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

[LittleFiendSusan]

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?

Move to the Lake District, Highlands or North Wales.

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

Walk up and down the stairs.

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.

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?

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 :)

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

Move.

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

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?

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

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.

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

Where are you? I have this problem too.

I'm in East Kent, there are a few hills but all
quite short so you don't quite get that challenged feeling.
Ye

@PatsFruitCake yes, it's the nature aspect that really does it. It is lovely where I live but just no great hills.

Take a holiday in clovelly - it’s lovely and very steep

Oh, Kent sounds.. Flat 😬 I was hopeful you had easy access to Lancashire. Pendle Hill, stuff of legend 🧹

Come to Devon, it’s made of hills (and wind).

From Kent, you aren’t too far from the South Downs. It’s hilly rather than rugged mountains but it isn’t easy walking and the views are spectacular.

Peak District is probably the closest more rugged area, it is spectacular.

The Lakes obviously but they are a long trek. So worth it though!

This. Try running up Helvellyn on the tourist track from Wythburn Church.

Or Leeds/West Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Pennines and North Yorkshire Moors all start under an hour away. I'm out in one them at least once a week.

The 7 hills challenge in Edinburgh is mental! (There is no route- you just have to make it to the top of each one and get stamped so its quite strategic). Ive never done the actual race but I did walk the 7 hills one day for fun with some friends. I can tell you i hurt quite a lot for a few days after!

Where do you live in the UK? I love a hill but am in London so we’re not spoiled for choice.

Plus, you get the randomness of getting to the top of Corstorphine hill where the zoo is and looking at zebras! It always brightens day!

Ok so being in East Kent doesn’t lend itself to many hills! Or an easy route to any!

What about the national parks or working your way around the coastal route if you want scenery?