Which mountain?

[qwertyasdfgzxcv]

I want to do a mini break which involves climbing a mountain/hill range. I'm coming from Cambridge and don't want more than a 3-4 hour drive. I'm fairly fit but don't want anything really tricky... I'll be going to for a long weekend in April/May with my friend. Hit me with your suggestions!

Can you give examples of hills you've climbed before that haven't been too tricky? What's your hill fitness like?

Mam Tor in the Peak District might work for you. Not quite as big as the lakes but still a challenge. Also Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors.

Pen y Fan?

Malverns? Bannau Brycheiniog? Shropshire hills? Would be my suggestions.

Everywhere vaguely instagrammable/popular is a nightmare in summer now.

I would avoid the Peaks, the Lakes and Eryri that time of year. Some parts are still off the tourist track but only if you're familiar with them.

To be honest it doesn't even need to be a mountain of hill.... just a coastal path perhaps.

I'm in my 30s, active and walk a lot although we don't have mountains in east Anglia! I need something doable in a day but more than just a local footpath.

I spent my childhood in Shropshire and Malvern so was thinking somewhere else although they are beautiful.

Mam Tor looks good and not too much of a drive either. Thank you

I’d suggest the Peak District

very much not a mountain, but the 24 mile clarendon way from Salisbury Cathedral to Winchester Cathedral is a challenging walk. You can get a hotel in winchester, get the train from winchester to salisbury to start your walk there and end up back at your hotel

https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/clarendonway

Not sure how much of a drive Snowdonia / Eryri is from you. we had a good walk up Moel Hebog from Bedgellert which has a lovely campsite. It's about 800m with some scrambling but not too hard and wasn't too busy when we were there.

www.mudandroutes.com/routes/snowdonia-walks-moel-hebog-from-beddgelert/

Mam Tor is over crowded and a 10 minute walk from the car park at the top. Even the walk along Rushup Edge is better than just Mam Tor.

I would suggest the Peak District too, particularly the Dark Peak (north, gritstone). But look up some walks and try something longer and more challenging. In the Peak there are lots of paths and most are marked with direction signs.

Wherever you go in the Peak expect it to be busy and expect to not get parked after about 10am in the morning.

I can suggest some paths - and some more out the way places in the Peak.