Sunday 23rd November, morning dawned predictably sleety and cold, as we arrived at the Rugby Club in Cromford Meadow for the 8am start of the Annual High Peak Challenge. Was this a case of déjà vu? How could the weather be so rotten two years in a row? The event is organised to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. The 17.5 mile takes place mostly along the High Peak and Tissington Trails both disused railway lines.

There was an excellent turnout, around 1,500 participants took part. In 2007 St John's Ambulance were treating people for hyperthermia, because black bin bags were the only protection some walkers had against the elements! It was very pleasing to see that the majority were properly kitted out for the wintry conditions this time. We did spot the noses of a few "accessory" dogs heads sticking out of rucksacks after the first steep climb, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits as the sleet slowly turned to drizzle.

The walk starts with a gentle stroll along the canal for a mile or so until we reached a long, steep incline which forms the first section of the old railway. In the cold sleety weather, the incline was an excellent heat generator, which got the muscles nicely warmed up for the flat exposed walk to come.

The complimentary refreshments were even better than last year - Chocolate Hobnobs instead of Custard Creams and four army tents half way round very efficiently serving hot soup and roll, instead of the single burger van put on last year, with a queue 10 deep in front of it. On a challenge walk, every minute counts, so we had come prepared with food, water and hot drinks anyway, but the free soup and Hobnobs went down a treat as us girls patiently queued up to use the portable facilities.

The afternoon brought with it a shift in the weather - we had a slight reprieve when the skies cleared and produced a beautiful rainbow over the Derbyshire countryside, but not long after that, we had a battle against the wind all the way to the finishing line.

We passed a few minor casualties whose muscles had seized in the cold and were having to limber-up ballet style to get them going again.

Well done to Rachel C, Su D, Sally H, Derek S, Steve D and Andy P. Everybody completed the walk in around 5 ½ hours. Clutching our badges and certificates we jumped on a waiting coach and were soon back at the car thawing out, and on our way home to order a well deserved Chinese for tea! Why not make 2009 the year you take on your first challenge walk?

Look out for the Severn Way Challenge from Bridgnorth to Bewdley on 15th January 2009.

By Leander T