This ongoing blog is to convey my developing thoughts on achieving a harmonious solution to choosing and categorising all the contenders for the Worthies. I had initially hoped that discussion through our social media channels would assist with input to determine best practice, but sadly it’s generally rather quiet for me out there in Meta Land. As a result, for those who may view this website and have any interest in what I am attempting to create, then you can read my ruminations below.

August 2025:

This updates arrives around eighteen months into the project. Many hills have been climbed and several features written. Increasingly I am being drawn to the concept of the ‘finest representatives of upland districts’ and the desire to include as many of these district where something exists that can be considered Worthy. This will increase variety for both the reader and those who may choose to climb these hills. A consequence is likely to be a reduction in the total numbers in any one particular district, effectively only to include the best of the best. Therefore many excellent hills will perhaps now only receive an Honourable Mention within the confines of a feature on the mother ‘Worthy’. For example, I have recently made many ascents in Snowdonia and originally thought the Moelwynion range and Moel Hebog would be very likely candidates for Worthy status. However, with Snowdon itself and the Nantlle Ridge in the same vicinity I have decided to exclude them on the grounds of saturation.

Furthermore, whilst becoming drawn to choosing the finest representatives from individual areas, I am discarding some districts entirely. For example, try as I might, I have been unable to identify a suitable candidate for the Cotswolds. There are a few fine walks up to the escarpment, only to be greeted by agricultural land and a road. Such ‘hills’ just don’t feel enough like hills. The best contender I found was Cam Long Down but decided this fine little ridge was just not substantial enough and it only scored 54 points on the Worthyometer.

This is work in progress and as always, if you have any thoughts and comments I would be delighted to receive your input.

January 2026:

I have updated /judging-the-worthies-part-two/ to clarify my ideas behind the points system, which I know may appear rather parsimonious to some. That is not really the case, it’s just that I try to be objective and my idea of 7 out 10 is an equivalent to ‘Very Good’ – definitely an ‘A’ grade, so I’m not that mean. Perhaps I should reclassify them all to A+, A, A- etc, although then again maybe not…

On another matter, I have been struggling with the hills that miss out. In an ideal world I would include every hill in the British Isles over 70% as a Worthy and perhaps every hill over 60% as a Minor Worthy, but the remainder of my lifetime will be too short to achieve completion and I have no team of writers and researchers to assist with this project. There are a number of hills that I researched which didn’t quite make the grade, such as the Clwydian Range and, because I had done the work, I introduced the Minor Worthy category in order to recognise them (and validate all my efforts!). I feel this works for those hills that are distanced from the major ranges. For those that are within a major massif I am still on the fence. The Carneddau and the Black Mountains are two examples in Wales. Both are good, yet much overshadowed by neighbouring hills. In the Highlands this situation is multiplied by the sheer density of mountains, therefore without unlimited time I could never cover them all, as presently I struggle to get to the Highlands for more than a few days every year. Should I also apply this policy to Wales and the Lake District to ensure continuity? For the moment the Minor Worthy Category remains and Honourable Mentions deal with some of these contenders within the confines of an existing feature. But it’s not a perfect solution. Your thoughts are welcome.