Welcome!

How high will you go this year? It could be higher than you ever dreamed. This guide is made of mountains which – with the injection of cash, time and training – most of us could probably rise to without being a worldslaying mountaineer. That doesn’t mean they‘re easy though – they’re just hard enough. And we’ve enlisted some of the top experts in international guiding to give you an idea if your next challenge really does await in the next 24 pages. Enjoy!

ROB JOHNSON

Trail expert and international mountain guide based in north Wales, Rob’s adventures have taken his clients all over the world. www.expeditionguide.com

SIMON YATES

Famous for having the book Touching the Void dedicated to him for his role in Joe Simpson’s survival in the Andes, Simon is an author, adventurer and leader for World Expeditions. www.worldexpeditions.com

TOM BRIGGS

Tom is a director of Jagged Globe, which since 1987 has gained a redoubtable reputation for navigating clients to the summits of some of the world’s most challenging peaks. www.jagged-globe.co.uk

NIKI MORGAN

Niki is the trekking peak expert at Mountain Kingdoms, which has been specialising in small group walking and trekking holidays for 30 years. www.mountainkingdoms.com

DAVE PRITT

From exploratory expeditions up unclimbed peaks to some of the world’s classic peaks, Dave’s Lakes-based Adventure Peaks offers mountains for every level. www.adventurepeaks.com

TOM RICHARDSON

A veteran mountaineer and mountain guide for KE Adventure Travel, Tom has been on seven expeditions to 8000m peaks. www.keadventure.com

COVER The Matterhorn ROBERT HARDING / ALAMY