within 20m of the summit. At the summit you will find the newly refurbished cafe and visitor centre, in which you can relax and admire the views over England, Wales, Ireland and even Scotland if you're lucky and the skies are clear. Read more

2. Cadair Idris
Cadair Idris is seen by many as the best mountain in Wales. Far away from the crowds that visit Snowdon, the Minffordd Path takes you right through the spectacular glacial landscape left behind by the Ice Age.   

The walk is about 10km up to the Penygadair summit and is fairly tough in places, although there are other routes you can take up the mountain. With its fantastic views it would be a real shame to do this walk on a day of bad weather.

Local legend has it that if you spend the night in the bothy on the summit you will return either a poet or a "mad man".  Read More

3. Ben Nevis
Known to locals as The Ben, this mountain stands tall at the western end of the Grampian Mountains, with the summit towering 1,344m above the Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William which sits at the base, making Ben Nevis the highest mountain not only in Scotland, but in the UK. 

Ben Nevis attracts an estimated 125,000 complete and a further 100,000 partial ascents per year, most of which are made by walkers using the well-constructed Mountain Track (Pony Track) from Glen Nevis on the south side of the mountain. For climbers and mountaineers the main attraction lies in the 700m high cliffs of the north face. Among the highest cliffs in the United Kingdom, they harbour some of the best scrambles and rock climbs at all levels of difficulty, and are one of the principal locations in the UK for ice climbing.

4. Scafell Pike
Located in the Lake District National Park, Scafell Pike, at 978m is the highest mountain in England and is characterised by its crags and general ruggedness.

The most direct route up Scafell Pike starts from Wasdale, a village situated on the western side of the Lake District. The route takes approximately 5.30hrs to make your way up 8.5km to the summit. On a map the route may appear fairly short and easy but the ascent (910m) makes this a tough, yet fun, walk with some scrambling up to Mickledore.  If the weather is poor there are easier routes up instead of completing the scramble. Read more

5. Ingleborough
With its famous flat topped profile, Ingleborough, at 723m is the 2nd highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales behind Whernside.

There are several popular hillwalking routes to its summit. The most frequently used starting point is the village of Ingleton, which lies about 6km to the southwest; an ascent from here is about 12km there and back. The route follows a walled lane before emerging onto a flat area, Crina Bottom, which is scattered with potholes including the considerable Quaking Pot. A steep climb through the limestone cliffs from here leads to the summit.

6. Rough Tor & Brown Willy
Sat on Bodmin Moor, Rough Tor (400m) and Brown Willy (417m) are the 2 highest peaks in Cornwall. The walk to the summits of both Rough Tor are both very popular with visitors and offer some spectacular views over Cornwall.

Rough Tor was made famous as the scene of the dramatic climax of Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn, a tale of smugglers, romance and wreckers.

Don't be misled by the relatively low height of these summits. Weather on the moor can be harsh and change extremely quickly, and in poor visibility good navigation is essential.

7. Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout is a high windswept upland gritstone plateau, covered in peat, which stands at around 600 metres above sea level. The highest point is Crowden Head, which at 631m is also the highest point in the Peak District. This is the largest and grandest of the great upland areas of the so-called 'Dark Peak' and it forms an imposing and fascinating area.

The peak is accessible from the villages of Hayfield and Edale in the High Peak of Derbyshire and offers fantastic views over Manchester. In some places the walk can be fairly steep and very heavy underfoot depending on the time of year.

A great spot for lunch is looking over the Kinder Downfall, a spectacular 30m waterfall.

8. Plynlimon
Plynlimon is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales, a massif which dominates the countryside of northern Ceredigion. Lesser known and trod than Snowdonia, this area offers some spectacular and remote areas for walkers to explore. The highest point of the massif itself is Pen Pumlumon Fawr at 752m. Plynlimon is also the source of the River Severn, the UK's longest river. There are some excellent long walks here, including the long trail which takes in both Plynlimon and Nant-y-Moch Reservoir. Read more

9. The Cheviot
Situated in the north of the Northumberland National Park, less than one hour from Newcastle, the Cheviot Hills mark the border with Scotland; a wild, romantic landscape of rounded hills and valleys. The distinctive hills were formed when lava erupted from the earth’s core and flowed out over the area. The hills are criss-crossed with bridleways which allow mountain bikers to follow the routes of ancient cattle drovers. Be sure to pass by the dramatic waterfall of Linhope Spout on your walk.

The upland scenery of the Cheviot massif is second to none with the Cheviot itself rising to 815m. At the Cheviots’ northern edge, you can still trace the hut circles left within the pre-roman site of Yeavering Bell.

10. Snaefell, Isle of Man
Snaefell is the highest mountain on the Isle of Man at 620m above sea level. The Isle of Man lies close to the geographic centre of the British Isles and thus the top of its highest mountain can (weather permitting) offer some unrivalled views. The top is comfortably reachable within 45mins, and a great introduction for younger children to hill walking.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway runs in peak season (typically April through to October), climbing four miles from Laxey to the summit, allowing no excuses for you not to reach the top, where a cafe is waiting.