Last weekend I completed the Three Surrey Peaks Challenge with Three Peaks Challenge.

I’ve previously competed the National Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike, Snowdonia) in 2017, the Yorkshire Peaks (Pen-y-Ghent), Whernside, Ingleborough) in 2018 and the Welsh Peaks (Snowdon, Cadair Idris, Pen-y-Fan) in 2019. And then the world shut down.

More recently I saw that the same organisation were doing a challenge in Surrey. 23 miles, walking across Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill and Box Hill. The girls that I had done the other challenges with initially were up for it but life gets in the way. So I decided to do it as a celebration for my 65th birthday. Yes I know, most women would opt for a luxurious spa, a upmarket restaurant, a case of champagne, but I wanted something different. So I signed up.

I was nervous. I have never covered myself in glory doing these challenges. And the last mountain I climbed, Carrauntoohil, the highest peak in Ireland had been really difficult. But I always get it done. And Carrauntoohil at a height of 1,038 metres is considerably high than Leith Hill, the highest of the Surrey Peaks which can only boast 294 metres.

So on a dry, but very windy morning, I found myself at the registration van. I was allocated to Group 2, and after a short briefing we were off.

It is a circular route. Taking about 3 hours to get to the top of Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill a hour later and then a long trek of over 4 hours to get to Box Hill.

We had started at the bottom of Box Hill but it was going to be the last hill we climbed. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. There was an advantage in getting the highest hill out of the way first but doing it last meant it was then just a short distance to the finish line.

The impact of some fairly heavy rain soon became obvious. There were sections of the hike that were extremely muddy. It was like walking through treacle in parts. I was convinced that the mud would envelop my entire walking boot. But fortunately it didn’t and after a while I developed a confidence in walking through the goo. Although the risk of slipping and going face down was never far away.

As predicted I soon started to drop back. But I wasn’t alone. But unlike the others I already knew that I wouldn’t be as fast as the majority of the other walkers, being a lot older. But for a few, those first few kilometres are a bit of a shock. It’s not going to be as easy as they thought.

The first couple of kms is spent walking through the vineyards of Denbies Wine Estate, the largest vineyard in England. It then becomes one of forest and fields. A very different experience to the previous challenges. Although it reminded me of the walk I did back in September when I walked from Minehead to Coombe Martin. And for the most part the ascents and descents are fairly gentle. Very unlike my previous experiences.

The walk to Leith Hill took about 3 hours. A short rest stop then a retracing of steps to meet ‘support’ offering coffee and cake.

At about 12.00 we enjoyed the first test of my V02 max capacity. The ascent up Holmbury Hill. It had been described on Instagram as ‘brutal’ so I was bracing myself for it. But although it was fairly steep it was short and sharp. It was at this stage that I started to catch up with others in the group that were slowing down.

We were at the top of a very windy Holmsbury Hill. Now for the long trek to Box Hill.

Inevitably a few people dropped out. I was walking with a woman who was doing the challenge for charity. But after the second hill she really started to struggle. Her hips, her lower back and one knee were screaming out for her to stop. And sensibly she did. The guide arranged for a van pickup. Another woman decided to join her.

As part of the training for such a challenge you are encouraged to get the miles in. But I suspect some people primarily focus on the ascents when it is the duration of the hike that claims the most victims. 23 miles over uneven terrain is arduous. And sometimes it is your mind that surrenders first.

Fortunately, whilst I was starting to feel fatigued, I wasn’t experiencing any physical niggles. The boots were clogged with mud, but my feet were dry so little risk of a blister. I felt good. I knew I was going to complete this challenge.

As we started to approach Box Hill we were asked if we wanted to do it as there was an option to circumnavigate it. I’ve walked up Box Hill before so I know it is an intense climb. But there was no way I was going to do a three peak challenge but only do two. A couple of women started to waver but I encouraged them to go for it. And they did.

It was intense, but fairly brief. We walked up, allegedly, 275 steps to the top. I wasn’t counting but it didn’t feel that many but maybe I was getting a little delirious by this stage.

And then it was all over apart from the fairly slow decline to the start. The quads were screaming for mercy but the end was in sight.

Back to the van where I had registered just over 9 hours ago. I came in at 8 minutes, 55 seconds. Just inside the anticipated time of 7-9 hours. I’d completed the Three Surrey Peaks Challenge.

I said goodbye to the women I had walked with. Boots off and then a celebratory pint of lager.