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Original poster

How can I keep the joy of climbing steep hills alive back in the UK?

37 replies

LittleFiendSusan · 01/08/2025 21:18

I'm currently on holiday in the Alps and going out everyday on steep walks. After the first couple of days which were difficult, I've discovered I LOVE getting out of breath and being challenged by the elevation, I get a high from it I think.
I really want to continue this exertion back home to continue to improve my fitness but am put off by going to the gym as they are so bloody boring. I live in a pretty flat part of the country, no real hills around me - how can I make getting fitter interesting when I'm back home?

OP posts:
Walkthelakes · 01/08/2025 22:08

You have a literal
lifetime of walking up big challenging mountains in the Lakes, Dales, Highlands and Snowdonia. Even one of those areas could last you a lifetime. Do weekend trips; and if you really want to move to the hills. I love the mountains and spend as many weekends in the Lakes as I can

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 01/08/2025 22:05

Loads of hilly/mountainous places to go. Even in the eastern flatlands the Peak District is close enough to go to for the day. I frequently go to the Lakes or Dales for a weekend.

Cinaferna · 01/08/2025 22:05

Lots of weekends away in the Peaks, Snowdonia, the highlands. I'd love to bag Munros but we live hundreds of miles from there.

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 01/08/2025 22:02

Definitely don't do the national three peaks as a pp said; it's more a challenge of driving up the m6 than climbing hills!

But there are LOADS of great places to walk in the UK. The Lakes, obviously, and Snowdonia. But the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District also have great options for day walks, and may be closer to where you are?

Typicalwave · 01/08/2025 22:00

Move.

I come from Snowdonia - it’s made me rather picky. Leicestershire eith its ‘hills’ is massively underwhelming.

persisted · 01/08/2025 21:59

Take up Munro bagging and start working your way through the list.

HappyAsASandboy · 01/08/2025 21:49

Where in the U.K. do you live? And do you have kids etc to look after at the weekends?

I live in possibly the flattest part of the country, and manage to get away for hill walking weekends about 5 weekends a year. If I didn’t have kids I would be away to the hills at the weekends more often! I can reach decent hills in 2 hours from my flat home :)

HotCrossBunplease · 01/08/2025 21:35

Sign up for that Three Peaks challenge that people are always doing https://www.threepeakschallenge.uk/national-three-peaks-challenge/

Are there any tall office buildings or monument type things near you?

PatsFruitCake · 01/08/2025 21:34

Go for weekend breaks/day trips to hilly places? Is it the hills or exercising outside that you're enjoying? If you can get your fix from exercising outdoors then can you cycle or go outdoor swimming at home? I live in the Lakes but spend more time swimming and cycling than walking up mountains. Being in nature is what's important to me.

There are probably some hills fairly close to you. I went on a cycling holiday to the south of England recently and was surprised by how hilly the route was.

soupyspoon · 01/08/2025 21:33

Walk up and down the stairs.

LordEmsworth · 01/08/2025 21:32

Good news - there are lots of hills in the UK! Enjoy!

Notmyreality · 01/08/2025 21:22

Move to the Lake District, Highlands or North Wales.