The Dorset Walk 2026
The build-up to this year’s walk was again all about the weather.
A few weeks out, the forecast suggested a pleasant 20°C with some cloud cover. A few days later, it looked as though walking in an oven might actually be the cooler option.
It really was hot!
Helpfully, this year’s heatwave arrived the day before we did and broke the day after we left!
As a result we spent the weekend walking in temperatures approaching 30 degrees.
Fortunately, the coastal breeze made the walking manageable, although the temperatures on the campsite were in the early 30s and were considerably less forgiving.
Given the obvious risks there were a few changes made. The route was reduced slightly, hydration stops were increased and departure times were brought forward to maximise walking during the cooler morning hours.
Our regulars and overall numbers
The Dorset Walk is now a permanent fixture in the calendars of many schools. We are incredibly fortunate to have a group of dedicated teachers who organise and lead their students year after year. Our regular schools this year were: Ely College, Swavesey Village College, Arthur Mellows Village College, Ken Stimpson Academy, Hampton Gardens School, Thomas Deacon Academy and Prince William School. With Ramsey Abbey, Manor Drive Secondary Academy joining us for the first time.
Alongside our family walkers, adult participants and incredible volunteer team, approximately 575 people attended this year, another record for the event. That’s an increase from around 500 attendees last year.
This year didn’t feel the same
In the build-up to this year’s walk, something felt different. Eighteen years suddenly seemed like a very long time ago. Almost without noticing, the memories of my dad are becoming more distant. Perhaps it’s because this year I was so focused on the forecast and the adaptations we were going to have to make.
Or that the charity has continued to grow and evolve, and what it does now reaches far beyond my own grief and personal loss.
I’m not sure, but I don’t think it’s written with sadness. Things change, life doesn’t stand still and the charity is different now.
How did this year’s walk go?
There are a number of notable things to reference:
– This was our second year at Wareham Rugby Club – a brilliant venue, with great facilities (and some air-con).
– A second set of showers proved invaluable!
– The backed up toilets – considerably less helpful.
– Our new marquee made its debut and the shade it provided was greatly appreciated.
– The skip I ordered wasn’t exactly fit for purpose. We doubled it, filled it, and still needed another one. We have become quite a sizeable operation.
– The high temperatures meant that we had the pleasure of sharing our tents with billions and billions of ants…
– Sweets melted, make-up melted, deodorant melted, basically anything that could conceivably melt, did.
– The evenings were still filled with rounders, mob football, volleyball and the timeless tradition of sitting beside your phone guarding it while it charged!
– The young man pictured forgot his bowl and plate. His ‘plan’ was use a grape carton to eat his chilli – a little highlight for me 🙂
A little sprinkling of pressure
The Dorset Walk falling at the end of the school year creates a unique pressure cooker for me. The event itself requires so much planning and preparation, at the same time trying to finish the school year and plan for next year.
Imagine my delight when I received a call from Ofsted on the Monday before I was due to leave for Dorset on Wednesday, to say that they would be inspecting our school on the Tuesday and Wednesday.
The inspector asked if there was much going on that week that he needed to know about… I said, “just a little bit”.
Inspection deferred. Back to Dorset…
The unseen support
It is hard to explain the pressures that the teachers and support team are under throughout the event. It is relentless. Teachers and volunteers are at it from first light until late into the night, every day.
Their roles are to support and enable… which is a positive spin on solving problems and dealing with constant challenges. All the while their own batteries are draining away.
This year I produced some guides for teachers and volunteers. They were an attempt to help and prepare people for what is coming, everyone underestimates the challenge, everyone!
All of us struggle at some point. The support staff have little choice – they have to keep going!
A huge thank you to everyone who gives way more than they receive!
The day by day account of this year’s event:
Thursday
With the away team and the volunteers team already in Dorset, the day on camp was spent building the marquees – hot and hard work!
For the rest of the schools, they made their way to Dorset ‘almost’ without any issues. Mid-afternoon arrivals meant plenty of time to set up on camp. There was of course the now annual bus breakdown, and again it was AMVC who had the pleasure. Fortunately this time they were not far from the camp – one of the other coaches was sent to the rescue.
The evening briefings focused heavily on hydration, hats and sun cream!
This is also when we remind everyone about the ‘why’ we do what we do and what they are about to experience.
The scene was set – just how challenging was tomorrow going to be. I was genuinely apprehensive about what Friday would bring.
Day 1: Friday – purple t-shirts
7.30am leave – troops up from about 5.30am. Plenty of excitement, bacon rolls, water bottles filled. Everyone on the coaches on time and it was time to test the temperatures.
We started at Overcombe, bypassing the promenade from Weymouth. We cruised to Smugglers Inn for the first water break, followed quickly by Ringstead.
Then the second half of day 1 is where it ‘changes’. A few needed to stop walking at the water break, sensible and cautious decisions. The rest finished early afternoon without too many concerns – for the first time walkers, a bit of eye opener!
Back to base – showered and ready for tea. This year all schools went to Swanage for the evening. A nice chilled fish and chip tea, when not being dive-bombed by the seagulls! Some money wasted in the amusements and then back to camp in readiness for the next early start and the ominous ‘Day 2’.
