As Phoebe Smith’s new book comes out celebrating Britain’s little pint-size peaks, she tells us why sometimes when hiking, it’s all about the little things…
1. Better weather
Mountains are amazing, the drama of a sheer-sided pointed summit shrouded in a cloak of swirling clouds stirs the soul. But… it’s those clouds that cause the problems. In bad weather even the most beautiful giant can become a fear-inducing beast, leaving us all running for the indoors. And mega mountains attract the worst of the weather. Little hills, however, tend to escape it, so when the British weather isn’t playing ball, head to the smaller mounds and you still can.
2. The perfect way to convince the sceptics
We’ve all seen it. The couple arguing on the way up to the summit of Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis or Snowdon – the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – after being coerced – nay – forced to climb it by their significant other or friend. It’s natural that your other half, friends and family won’t always share the same passions as you, but hauling them up a mountain to try and make them ‘get it’ is never the way to go. If you want to stand even a remote chance of seeing them fall in love with the outdoors then you need to start small. And that’s where Britain’s portly peaks are perfect.
3. Less time, same high
Summiting big hills takes time. And planning. But little hills – and we’re talking as small as 100m – can still give you incredible views, a good workout and sense of achievement – all the while being handily squeezed into your lunchbreak, pre-breakfast or after work. So you can still get a hill fix, without having to set aside an entire day for the activity.
4. Minimum effort – maximum results
The truly awesome thing about little hills is that you can get all the same highs (pardon the pun) as climbing mountains, but with far less effort. Want a place steeped in legend? Small hills in Britain have it by the bucket load – some have been key lookout points in WW2, others hold the ruins of crumbling castles or hide the home of the mysterious pixies. Do it for the views? Small hills often offer as good a vista as their non-height-challenged cousins, but don’t take as long or cause the same leg ache. Like the challenge? Ascent is ascent, walk up a small hill enough times, and not only will you get super fit but when you’re done, no matter how high, you’ll feel like you’ve earned that cup of tea/pint of beer at the end.
5. Added adventure
Here’s the most secret of all the secrets. Small hills are often the best wild camp spots in the world. Offering a short walk in when it goes dark, unparalleled views of the cities or towns that surround them and often public transport links so you can easily head off after work and make your nights as adventurous as your days. Do it responsibly, naturally, take out all your rubbish (including toilet paper) and don’t light a fire, and then simply enjoy the wonder of sleeping wild…
