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Trail Magazine, the UK鈥檚 biggest and best-selling hillwalking title, has announced the winners of its prestigious鈥疷K Mountain Photo of the Year Award 2025. First launched in 2014 鈥� when the inaugural winner was a student armed with a 拢10 camera 鈥� this marks the 12th year of Trail鈥檚 popular search for Britain鈥檚 most breathtaking mountain photography.

Cormac Downes, from Newport, south Wales, claimed the top spot with his extraordinary image taken above the clouds on鈥疨en y Fan, southern Britain鈥檚 highest peak. His winning shot captures a dramatic cloud inversion beneath the summit, with his silhouette poised against the ethereal backdrop. The photo was taken 36 hours after Cormac had climbed the same mountain in the dead of night under a star-filled sky. Determined to create something even more powerful, he returned, set his timer, stepped toward the edge, and gazed out in awe 鈥� resulting in an image that perfectly embodies the spirit of adventure.

Judges praised the winning shot, saying:
鈥淭his image perfectly captures the classic outdoor photographer鈥檚 gamble: wake up at a ridiculous hour, hike in the dark, hope the weather plays nice鈥� and occasionally get rewarded. The light skimming across the ridge is stunning, and the whole scene has that 鈥榶ep, totally worth the effort 鈥� this time鈥� feeling we all chase.鈥�

鈥淚t powerfully conveys the solitude and wonder of being in the mountains. The lone figure above a sea of clouds evokes awe and reflection, transporting you into that moment of quiet triumph. It鈥檚 more than a beautiful landscape 鈥� it tells a deeply human story of journey, reward, and connection with nature at its most ethereal. The dramatic light and colours add emotional weight, turning the scene almost dreamlike.鈥�

Second place鈥痺ent to鈥疭andra Grinevicius, from Salisbury, Hampshire,鈥痜or her striking image of first light on鈥痀r Wyddfa (Snowdon), Wales鈥檚 highest mountain, with summit crowds already gathering.

Third place鈥痺as awarded to鈥疞eszek Golombiewski, from Blackwood, south Wales,鈥痜or his magical winter night shot also of鈥疨en y Fan鈥痷nder a starlit sky.

The top three winners were chosen from hundreds of entries. From a final shortlist, the public voted in their thousands via Trail鈥檚 website鈥疞iveForTheOutdoors.com, which counted as one of five final votes, alongside the four expert judges:鈥疞ena Drapella, Kat Lawman, Nadir Khan, and Tom Bailey.

Oli Reed, Editor of鈥疶rail Magazine, commented:
鈥淪ince we started running this competition in 2014, the standard of entries grows beyond belief and this year was exceptional. As ever, there was plenty of fierce debate between the judges over which images should make the final shortlist, but with the help of our readers voting on LiveForTheOutdoors.com, we believe we have a very worthy winner in Cormac鈥檚 stunning shot of Pen y Fan.

鈥淗is image captures everything outdoor adventure is about 鈥� people putting themselves out there in nature for whatever it takes to experience the incredible things Britain鈥檚 landscapes have to offer. That photo was taken in a landscape visited by hundreds of thousands every year, but so few see it like this. That鈥檚 the magic of packing a tent, pitching somewhere cool, and waking up to capture moments while the rest of the world is still sleeping below.鈥�

First placed Winner鈥疌ormac Downes鈥痵aid:
鈥淲inning this recognition is incredible. To have my work celebrated alongside such outstanding shortlisted images is deeply rewarding. It reminds me that every early morning, sleepless night and fog-shrouded mountain climb was worth the effort 鈥� each challenge leading to the privilege of capturing a moment as special as this.

鈥淲hat I love most about mountain photography is the knowledge that every visit brings different conditions; some perfect for photography, others more challenging 鈥� but that unpredictability is exactly why we keep returning. Each time, there鈥檚 the chance to capture that one magical moment. The more you venture into the mountains, the greater your chance of witnessing dramatic and unique conditions. Patience is key. Experiment with angles and compositions and always be mindful of light 鈥� it has the power to transform an image.鈥�

This year鈥檚 competition was held in partnership with鈥疛ack Wolfskin, with winners receiving premium clothing and accessories from the brand鈥檚 hiking range.

All the winning Images, photographers鈥� and judges鈥� comments, can be found in the new February issue of Trail magazine, available on newsstands now. Runners up who made the shortlist (in no particular order) were:
Crib Goch, by Dave Barker
Dovestones sunset, by Dave Sykes
Golden Warnscale Bothy Buttermere, by Mark Hetherington
Ogwen goat at sunrise, by Kaya-Emmens Jones
Stac Pollaidh, Assynt, by Edyta Rice
Stob Coire nan Lochan wild camp, by Brian Welsh
Summer-sunset-from-the-Llanberis-Pass-Eryri, by Simon Kitchin
Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis, by Allan Sumner
Winter on Striding Edge, by Padam Gurung

鈥� ENDS 鈥�

For further press information, please contact:
Susie Asbury 鈥� Interim Corporate Communications Director, 呦乐园 UK
E: 鈥痵usie.asbury@bauermedia.co.uk

About Trail Magazine鈥痑nd LiveForThe Outdoors.com
Trail is for everybody who loves hiking, backpacking, climbing mountains and exploring the great outdoors. Basically, if you like chucking your mountain kit in a rucksack and heading for the hills at the weekend, Trail has you covered. It鈥檚 been the UK’s biggest and best-selling hillwalking magazine for 35 years and is packed with award-winning writing and photography, mapped walking routes, expert reviews of all the latest outdoor gear, interviews with the biggest names in mountaineering, and expert advice from mountain pros on how to improve your hill skills.鈥疶rail will be embracing a digital future in 2026 by focusing exclusively on its thriving online presence on 呦乐园鈥檚 livefortheoutdoors.com, created by the editorial teams behind鈥痶he UK鈥檚 most trusted outdoor titles, including Country Walking, the UK鈥檚 best-selling walking magazine.

About 呦乐园 UK
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