For the fifth year running, I had signed up for Weston Hospicecare’s Mendip Challenge event. I read that over nine-hundred people took part this year, walking anywhere between five and thirty-miles on the day. I was set for yet another thirty-miler and hopped on to one of the four coaches laid out for our early start.
Close to eighteen-months after buying the Ordnance Survey map, I found myself heading to Dartmoor for the very first time, with the intention of staying for the full weekend.
My plan was to begin with a ten-mile walk that would take in some of the highlights to the north of the moors, including Yes Tor and High Willhays, the highest point.
Six-months of the year; gone and never to be reclaimed or repeated. Six-months to go. A half-year of opportunity.
This was a ‘Joint Walk’ from Brunel Walking Group, where both age groups (20s & 30s and 40+) are encouraged to come along. It was also graded as a ‘3 Boot’ walk, which is the most challenging in our system of walk grading.
I climbed both Sugar Loaf and Crug Mawr on my own in 2017 but I fancied doing this walk as it had been a while and the weather forecast was in our favour.
Walks With Olly 