James Forest sets self-supported record for National Three Peaks

James Forrest, 37, of Cockermouth, Cumbria, climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – and walked every mile in-between them – in 16 days, 15 hours, 39 minutes and 51 seconds.

The inov-8 ambassador walked 17 marathons in 17 days to complete his 500-mile journey on foot, setting what is believed to be a new self-supported record. 

The previous self-supported record of 19 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes was set by Tina Page in 2017, while the overall record – with a support crew – is held by ultra-runner Tom Mountney with 9 days, 11 hours and 39 minutes. In 1979, Olympian Ann Sayer completed a slightly longer coast-to-coast route via the three peaks in 7 days and 31 minutes.

James, an outdoors writer, almost had to abandon his attempt at the foot on Snowdon. After 16 days of walking, he succumbed to sunstroke in a searingly hot Llanberis and suffered a bout of vomiting.

However, narrowly avoiding an eleventh-hour failure, he regained his composure and made it up and down Wales’ highest mountain to complete the long-distance challenge.