The history of our challenge walks in words and pictures
Up to date financial details and other information about our fundraising activities
Annual financial details of the totals raised from our Walkers and Corporate Sponsors
Information about The Three Peaks Challenge Walk and the surrounding countryside
Information about The Chatsworth Challenge Walk, and the Chatsworth area.
Preparation, Hints & Tips
Handy tips and sound advice for tackling those demanding challenge walks
Some interesting features associated with our walks
Information about us and why we raise the sponsored funds
All the other bits we couldn’t fit in anywhere else
chatsworth challenge
chatsworthchallenge.com
three peaks
challenge
threepeakschallenge.com
chatsworthchallenge.com and threepeakschallenge.com are organisers of sponsored challenge walks to raise money for the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund in support of nominated charities to fund cancer research, prevention, and treatment.
Total funds raised so far
£197,708.98
including... ThreePeaksChallenge
The four charities we currently represent. All of the money raised on our walks go to the four listed cancer charities to fund the research, prev-ention, and treatment of cancer.
More information >>
2013 Walk : Chatsworth Challenge
chatsworthchallenge.com are organisers of fund raising challenge walks in support of the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund to raise monies for nominated charities in support of cancer research, prevention, and treatment.
Page Acknowledgements
Text : Philip Lynskey : Gerard Mitchell
Images : Gerard Mitchell
© www.chatsworthchallenge.com
Follow these links to the main areas associated with our event fundraising
(fund total raised to date after current walk year)
After our 10th year walk in 2012, the 2013 walk on the 22nd June, was a repeat of the now ever popular two distance event in the Chatsworth area of the Derbyshire Peak District. The two sponsored walks are over 22 miles for the longer walk, and approximately 8-9 miles for the shorter walk.
Our usual format is for a separate narrative for each walk, but this year we’ve entrusted the job of covering both to our ever present columnist and Chatsworth Challenge Event Reporter Gerard Mitchell. For what seems to be typical now for our walks, the weather during the great British summer month of June was poor, and the walkers who started out on the 22 mile walk were faced with a drizzling early morning start, as Gerard takes up the story...
1. The early start for the 22 mile walkers
There looks to be some mixed feelings at 05-50 hrs on this drizzly June morning. Most walkers look to be pulling at the leash to get stuck in to the 22 miles
1. Ten minutes to go before the 06.00 hrs start, and the walkers pose for the traditional ‘team photo’ before setting off on their 22 mile walk. (click to enlarge)
2. Chloe and Clare are seen here ‘gossiping’ their way through the Headstone Tunnel on the Monsal Trail. (click to enlarge)
ahead, while the other four look as though they are in the dentist’s waiting room; I’ll leave you to work out who’s who.
It isn’t the biggest turnout we’ve ever had, but it’s heartening to see that so many of the usual suspects have turned out again, along with a few welcome new faces.
It’s a slight change of scene for the muster point photograph this year, and the building behind the walkers is Baslow Village Hall. Baslow is an archetypal Peak District village where the Hall is the focal point for a lot of the village’s activities. The Hall hosts choir practices, a bridge club, the flower circle and also doubles up as the local fitness club.
2. Cloe and Clare in the Headstone Tunnel on the Monsal Trail
This year’s twenty two mile route included a few miles along the Monsal Trail. The trail
runs along the now dismantled railway which up until 1965 connected Bakewell and Buxton. It is a route which is very popular with walkers and cyclists alike, but the re-opening of the previously blocked tunnels along it’s length has really added another dimension.
Here in Headstone Tunnel Chloe and Clair might be doing just a bit too much gossiping and have dropped some way behind the blokes, though they did catch them up again by Monsal Head.
3. A magnificent view of the Monsal Headstone Viaduct
which spans the river Wye. (click to enlarge)
4. Chatsworth Challenge regulars, Kath, Andy, and Dave make a brief stop by one of the many weirs in Lathkill Dale
(click to enlarge)
5. The nine mile walkers line up under the village hall clock ready for their 11.15 a.m. Start. (click to enlarge)
3. The Monsal Headstone Viaduct (1863)
Immediately out of the dark tunnel you walk straight onto one of the finest landmarks in the whole of the Peak District, Monsal Headstone Viaduct.
Spanning the River Wye, the viaduct was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway, and still brings visitors flocking to the Monsal Head viewpoint.
Our walk crosses the viaduct before dropping off to the left at the end of the bridge to follow the visible path down the tranquil Monsal Dale.
4. Kath, Andy, and Dave make a brief photo-stop in Lathkill Dale
The unofficial name for this walk should be ‘The Three Dales Dash’ as the route passes through Monsal Dale, Deep Dale and finally Lathkill Dale.