Day 2: Saturday – beige t-shirts
There was no easy way of reducing the miles across the Lulworth Ranges. Another very early start – 7am this morning!
With the beach at Lulworth Cove still inaccessible we walked back into the village and up onto the ridge, like last year missing out the zig-zag steps and walking straight towards the Travelator.
The sea breeze was strong, almost refreshing, but with the strength of the sun this in itself created concern.
Kimmeridge is the water stop – we may have been responsible for a Dorset wide hose pipe ban due to the amount of water readied. The volunteers filled bottles and provided refreshments and tonnes of fresh fruit.
The afternoon leads to and finishes with the ‘Beast’ (with an additional water stop cleverly created at the base – thanks Ian), the climb definitely doesn’t get easier or cooler!
On to Kingston, the finish where my radio battery died and no signal to communicate the bus load ups – a nice bit of frustration to finish a tough day. Eventually coaches were loaded and everyone was accounted for. Mostly smiling (tired/red) faces and back to the campsite for the BBQ and presentation evening.
Saturday evening
The BBQ + hungry teenagers = a lot of food prepared, served and consumed!
The presentation evening – this year with so many returning walkers, there were an incredible number of certificates, badges, trophies and whisky glasses handed out.
During the presentation I spoke about:
This weekend they will have experienced some of the hardest walking in the country in the toughest of conditions
Their attitudes and approach had been sensational. The feedback we were receiving everywhere was how polite and how impressive all the participants were.
I told them the pride they should feel due to the investment they have made in themselves, they now know they are capable of more than they realised.
I described that even with our sore feet, tired legs and toasted skin that there will be people in Malcolm’s Retreat or at the Woodlands Garden truly suffering, that there were many amongst us directly impacted. And that our collective efforts and minor sufferings were making a difference to those that were truly struggling.
Finally, we the adults and their parents looking on, want them to have these experiences. We know they will make you better people, they were here making it happen, and that we are proud of them.
A toast and the World Cup
On to the toast (an annual tradition). My dad loved whisky so each year the adults quietly gather away from the students. It’s a chance for me to say a few words (they all hope that I cry) and toast the memory of Malcolm . In year 1 there were maybe 5 of us, this year the number must have been at least 75, the clubhouse was packed! Every year this breaks me a little, whilst at the same time makes me want to burst with pride.
Then, helpfully, England vs Norway kicked off at 10pm. Add in extra time and it didn’t finish until 1am… perfect preparation for the 7.15am early leave.
But what an experience for everyone – the TMWF Fanzone was set up outside the clubhouse, hundreds of us sat and cheered England into the semi-finals!
Day 3: Sunday – sky blue t-shirts
Following some pre-walk ‘Google Earthing’, looking for potential places for coach drop offs and coastal paths, we started a few miles down the coast. This meant no V-steps, much to the disappointment of many. But with the temperature soaring, the reduction of miles made lots of sense.
After only a couple of hours sleep and another very early start we arrived at Durlston a few hours earlier than normal and were met by our incredible army of volunteers. Feeling a lot fresher than normal we descended on Swanage and made excellent time to Studland beach.
What is the likelihood of people being at the beach during a heat wave? Turns out quite high! As we were there a few hours earlier than normal the entire population of the South of England were also still there, creating problems for coach access and for 500 people to have their sprint finish. However, people were very accommodating and a clear runway was created, hundreds of walkers ran/hobbled across the finish line.
An amazing finish and feeling. As I always say, it feels so good because it is earned by days of physical and mental investment. The finish is the pay off. What a feeling!
The impact
The money raised this year looks ,with a best guess, to have surpassed £180,000! An incredible amount of money and another record broken. Not all charitable profit but even minus the costs we must be nearing £125,000.
As always we had our £perperson nominated charities; this year receiving £575 are: EACH, PAPYRUS, Bone Cancer Research Trust and the South West Coastal Path.
I am again left contemplating the enduring puzzle, why does the walk have such impact?
This year, I think:
The Dorset Walk is definitely a Weapon of Mass Positivity. You know that you have been part of, and contributed to, something way way bigger than yourself.
Purpose is a very powerful life motivator Dorset provides laser focused purpose: this is the challenge, this is what we will do together and this is what we will achieve.
Everyone buys in and gives it their all.
Stress is not being in control. During Dorset people take control of themselves and deliver.
It’s so simple and so spectacular. As I always say, if you have experienced it you understand, if you haven’t you can only try and imagine.
In summary
This year was really hot with very limited sleep. The shortened route meant it was perhaps less taxing on the feet. The relentless temperatures provided added challenge.
The attitudes of the participants were simply outstanding.It seems that the harder it is, the more pressure that is poured onto the challenge, the more people rise to it.
At the end of Monday you return home.
For teachers, as the parents pick up their children there is a sense of pride and appreciation. They love the social media updates as it enables them to feel part of the accomplishment through their children.
Finally you sit down and soak up the feeling of: insane tiredness, genuine relief and quite a bit of euphoria.
Thank you to everyone who has got into and contributed to the TMWF journey – you’re amazing!