Always take a compass

6:45am, Saturday 30th November 2013 - the plan was, I thought, simple; to meet the group from work that were going to attempt the 3 Peaks challenge in 2014 and take them on a "trial" walk around the Pen-y-Fan horseshoe in the Brecon Beacons so that they could experience a little of what it would be like walking the mountains (as none of the group really have previous hill walking experience) and so that I could get a better understanding of both the abilities and fitness levels of the group.
Unfortunately due to a myriad of excuses attendance from the work group was far worse than expected but, as the weather was looking good, we decided to carry on anyway and head up the M4 to the car park near to the Neuadd Reservoirs where we'd start our walk around the horseshoe route.

We arrived at the car park just before 9am and I spent a while packing bags and checking kit items and clothing as well as explaining the route that we'd be walking after deciding to take the clockwi…

Stretching from Orcombe point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset the Jurassic coast runs for nearly 100 miles and covers some fantastic coastline and some amazing features including the limestone cove and natural arch at Durdle Door and the Southwest Coastal path runs the entire length, allowing for a variety of circular walks from the small villages along the way.

We started our walk from the small village of Worth Matravers to the West of Swanage and a fairly early start saw us in the (free) car park adjacent to the Square and Compass pub (well worth popping in to for a selection of amazing ciders when you can find someone to drive you home!) and planned to head out to the west to the quarry and then join the costal path near West Hill and follow it East around the coast line down to the Lookout Station at St Aldhelm's head and then back, past the quarry at Winspit, to Worth Matravers.

From the car park we headed out of the village and follo…

I've done this before, a few times now, and I said, no I promised myself, that I'd never do it again - at least not with (or leading) a group but one conversation led to another and before I knew it "the challenge" had been set, a team was being formed and plans for the first "training" walk were being hastily put in place and a date of 30th May 2014 had be set.

The "National Three Peaks Challenge" is as much about willpower as it is about achievement (both personal and as a team) and while I love both pushing myself to find new limits and the sense of achievement and accomplishment that comes with walking in the mountains the last 3PC nearly ruined both my love for the great outdoors and anything to do with challenges and goals in one foul swoop - but that's another story that I wont commit to this blog - so I declared to myself, and anyone else who was willing to listen, that I the only time I'd even consider doing it again would be solo;…