In the hills, on the coast and through cities, people are testing their physical and mental limits. What are they really searching for at the top?
With summer on the horizon, the mountains and coastlines of Wales are calling. For many, these rugged landscapes aren’t just a backdrop for adventure, they’re a way to process something deeper.
From the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path to the punishing slopes of Snowdon, more people than ever are lacing up their boots, not just to reach the summit, but to honour someone, prove something, or recover from grief.
“Every summit I reach is for Ethan,” says Ceri Williams, whose five year old son passed away from a rare genetic disorder. She’ll climb Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan in one day as part of the Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge. “It’s not about fitness anymore, it’s about connection.”
The Welsh 3000ers
What is it?
A legendary Welsh hiking challenge that takes in all 15 peaks over 3000 feet, usually completed within 24 hours with no transport between summits. The full route spans roughly 30 miles and over 13,000 feet of ascent.
Why people do it:
“You don’t do the 3000ers for the views. You do it for the legs, the pub and the weather,” says Alun, who finally completed it on his third attempt.
One year he misjudged the route and ended up trudging into horizontal rain. Another time he finished with just enough energy to crawl into the pub before last call.
Those who make it say you come back sore, muddy, and strangely proud.
No medals, no bibs. Just mountains and memories.
See more details: 14peaks.com
Welsh 3 peaks challenges
What is it?
A one-day trek that takes in Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan. These are the three highest peaks in Wales, and together they cover over 20 miles with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing.
Why people do it:
“It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” says James Edwards, who joined last year after losing his brother. “I needed to hurt a bit. I needed to feel like I’d done something hard for him.”
Many take on the 3 Peaks not just for fitness but for the sense of perspective that comes with moving through the elements.
Somewhere between Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan, the rain usually starts. No one bothers to check the forecast anymore. They just bring chocolate and keep going.
See more details: tyhafan.org
Canoeing the River Wye
What is it?
A peaceful yet physically testing canoe journey along the River Wye, often paddled from Hoarwithy to Ross-on-Wye, covering around 11 miles through deep green countryside and historic stone bridges.
Why people do it:
It starts calm. Then your arms start to ache, the breeze turns head-on, and you realise how far 11 miles actually is.
“I thought it would be meditative,” says Josh, who did the route solo last spring. “It was until the last bend, when I could barely lift the paddle.”
But when the sandstone cliffs come into view, and you glide beneath the ruins of Backney Bridge, it feels like a secret river carved just for you.
See more details: gopaddling.info
Walk the Welsh Coast Path
What is it?
A coast-hugging trail stretching 870 miles around the edge of Wales, the first continuous route of its kind in the world.
Why people do it:
No one walks all of it at once. But those who try to say the hardest part isn’t the blisters or the wind. It’s stopping.
“You follow cliff trails, quiet beaches, caravan sites, castles, chip shops. It becomes your whole world,” says Lauren, who walked it over six weekends.
Every bend reveals something new. And every small finish feels like a quiet win.
See more details: walescoastpath.gov.uk
Lôn Las Cymru Ride
What is it?
A 250-mile cycling route that stretches from Holyhead in North Wales all the way to Cardiff or Chepstow in the south. It crosses mountain ranges, river valleys and two national parks, offering some of the wildest scenery in the country.
Why people do it:
“You don’t realise how much you carry until you’re halfway up a hill with the wind in your face,” says Eleri, who rode the southern section after finishing cancer treatment. “The ride gave me back a sense of strength I thought I’d lost.”
She says finishing the final stretch felt like climbing out of something invisible and leaving it behind on the trail.
See more details: sustrans.org.uk
The Pumlumon Challenge
What is it?
A wild long-distance walk across five peaks of the Cambrian Mountains, usually tackled in a day. Expect remote views, rolling ridges, and the occasional soaked sock.
Why people do it:
“It’s not bad, is it?” says Emma, who completed it on a winter night with a head torch.
Another pulled their calf muscle one mile in and still hobbled through on painkillers.
Bananas and toffee waffles appeared at checkpoints. The view at the top was better than any medal.
See more details: ldwa.org.uk
Not everyone who climbs a mountain is chasing a view. Not everyone who walks a coastline is training for something.
Some are carrying grief. Some are looking for clarity. Others just want to feel something shift beneath their feet.
These challenges offer more than physical rewards. They give people a reason to get outside, move forward, and connect with something greater than themselves.
The miles don’t fix everything, but they create space, space to think, breathe, and remember.
And when the ground gets steep or the weather turns, the finish line rarely keeps people going. It is the reason they started in the first place.