05:30 AM GOOD MORNING CAMPERS! – rings through the crisp morning air, the suns up and it’s still cool. Many bleary eyes and teenage grunts as the camp awakens. Showers completed, hot breakfast rolls, porridge and cereal bars taken, lunches packed and on the bus, complete with hat, sun protection and loads of water.  The route this year was altered slightly to allow for the heat and the start of day 1 was at the far end of the Weymouth promenade at Overcombe. The first couple of hills are just teasers, 40 – 50 metres high, just enough to get the blood pumping, spirits are still high it’s not too hot, yet! Oh, the joys of being out in the fresh air! After the first couple of hills they get higher and steeper and completely relentless.  We can see Durdle Door, it’s just over the next hill, no the one after, no there’s another one!  We finally get there, Durdle Door, amazing clear blue turquoise sea, it looks so inviting, it's been so hot but we must go over the last hill of the day and down into Lulworth Cove to meet the buses and grab a well-deserved ice cream. Highest peak today 152m.  Back to camp and a nice shower then it's off into Swanage for some well-deserved fish ‘n chips.

05:15 AM WAKEY WAKEY! – Another early start and a full day walking.  The sooner we start the sooner and cooler we finish. Today we have to face hills so bad they’ve been given names like “The Travellator” and “The Beast”.  The sun is relentless but there’s more of a breeze today making it feel a lot cooler to start. Starting virtually at sea level in Lulworth the only way is up, the first climb up to 163m back down to sea level then up again, this time "The Travellator" 163m again but it’s so long, feels like you’re going up forever but we all make it to the top and that is an achievement in itself, the views here are again spectacular, the wind putting white horses on the waves, again the sea is so close but so far away. Another hill and then down to Kimmeridge for lunch where we can top up water and eat as much melon and as many oranges as we can, fortifications for the challenge ahead and then we get there and "The Beast" looms ahead.  It’s the last climb of the day, not the tallest at a mere 149m but soooo steep.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it your halfway there, another push and another push and its done, the hardest 25 minutes ever. We’ve conquered "The Beast". A short ridge walk to Kingston and the buses are there to take us back to camp. More of a buzz tonight, BBQ and a presentation for walkers who made it various points, trophies for many with 3 years, and certificates for those with 2 years and all this just a prelude to the late night world cup match (England 2-Norway 1).

05:30 RISE AND SHINE! – The final early start, but this time less sleep, there is good news though, there’s military activity on the ranges so the walk’s been altered, shortened to about 11 miles we set off from Acton but we’re already about 40 minutes behind everyone else, yes, the bus broke down again! We’ve missed out on the infamous V-Steps, so the morning walk is rather more undulating than steep climbs.  We progress steadily towards our lunch spot and refill station, then it’s a nice steady downward walk into Swanage.  More ice cream for some and then onto the grassy knoll to wait for the back markers to catch-up.  And here it is, the last climb of Dorset 2026, out of Swanage and up the hill, just over 100m and not too steep; across the ridge and down past "Old Harry Rocks" to the finish line on Studland Bay. It's such a relief to get there and it’s a race, after all that walking, we have to run across the beach to the finish line. Exhausted yet elated we’ve done it, then it's back to camp for our last meal and some proper chilling time before bed.  There’s a different feel to the camp tonight, people are gathered in small groups, new friendships have been made, already reminiscing about the trip and many already planning to come again next year. 

There have been tears of frustration, tears of pain, tears of relief and tears of joy.  The staff have encouraged, cajoled and bribed the students to get to the top of each climb and without exception, every student who started a climb has completed it.  Well done to all the students on the trip.

Massive thanks go to the wonderful staff on the trip:

Mrs Street - our new Deputy, has such a positive 'can do' attitude that it made me believe in me! Nothing was too much trouble, and everything was done, very much a modern Mary Poppins.

Miss Martin - out at the front, one of our lead walkers, the Pastoral support, but sadly suffers with attacks of 'Dorset Brain' and has been known to dissolve into fits of uncontrollable giggles whilst eating fish and chips.

Mrs Hammond - has been just fabulous, such a calm head and vastly experienced shoulders.

Mr Thurgood - a veritable superman and longer legs than the rest of the group put together. While we were doing 39000 steps, he was at a lowly 32000, or does he know some shortcuts? Mr Thurgood is a hard worker, a superb co-worker and actually an eloquent speaker.

Mr Hillson - should get a job as a Personal Injury Lawyer, last year he had more cuts and bruises than you could shake a stick at, and this year turned his ankle on day one, but soldiered on for the full three days hiking, leaking from head to toe in the heat.

Mr Channon - he was awesome, the encouragement he gave engendered belief in the young people around him and with his unflappable nature this grew into mutual respect.

Mrs Saggers - was a revelation, infectious, good humoured and always as bright as a button. Her constant encouragement to all the students was unbounded AND, because she had been training, her unique optimism for the journey which was shattered on day one!

Mrs Clarke - impressed me with her resilience and complete disregard for personal discomfort. She pushed through the pain and still had enough left to ensure the back markers finished with their heads held high.

Mrs Bowman - a ray of sunshine, her morning and evening hair salon appointments were always sold out, plaits are her speciality....oh, and a poet to boot.

The special thank you goes to Ms Kavanagh, the inspiration, foundation and cornerstone of the trip, who was absent and sorely missed, it was a big hole to fill and it took the combined efforts of the staff to fill it. We have raised over £17,000 towards the Malcolm Whales Foundation through our students, so proud.

Mr K Perry-Thorne