Here we have skipped Deep Dale (which actually isn’t all that deep), and find Chatsworth Challenge regulars Kath, Andy and Dave taking a breather beside one of the many weirs that span the River Lathkill in (yes you’ve guessed it) Lathkill Dale.
The river is renowned for it’s clear water and the quality of the brown trout that are easy to spot within those clear waters. It has been rumoured that water voles are to be found in and around the river but both Pete Mackie and Myself have yet to see one.
5. The 9 mile walkers line up for their team photo.
Unlike the earlier starters there doesn’t seem to be any misgivings amongst this crowd.
On second thoughts I’m not too sure about Alex but I suspect the bag of sweets he’s clutching will soon put the smile on his face.
6. A view of Edensor Church in Chatsworth Park.
(click to enlarge)
8. A welcome drink of the famous Irish dry stout inside the Devonshire Arms. The above are just two of the 5.5 million pints of Guinness consumed on any given day around the world. (click to enlarge)
7. The finish! Back in Baslow at the village green, just outside the Devonshire Arms . (click to enlarge)
With only five minutes to go by the Village Hall clock they will soon be off on their 9 mile round trip and hoping to meet up with the twenty milers somewhere near Pilsey. ‘Mrs M.’
(that’s Stella Mitchell, not the fictional MI6 boss - Ed.) has the job of keeping this party on the move and it looks as though she means business; she has the stick and she’s never afraid to use it!
6. Chatsworth Park
The gated village of Edensor has to be visited to be fully appreciated. It previously enjoyed a location a quarter of a mile nearer to neighbouring Chatsworth House, but in 1838 the 6th Duke of Devonshire had it moved because he thought it spoiled his view.
Today it is still tied to the Chatsworth Estate and was home to the Dowager Duchess until her recent demise.
Most of the Dukes of Devonshire are buried within St Peters parish churchyard, as is John F. Kennedy’s sister, Kathleen Kennedy. JFK visited his sister’s grave during his term as President.
Our walkers have their own reason for enjoying arriving in Edensor... it means it’s only one mile to go to Baslow and the finishing line.
7. Back in Baslow for some of the walkers
Well, with Baslow village green now forming the back-drop these four have obviously conquered the 22 miles for another year.
It looks as though Andy’s plates of meat might have taken a pasting though.
They look ready for a pint in the Devonshire Arms.
8. Two pints of Guinness and a packet of crisps please!
Enjoy! You’ve all earned it! (GM)
From Our Charities - 2013
Comments from the Charity Organisations we support
Below is a collection of just some of the many kind comments we have received from the recipient charities we support through the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund. The value of every participant’s work in raising monies for the fund can be readily seen in their thanks.
On behalf of Cancer Research UK, I would like to thank you for forwarding the very kind donation of £2,114.56, raised from a sponsored walk around the Chatsworth Estate.
Please pass on my thanks to all those who helped raise such a huge sum. It is very kind of you to support our work at this time.
Simon O'Leary
Head of Volunteer Fundraising
I write to each and every one of our walkers but in your case an extra special letter is in order. I was thrilled to hear about your incredible walk around the grounds of the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire which has raised a truly fantastic £2,114.56 for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Dave Owens and Frank Goodall.
The money you've raised will help us support people with cancer and their families, so no one will have to face cancer alone.
Alice Talcer
Head of wonderful walks
Thank you for supporting Marie Curie Cancer care through organising the memorial walk and donating £2,114.56. Marie Curie Cancer Care provides people with all terminal illnesses the choice to die at home.
Our nurses provide them and their families with free hands on care and emotional support, in their own home, right until the end. Your £2,114.56 donation will help us to provide over 105 hours of nursing care in West Yorkshire.
Hannah Saxton
Community Fundraiser
Oesophageal Patients Assc.
Thank you so much for your very kind and generous donation of £704.85 given in behalf of Dave Owens and Frank Goodall. We hope everyone enjoyed the sponsored walk around the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth.
Every donation is used wisely in the funding of the work of the Association as we continue to provide ongoing support and reassurance to those people who make contact with us. Once again, thank you for thinking of us.
Maggie Robinson
Patient Support /
Branch Development Officer
If you took part in this year’s walk, and want to take the challenge again, OR... If you’re reading this for the first time, and wish to take part in our annual walk, click on the following links for more details.
Each year we donate specific allocations to the charities we support from the total funds raised from the annual sponsored walk.
This is currently 30% to each of the three main cancer charities, and 10% to the Oesophageal Patients Association.
