Three of Britain's highest mountain areas are being disturbed by increasing numbers of people taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge, leading environmental groups have warned. The growing numbers of people taking up the gruelling challenge to hike up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours, are causing traffic congestion, intrusion, litter and noise pollution during the summer months.

The National Trust, the John Muir Trust, Snowdonia and Lake District National Park Authorities and the Highland Council met in the shadow of Ben Nevis to discuss the problems associated with challenge events and to consider what can done to reduce their impact.

They called on all participants to follow the Code of Practice developed by the Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers when embarking on a Three Peaks Challenge. The Code of Practice lists important dos and don'ts when planning a Three Peaks Challenge, and was written by the Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers who worked closely with a range of groups including the National Park Authorities and the National Trust.
To read the CFM code of conduct, visit the website at www.icfm.org.uk and follow the links to 'information' and then 'code of practice & publications'.

Will Boyd-Wallis of the John Muir Trust which purchased the summit of Ben Nevis less than two years ago said,

"Visitors to the Ben Nevis area are always welcome and very important to the local economy however, large scale three peaks events contribute little except disruption to local people and damage to the environment. In this the International Year of the Mountains, we urge people taking part in events to insist that organisers stick to the ICFM Code of Practice"

Will Boyd-Wallis (John Muir Trust), Fiona Rodger (Highland Council Ranger Service), Martin Norris (Lake District National Park Authority), Fiona Southern (National Trust, North Lake District), John Ablitt (Snowdonia National Park Authority), John Morgan (National Trust, North Wales) Jo Burgon (National Trust, Access & Recreation)

The National Trust owns 978-metre high Scafell Pike and part of Snowdon.
National Trust Area Manager Fiona Southern said that

"In June 2000, 30,000 trips were recorded on the one of the most popular routes up Scafell Pike whereas in August that year only 7,000 were recorded which shows just how much more congested it can get during peak Challenge months."

"An estimated 4,000 vehicles, many arriving in the early hours, use the single track road through Wasdale, on the way to Scafell Pike, in order to participate in Challenge Events every year."

"We realise most of the people taking part in Three Peak events are doing it for altruistic reasons and that participation is challenging, exhilarating and rewarding and we certainly don't want to put people off raising money for charity."

"But we urge people to consider other ways of raising funds and to think twice about taking part. The sheer number of people participating in these challenges is causing considerable damage to some of our best-loved upland landscapes and creating significant disturbance to local communities."

John Ablitt, Snowdonia National Park Authority's Head of Recreation and Communication said

"Obviously, we are aware of the positive influence events like these have on the local economy. However, the challenge for us is to achieve the correct balance between tourism and conservation."

"Snowdon is usually the last peak to be climbed, often at night, and there are considerable problems with rubbish being emptied from buses and left to be disposed of. Erosion is a considerable problem on Snowdon and we ask people to think imaginatively of other ways of raising funds for charity."

Here is another view on the problems being caused, this time from a resident by Scaefell Pike, as published by OUTDOORSmagic.com.