Challenge Walk, Castleton, Peak District | 20th December

Help support the BMC Access & Conservation Trust by signing up to our 18-mile Challenge Walk from Castleton, Sunday 20 December, and fundraising £75 to protect the Peak District moorlands from wildfire.

Tickets for the walk are being sold at £27.80 each on Eventbrite here, with the sponsorship target of each participant being £75.00. The fundraiser who manages to secure the most sponsorship will be added to this prize draw to win £895 worth of outdoor gear and skills courses.

To fundraise for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust please find info, handy tips and advice here. It's easy to set up a JustGiving page for us here.

The route

Walk leader, BMC Peak District Hill Walking Rep, Alex Davis-Ward, says, "The challenge is to race the sun on one of the shortest days of the year! This circular walk will start and finish at Castleton, following a short section of the Limestone Way. We will make our way to Tideswell then join the Pennine Bridleway to make our way to Rushup Edge, then along the broken road and back into Castleton.

"There will be 3 stops, one of which will be at a pub, with approximately 20 minutes rest at each. This is an undulating walk with some hills and an overall ascent of roughly 1,800m over 18 miles, but to beat the sun, a constant 3mph walk speed will be required.

"We’re excited to welcome you for a memorable day in the outdoors!"

Alex Davis-Ward is a qualified Hill & Moorland Leader and the BMC Peak District Hill Walking Rep. He leads walks on behalf of the BMC and other organisations and is now working towards his Mountain Leader qualification.

Alex has achieved the NNAS gold navigation award and the NNAS tutor award, and has completed many walking challenges, including the self-navigated 56-mile Smithy Bullock Hike within 22 hours.

Alex mainly leads walks in the Derbyshire Peaks but also elsewhere. As an ex drystone waller, he has always been interested in the outdoors and in the history of different areas.

Alex believes the best way to see, discover and explore, is on foot.

Walk Details

Walk Grading: Challenging

Distance: Approx 29 km (18 miles)

Ascent: 550m (1800ft)

Duration: Approximately 8 hours

If you or anyone in your party can’t attend after booking, please let us know so we can offer the place to others

Meeting Details

Time: Sunday 20 December, 08:00 am for a 08:10 am start

Location: Castleton Visitor Centre, Castleton, Hope Valley, S33 8WH

OS Grid Ref: SK 149 829

Google map pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bi4ZWhLXfGS8Dcmr9

Parking: Pay and display; payment options include cash or the PayByPhone app. Free parking may be available elsewhere in the village

Please check out the BMC Liftshare service

Facilities: Toilets are available at the car park

What to Bring

We’ll cover a range of terrains, so please ensure you are well-prepared with appropriate gear

Footwear: Sturdy, water-resistant hiking boots or shoes with good grip

Clothing: Dress in layers, including waterproofs, as conditions can vary; bring a hat and gloves for cooler areas

Food and Drink: Bring enough food and water for a full day’s hike; there will be no places to purchase refreshments en route

Other Essentials: Although we plan to finish within daylight hours, carrying a small torch or head torch is advisable for emergencies

Who Can Attend

Anyone, Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Well behaved dogs are welcome but must be always kept under close control, please indicate on your booking if you will be bringing a dog

Health Precautions: If you have any health conditions that might impact your participation, please inform us in advance. Carry any required medications, and let the walk leader know if assistance may be needed in accessing them

If you are unsure of your ability or would like advice regarding kit and suitability for this walk, please email the leader in advance

Tickets are sold at £25.00 each with the sponsorship target of each participant being £75.00. The member who raises the most will be in the running for this prize draw.

BMC Participation Statement

The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement

Photographs may be taken by the leader for future communications about the programme. If you do not wish for your photograph to be taken please let the leader know in advance or at the start of the walk

By participating in this walk you agree to act in a kind and inclusive manner. Bullying, discrimination or the use of foul language will not be tolerated

Questions

Feel free to contact BMC Hill Walking Rep, Alex: davis-ward@protonmail.com

Donate to us for FREE!

Did you know that you can donate to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust entirely FREE simply by shopping online as you usually would, at any time of the year with Easyfundraising? It only takes two minutes to set up, here's how.

Donate to us (not for free!)

If you want to contribute to upland and mountain access and conservation causes like the above, then simply click here to donate to The BMC Access & Conservation Trust via The Climate Project or Mend Our Mountains campaigns at any time. One-off or regular donations of any amount are always most welcome.

Volunteer

Fancy fixing footpaths in the Lake District, placing stepping stones in Eryri or planting sphagnum in the Peak District? Sign up to one of our Get Stuck In events here. And if you can't volunteer, why not gift us the amount you would have spent in fuel or on a train fare getting to a volunteer event?

Leave a legacy

A wise person once said, the most noble thing you can do is to "plant trees under whose shade you will never sit" and, likewise, fund path repair projects on which you will never walk and moorland restoration projects which you will never see. If you'd like to make a lasting impact on the landscape long after you've left this world, please consider leaving us a legacy.