Dodge The Bank Holiday Crowds

Bank Holidays are great - three days off and the whole country to aim at, but how come everyone always seems to end up in the same place? You know, the big campsite opposite The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale, queuing for the bar at the Wasdale Head, crammed in a corner of Pete's Eats or camped in that damp field in Kettlewell?

Well, believe it or not, it's possible to escape the crowds - really, you don't have to go to Malham Cove or climb over the masses on Crib Goch or Striding Edge. We've put together a few alternatives that might help you avoid the crowds. Oh, one last thing, don't all go there at once eh? We don't want a Catch 22 situation now, do we?

Give The East A Miss It's blindingly obvious, but if you're headed for the Lakes, give the honeypots on the eastern side a wide berth - Ambleside, Langdale, Patterdale and Glenridding are all fantastic bases, but not on a spring Bank Holiday when everyone and their poodle has had the same idea. Wasdale falls into the same category, even though it's much harder to get to. The queues at the Wasdale Head bar are legendary...

The uncrowded River Duddon - Sean McMahon

Instead think laterally. Our hot tip would be the Duddon Valley. Camp at the farm above Seathwaite and you'll have easy access to a great pub, handy climbing on Wallabarrow and near deserted walking if you head west and away from the Coniston Fells. It won't be deserted, but compared to Ambleside...

Skiddaw - quieter... by Tyke

Alternatively, if you want bigger mountains but with fewer crowds, head north to the Keswick end of things and tackle Blencathra or Skiddaw. Again you won't exactly find solitude but if you stay off the main routes, like Sharp Edge, it should be a lot less hectic than hauling up Helvellyn.

You know those things on the right of the M6 as you head up to the Lakes, big, rounded, hump-backed hills, they're the Howgills they are and much ignored in favour of their bigger, sharper neighbours. Plenty of good walking on tops like Wild Boar Fell (2,324 feet) and The Calf (2,220 feet) and potentially brilliant views across to the Lakes. You know it makes sense.

A stone's throw from the Lakes, but a world away in terms of business -
John Fitzpatrick

The what? Okay, the Forest of Bowland isn't a forest at all, more desolate, rounded, windswept moor to the east of Lancaster. Rights of way were quite limited, but the new CRoW Act has changed all that and made it an even more attractive alternative, it's still far quieter than the better known stuff in the Dales and Lake District. and well worth checking out.

Harrop Fell, Bowland - John Fitzpatrick

The Peak District National Park's the most popular in the world, or something like that, being ideally located right in the middle of some of the biggest urban connurbations in the UK. Solitude is unlikely, but you can make things quieter by avoiding the really obvious places.

The popular end of Stanage, for example, will be swarming with climbers, guaranteed, but check out the quieter end. Or dig out your guide book and check one of the smaller gritstone crags like Castle Naze that get significantly less traffic. Or what about the higher edges of Kinder if the weather looks good?

The trig point on Soldier's Lump, Black Hill
- Chris Charlesworth

For walking, avoid Kinder Downfall unless you relish crowds and kiddies, instead look for alternative, quieter paths even in the busy places. Start off from Crowden for example, and most people will head along the Pennine Way, above Laddow Rocks, but follow the quieter path on the other side of the valley over West End Moss and White Low and you'll avoid the worst of it. On the way back, head over the open moors and the chances are that all you'll meet are a few grouse. Same applies on Kinder.

Another tough one to escape from. The usual advice about avoiding the hot spots holds good. On no account approach any of the three peaks, they're lightning conductors for Bank Holiday walkers, as are villages like Kettlewell and Malham. Sad but true.

Gunnerside in the Dales - Matt K

We'd suggest one of the quieter villages like Appletreewick as a better bet. John Pitches, landlord of the excellent New Inn, will happily suggest walking and mountain biking routes in the area.

Okay, just say no to Tryfan, Snowdon and the rest of the really popular peaks. They will be submerged under a hordes of people. Instead look to the lesser known tops in the area - Cnicht - great shape - the Moelwyns, the Rhinogs and the Berwyns. If you really need to scramble, avoid those classics like Crib Gock and Bristly Ridge, get out the guide book and head for the outlying, lesser known routes.

If you really want ridge thrills then check out the Nantlle Ridge, a 3-star grade one above Rhyd Ddu in the Eifionydd Hills.

Nantlle & Mynydd Mawr from Bwlch Cwm-Lan - Marcus Crompton

For walking, along with the outlying hills, we recommend a tramp around Cwm Eigiau in the Carneddau with an ascent to the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, the second highest, but not the second best known peak in Wales. Bet you didn't know that...

About 25 miles south of Snowdonia, Cadair Idris is a spectacular mountain that gets nothing like the attention its big brothers further north attract despite having a fine horseshoe walk and, in the Table Route, a classic easy mountaineering day out. It's under the magic 3000-foot mark, but who says the 3000-foot mark is magic anyway? If you're multi-activity inclined, you can always combine it with a trip to the mountain biking centre at Coed y Brenin for some knobbly tyre thrills (did I really write that?).

Cadair Idris - Paul Grosvenor

If you can't get away from the crowds in Scotland, you're not trying hard enough. Chances are that the big, classic peaks will be crawling, but there's so much to go at that you really ought to be able to find quietness. Clue: given the choice between Buchaille Etive Mor and Stob Ghabar on Rannoch Moor, one is likely to be busier than the other. Go figure...

Stob Coire Raineach - Justin Murphy

Need A Walking Or Scrambling Route?

Stuffed for inspiration? Check out the OM Routes Section for walking and scrambling routes in all the most popular mountain areas.