This year’s Three Peaks Trial takes place on 23rd March. Chris Barber provides further information.
The Three Peaks Trial is an organised walk arranged each year in March by the Cardiff Outdoor Group. Designed to test the walker’s map reading skills and endurance, the event was first held in March 1963 and this year the event celebrates its Golden Anniversary! The event involves walkers self-navigating through a series of checkpoints in the hills around Abergavenny.
Local Abergavenny author, photographer and historian, Chris Barber, set the event up and advertised it in a YHA magazine asking for interested walkers to take the ‘Three Peaks Trial’ challenge of ascending Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and Skirrid Fawr mountains in one day. This first event attracted twenty entrants but had to be postponed due to poor weather until successfully being held on March 9th 1963. In the early years the event was based at Crickhowell Youth Hostel but when this hostel closed the event base moved to its current site in the Red Cross Hall and Guide Hall adjacent to the Fairfield car park in Abergavenny. The event now attracts over 900 walkers.
Over the years the event has been modified so in 2013 there is a choice of four routes: Platinum Route: This is a linear walk of about 17 miles and 5000’ of ascent from Llanthony Abbey to Abergavenny; Gold Route: This is the original challenge, a circular walk of about 20 miles and 5000’ of ascent, which crosses over the three prominent peaks around Abergavenny of Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and Skirrid Fawr; Silver Route: This is a circular walk of about 15 miles and 4000’ of ascent and Bronze route: This is a circular walk of about 10 miles and 2000’ of ascent.
Sugar Loaf Checkpoint
All the profits raised during the trial go to charities and, over the years, the event has raised considerable sums for a range of outdoor related charities. Since 2010 Longtown Mountain Rescue Team have marshalled the mountain top checkpoints and 50% of proceeds raised goes to the team. Walkers also use the event to raise funds for other charities.
For further information and entry details see the event website: www.threepeakstrial.co.uk.
