Helmshore teenager climbs Three Peaks in under 24 hours

Isobel Wright, 13, completed the Three Peaks Challenge with just 19 minutes to spare in her bid to raise funds for Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

The challenge was originally planned for 2020 but was put off due to the pandemic, instead being rearranged for Friday, June 2.

Isobel, from Helmshore, enlisted the help of her parents Chris and Ellie, and Ellie’s friends Chris and Ros Evans, to ensure she was successful in her challenge.

The group at the top of Ben Nevis (Image: Catherine Smyth)

The Haslingden High School student has so far raised £330 and is now appealing with friends and teachers to help with further donations.

Isobel said: “When I first went up Snowdon, I was about seven and we took lots of snacks and treats as bribery and had lots of breaks.

"Then I just got into walking and I set myself the challenge. I thought if I could do that then I could do anything.”

The family stayed overnight in Glasgow and started climbing Ben Nevis at 5pm.

Isobel continued: “On top there was a cloud, but we still got a view. It took us five-and-a-half hours and as we came down the sun was setting. On the way down there were loose rocks but I was very cautious.”

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Dad Chris then drove the group to Scafell Pike and Isobel managed to get some sleep before beginning the ascent of England’s highest peak at 4am.

She said: “Scafell Pike is the shortest one and it felt like it should be easier but the climb is straight up and quite steep.

The group at the top of Scafell Pike (Image: Catherine Smyth)

“I have climbed it twice before, last time was with my brothers Leo, who is four, and Henry, who is nine.”

Once back in the car, Isobel managed to sleep again before arriving in North Wales at 1pm ready to climb the final mountain.

She said: “I thought ‘this is the last one, I can do this’. We were on track to do it in 24 hours and my mum really spurred me on.

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“Coming down was hard, but we had to be back before 5pm and we had an hour-and-a-half to do it. We ran some of the way.

“There were other teams who had also been doing the three peaks and they were cheering us on.

The group at the top of Snowdon (Image: Catherine Smyth)

“When we got to the finish line there were 18 minutes and 55 seconds left. My dad wasn’t there though, he had gone paddle boarding and got back at 5pm as he wasn’t expecting us to be early.”

Isobel now wants to complete the challenge again, but this time with school friend Ava Slavinski, also 13, and on their own navigating the walking routes with just a parent to drive them.

She added: “I was so proud of myself for doing it. On Sunday I could not walk but on Monday I was back in school and had a PE lesson.”

To donate to Isobel’s fundraising page, click here.