Two of the world’s most difficult hikes are in the UK

There are walkers and then there are hikers. People who prefer to get in their steps on leisurely Sunday strolls through forests and along brooks versus those who like to take on rocky terrain and enjoy arduous climbs up unforgiving mountains. For those who fall into the latter category and are looking for a new challenge, new research by PureGym has revealed the most physically demanding hikes in the world – and two of them can be found here in the UK. 

To determine how tough the routes are, PureGym looked at factors like distance, elevation gain, gradient, maximum altitude, amount of scrambling required, wind speeds and the average temperature. Each metric was given a weighted score and then combined to give the hike a score out of 100. 

Borneo’s Mount Kinabalu Summit was named the hardest hike in the world, but there’s no need to travel all that way for a challenge. Two treks in Scotland also made it into the top 10. The Cuillin Ridge Traverse on the Isle of Skye was ranked the fifth hardest in the world and the Ring of Steall in the Nevis Range was ranked ninth.

Cuillin Ridge Traverse

The 12km hike up Cuillin Ridge involves intense climbing up 22 peaks with a total ascent of 3,000m. This is no standard trek, it requires proper mountaineering gear like climbing rope, a harness and a helmet. To get down, you’ve got to abseil. All in all, the ridge usually takes highly competent climbers around 12-30 hours to complete, which includes stopping overnight in a bivouac (a very, very lightweight camp). Safe to say, it’s not for the faint of heart. 

Ring of Steall

Unlike Cuillin Ridge, the Ring of Steall can be done without special equipment but there are sections where you’ll need to scramble a bit and you’ll still need to be a confident rambler. The Ring incorporates four munros – Sgurr a’ Mhaim, Am Bodach, Stob Coire a’ Chairn and An Gearanach – and covers 16.9km. At the start, you cross over the Water of Nevis via a three-cable wire bridge (two cables for your hands, one for your feet) with no harness and no safety netting (you don’t have to cross it though, the water is shallow enough to wade across).

 The climb up An Gearanach is known for being particularly gruelling. Most people take nine to 12 hours to complete the route. 

The top 10 hardest hikes in the UK

1. Cuillin Ridge Traverse, Isle of Skye
2. Ring of Steall, Nevis Range
3. Ben Nevis, Fort William
4. Pillar Rock High Level Route, Lake District
5. Wasdale Horseshoe, Lake District
6. An Teallach Circular, Wester Ross
7. Aonach Eagach Ridge, Glencoe
8. Crib Goch, Eryri
9. Am Basteir & Bruach na Frithe Circuit, Isle of Skye
10. Tryfan North Ridge Circuit, Eryri

ICYMI: One of the world’s 25 best islands is right here in the UK. 

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