Peak to Peak Mega Challenge FAQs Friday 27- Sunday 29 April 2018 1
The Peak District The itinerary Arrive on the Friday evening to spend the night at Losehill Youth Hostel. Your leaders will be there to brief you and discuss your game plan over a drink in the cosy lounge. Saturday (Challenge Day): Stage 1 Mountain Biking Starting on the idyllic banks of Derwent Water, you will leave the crowds behind as you climb up and out of the valley. The scenery on this ride is guaranteed to distract you from any tiredness! The riding is suitable for novice bikers, and you can jump off and walk at any point if you feel more comfortable. A disused railway line takes you into the beautiful Hope Valley, where the skyline above you is punctuated with iconic gritstone edges. Riding through heather and past fascinating rocky outcrops, two bursts of energy will take you up to the summits of two peaks in the Peak! The descents back into the valley are along flowing grassy trails and can be taken at whatever speed you choose. Stage 2 Hiking Up A Moonscape At Edale, leave your bikes behind to begin the trek up Kinder Scout. Good trails take you all the way up to its fantastic moonscaped summit. Looking otherworldly, you can spend a bit of time jumping into the peaty craters (you're never too old for this!) and admire the panoramic view which reaches all the way to the summits of Snowdownia on a good day. Leave the typical day trippers behind as you traverse the entire Kinder plateau and drop off the cliffs and into the river for Stage 3. Stage 3- Abseil Quickly don your wetsuits and helmets ready for the homestretch. The cold water of the gorge will be good for getting rid of any lactic acid in your muscles as you start the 3km canyoning descent. Climb and abseil down waterfalls, jump from rock ledges into freshwater pools and slide down natural chutes. Undoubtedly the most fun way to end an endurance event. Don't forget to look up though, the steepsides of the valley above are only this impressive from the bottom of the gorge! The event will finish with a two-course celebratory dinner at the Snake Pass Inn, who also host a delicious range of beers! 2
The route: Experience level needed? None All activities on this challenge require no previous experience. Lost Earth Adventures (our event company) provides all instruction, equipment and plenty of staff, however you will need to be quite fit. This challenge will take between 9-11 hours depending on how fast you go and covers 2337m of ascent over 49km This challenge should be achievable by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. In the lead-up to the event we recommend building up your cycling stamina to be able to cover 33km on mixed terrain. How do I get there? You will need to arrange your own transport to the Peak District and will need to arrive at the Youth Hostel by 7.30pm on the Friday evening for a full briefing. 3
Address: Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WB By car: Entrance is on the A625 from Sheffield/Hathersage and is on the East end of the village. From the west, take the A625 from Chapel en le Frith following signs for Castleton Blue John Caverns and turn down the Winnats Pass (very steep). The detour signs from the west can be confusing and add considerably to the journey. Please follow these directions rather than Satnav as the postcode covers a large area. By train: Hope rail-station is the closest to the hostel, just a 5 minute journey away. It can be reached easily when transferring trains from Sheffield. Please get in touch with Emma before booking your train as we will be arranging for return mini-bus transfer/taxi from Hope to the station. The mini-bus fee is not included in your booking and will need to be paid on the day. Where will I be staying? 4
You will be staying in the totally refurbished Castleton Losehill YHA, a Victorian gothic mansion and cobbled mews set in formal gardens and 27 acres of parkland in the heart of the Peak District National Park. Rooms will be allocated in advance according to gender. Most of the rooms have en-suite facilities so no battling for a much-needed shower after the challenge! Please bring a towel with you. There is free wi-fi in communal areas and a restaurant and bar on-site. There s also a local pub just a 10- minute walk down the road. What will I be eating? Rest assured all food needed is included: You will receive a hot meal at the hostel on Friday night 2 cooked or continental breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday Packed lunch on Saturday A two-course meal at the Snake Inn Pass Pub on Saturday straight after the challenge What equipment will I need? A mountain bike and helmet will be provided along with all equipment needed for the challenges (e.g. helmet, wetsuit, etc.). We recommend that you bring with you the following: Padded cycling shorts Cycling gloves Suitable shoes for a 33km mountain bike ride Light walking boots for the hike A change of clothes for the hike if you would prefer a fresh outfit for the walk (NB you will be changing outside so please bear this in mind) A warm fleece or thermal layer for the walk Hat Warm gloves Waterproof trousers and jacket Water bottle Snacks 5
Can I bring my own bike? Unfortunately, we are unable to allow people to bring their own bikes. This is due to storage and transport issues. Please rest assured that the mountain bikes provided will be of excellent quality and fully equipped for the ride. Who is going? You will be in fantastic company on the LandAid Ambassador Challenge! We have advertised the Challenge to LandAid Ambassadors who champion the LandAid cause within the property industry. Due to the nature of this challenge, we are offering this incredible opportunity to 35 of our supporters. If other property professionals express an interest, they are more than welcome to join. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking during both evenings at the hostel and during the challenge. How much does it cost? This year participants will have two options: 1. 165 registration fee and a 400 fundraising target. NB 100 of this target will go towards covering the full cost of your place in the event. 2. 265 registration fee to cover the full cost and a 300 fundraising target. All money raised from the challenge will go towards our mission of ending youth homelessness here in the UK. You can set up your fundraising page here. The LandAid team will be on hand to support fundraising so if you have any queries please do get in touch. What if I don t reach the fundraising target? If you ve chosen the first option to pay 165 and don t raise 100 by 31 st January, you will be required to pay this out of your own money. LandAid has paid an upfront cost for your place and it is important that LandAid makes this back. 6
Your fundraising donations will be granted to projects across the UK providing vital support to young people affected by homelessness. For examples of where your generosity will have an impact, please take a look at our website. Do I get my money back if I can t attend? Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any refunds once you have paid the full 265 as this would result in LandAid losing money. What extra costs might there be? Transport to and from the Lake District Any equipment you don t already own Extra drinks and snacks If you have any questions that aren t covered in the information above, please contact Emma at emma.cobbold@landaid.org! 7