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Frequently asked questions

How do I use the database if I do not have Excel on my PC?

There are at least two alternatives depending on your system. Firstly, for anyone using Windows, Microsoft do supply a viewer free of charge, which can be downloaded from their web site.

Secondly, there is the option of using Open Office which will open Excel files. This is again free of charge and can be downloaded from their site openoffice.org There are versions of this for Windows, Linux, Solaris and Mac systems

Why is it necessary to create yet another hill list?

The primary goal of this website is to offer a new approach to classifying peaks in the UK. The material can either be used as a ready made peak list, e.g. Bloomer’s Challenge, or can be used to create a bespoke challenge.

There is no list of UK peaks that is based on metric height and prominence criteria applied consistently across the UK. Furthermore few lists have both demanding height and prominence criteria. The UK Prominent Peaks database aims to address this and to provide a basis for a new generation of hillwalking lists.

I am working to complete the Munros (or Hewitts or Corbetts, etc) so why should I be interested in Bloomer’s (P500+) Challenge?

If you are trying to complete an existing hill list you will probably find that you are also completing part of the P500+ Challenge. The downloadable spreadsheet can help you to track this. Whatever list you follow you should have good exercise and potentially good views. Bloomer’s (P500+) Challenge offers significant peaks from all areas of high ground (over 500 m elevation) in the UK so probably provides some interesting summits not covered by your current list.

Isn’t there a danger of missing out because certain peaks do not meet the 100 metre prominence criterion e.g. Crib Goch on the Snowdon Horseshoe?

The UK Prominent Peaks database is a tool to identify the most prominent peaks but it is not intended to be followed slavishly. Obviously in walking prominent peaks it makes sense to include other less prominent summits. So in walking the Snowdon Horseshoe it makes sense to include Snowdon (a P1000), Y Lliwedd (a P100), Crib Goch (a P50 so not in the database) and Crib y Ddysgl (a P50 so not in the database).

Are peaks in the Republic of Ireland included?

The data for the UK Prominent Peaks database is for the UK. The authors think that criteria for the database would be equally suitable for the Republic of Ireland. However no data for the Republic of Ireland is included at present.

Are all the Munros in the UK Prominent Peak database?

Unlike most other hill lists Munro’s tables do not have a fixed prominence criterion. The result is that only 259 of the 284 Munros are included in the UK Prominent Peaks. Conversely the database includes some 14 Munro Tops as well as Prominent Peaks on Arran and Rum that fail to meet the Munro height criterion.

Are all the Corbetts and Grahams in the UK Prominent Peak database?

The Corbetts and Grahams require a minimum prominence of 500 feet/150 metres. Therefore all Corbetts and Grahams in the UK are in the UK Prominent Peaks database.

Are all the Hewitts in the UK Prominent Peak database?

The Hewitts (Hills in England, Wales and Ireland over Two Thousand feet) require a minimum prominence of 30 metres. With the exception of Cuillagh which sits on the Northern Ireland (NI)/ Republic of Ireland border no Republic Hills are included. Of the 334 Hewitts in GB and NI only 167 meet the prominence criterion for the UK Prominent Peaks database. Thus half the GB and NI Hewitts have a prominence of 100 m or more and the other half have 99 m or less. Snaefell in the Isle Of Man is not a Hewitt – so as not to undermine the acronym!

Are all the UK Prominent Peaks also Marilyns?

The Marilyn lists were the first lists to apply consistent criteria across Great Britain and the Isle of Man, followed by the whole of Ireland. The Marilyn list requires a minimum height of 150 metres and a minimum prominence of 150 metres. The UK Prominent Peaks require a minimum height of 500 metres and a minimum prominence of 100 metres. Thus not all Prominent Peaks are Marilyns and not all Marilyns are Prominent Peaks. However all P1000s, P500+s and P200s are Marilyns.

Are all the UK Prominent Peaks also HuMPs?

The HuMPs (hills with a Hundred Metres of Prominence) have the same minimum prominence as the UK Prominent Peaks. The UK Prominent Peaks are therefore a subset of the HuMPs requiring additionally a height criterion of 500 m.

Why do the numbers between 133 and 136 keep appearing?

There are 136 Prominent Peaks in both England and Wales (remember to add Black Mountain to the English database total of 135). There are 133 hills on the GB Mainland and 135 in Scotland (including its islands) with a prominence of over 500 m and there are 133 Prominent Peaks with an elevation of 1000 m or more (The Thousanders). For the authors the most important number is 158 – this is the number of hills in the UK with a prominence of 500 m or more.

Why is the UK Metric Association involved in hill lists?

The authors of this website – Jim Bloomer and Roddy Urquhart – are both members of the UK Metric Association (UKMA). In planning this website, UKMA kindly offered to provide website development and hosting services. UKMA supports the objectives of the website.

When I try to use a link to a UK Prominent Peak map it does not respond. Why?

If you are accessing a map from the UKPP website or from a downloadable Excel workbook you have links to Google Maps, Streetmap and Get-a-map websites. If you are using Internet Explorer it is possible that your settings restrict the links from working. Check the information bar in IE for hints.

I have zoomed in to a peak using Google Maps (or Google Earth). Why is the symbol not precisely on the summit?

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Ordnance Survey grid references. All map references use this data. Google uses satellite rather than the Ordnance Survey ground surveys so their maps may differ by small amounts form OS. The map symbols are placed based on the OS data so mismatches may occur. The Google Maps are intended to give an area overview. The OS maps offered by Streetmap and Get-a-map provide useful detailed maps.