New Three Peaks Partnership Web Site

Three co-ordinated Mountain Care days were held across the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales last weekend to highlight the launch of a new piece of 'kit' for charity challengers. The new kit won't be found on the slopes of the nation's favourite mountains, but online, as a central resource with useful route maps, environmental information, health and safety tips and a simple one stop registration process.

Thousands of people each year scale Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon, with many trying to summit all three peaks in one trip. The longer days of summer see numbers taking part rising dramatically, with consequent impacts on the paths and nearby communities.

The website, www.threepeakspartnership.co.uk has been created by the guardians of each respective peak; The John Muir Trust, The Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (Ben Nevis), The National Trust in the Lake District (Scafell) and Snowdonia National Park Authority (Snowdon), with funding from the British Mountaineering Council, through their Access and Conservation Trust.

The website is aimed at anyone preparing to tackle the Three Peaks Challenge, (especially groups of over ten that are encouraged to register), a professional challenge organizer, fundraiser or as a participant. The Three Peaks Partnership aims to reduce the physical and environmental impacts on the peaks and their surrounding communities. By registering their challenge participants show their commitment to competing sustainability and maximizing their experience on the hill.

Sarah Lewis, Conservation Officer for the John Muir Trust said:

The website has all of the best practice steps you can take to reducing path erosion, habitat degradation and congestion. Signing up shows you are committed to minimising your impact in these fragile habitats.

The website will also advise how anyone can get involved and give back, whether that's volunteering for a day caring for the landscape, or getting involved with a local project plus all sorts of local information, so people can prepare themselves for conditions on the hill.

Steve Jolley, Area Ranger, Wasdale, National Trust said:

By putting conservation at the heart of our partnership, we've been able to launch a one-stop shop for the thousands who take part in a Three Peaks challenge. It's got all the essentials for planning your challenge.

Helen Pye, Area Warden, Snowdon, Snowdonia National Park Authority said:

The key to an enjoyable and successful Challenge is in the pre-planning and that's where we're here to help. Challenges are often planned for weekends and holidays and this is when our car parks and mountains are at their busiest, so parking can be a huge problem. There are also huge volumes of litter produced during a Challenge to, with piles of bin bags (and worse!) being dumped in the car parks.

There's detailed info an advice on our new website as to how to plan for parking and litter disposal. We're also actively encouraging a different approach to the Three Peaks Challenge – Three Peaks over Three Days – it's as physically demanding as the 24 hr challenge but with the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscapes you're visiting.

The Three Peaks Challenge is a popular and successful fundraising activity for a range of charities, however, there is a net cost for the conservation charities that care for the landscape. Path erosion is significant, as is the loss of habitat which reduces the natural diversity of the mountains not to mention litter, and the additional load on Wasdale MRT and disturbance at Wasdale Head as the Scafell Pike ascent is typically done in the dark.

Tagged: news

You can comment on this post in our forum.