Three peaks in the peaks

When my running friends tell me that they have run 'the three peaks' my first question is always...which three peaks? There are the three peaks in Yorkshire that take in the summits of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and, although there is a race every April, many people set up their own three peaks challenge on summer weekends. Then there are the three peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and Wales has its own unofficial three peaks challenge of Snowdon in the North, Cadair Idris (Penygadair) in the middle and Pen y Fan in the south.

So, what is it about three peaks that triggers the imagination and motivation of runners all over the UK? Today, with all day to spare, myself, two friends and two dogs decided to go for a long run and rather than tread the same routes we have done all year we decided to  try out a new running route and to incorporate a new set of three peaks.

This new route took us around the New Mills parish boundary in the High Peak. We have a few other local routes that take us across 'three peaks'. A regular route is around Lyme Park where we run to three high points:  Paddock Cottage, Bowstones and The Cage but it was time to find a new one and so we set off along the southern edge of the parish boundary that follows the River Goyt before climbing our first 'peak' of 442m to Big Stone that offers dramatic views towards Kinder Scout. From there, we ran across the moors and down to cross the Sett Valley trail before heading up to the second 'peak' of 371m - Lantern Pike. From there, it was onwards and upwards to Rowarth and then over the third 'peak' - Mellor Cross at 325m before heading back to New Mills - three very tired and wet-footed runners and two very muddy dogs but with a warm, satisfied glow of having done a superb new run with breathtaking views and conquering another three peaks!

There must be many more runs that incorporate 3 peaks around the UK. What we want to know is - where are they?!