Queen Mary's Peak

Queen Mary's Peak rises to 2,062 metres above the settlement, the summit of an active volcano and the highest point of any British territory with a permanent population, named after Queen Mary of Teck, whose eruption of 1961 forced the entire population to evacuate to England for two years before they voted almost unanimously to return. The climb goes up through the Base, then tussock and fern, to a crater some three hundred metres wide at the top holding a small heart-shaped lake that freezes in winter. An underwater eruption off the island followed in 2004. Cloud sits on the summit most days.

Highlights

• The summit crater - the bowl at 2,062 metres with its small lake.
• The 1961 eruption - the event that emptied the island for two years.
• The climb - the route up through the Base and the tussock above.
• The island view - the whole of Tristan below on the rare clear day.

When to go

October to March is the southern summer and the climbing window. Cloud covers the summit most days in any season. Weather can change within the hour.

What to expect

The climb is long, steep and genuinely serious, and a local guide plus council permission are required. Cloud usually means no view. Weather can turn dangerously fast at this latitude.

Nearby

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is below, and the Potato Patches are west.

Key facts