10 in 10 Challenge Walk

You can find all details about this annual event here. Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, it will run again next summer on the 19^th June 2021, starting from the Swinside Inn in Newlands Valley.

June 2018

Keswick, Lake District, England

26kms (16.1m)

Yvonne Booth designed and created the annual 10in10 challenge in 2011. It was her response to her husband Duncan’s diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 at 39.  Since then, the MS Society UK recognised Yvonne as their 2013 ‘Fundraiser of the Year’ for her tireless work for the cause.

Every June, hundreds of people walk over ten mountains in ten hours or five mountains in five hours with the recently added Family 5-in-5-challenge geared towards families with young children. Besides the annual event, you can now tackle one of their three classic 10in10 routes at any time of the year in either Borrowdale, Newlands, or Buttermere. 

Who I did it with?

I joined a British MS researcher and her friend for the beginning of the walk before soldiering alone before joining up with another friendly group of MS Society UK walkers who guided me off the fells.

Logistics

Yvonne and Duncan have thought of everything, and this testimonial from Tony aptly shows this sentiment.

‘A very well organised event, with lovely people making us feel very welcome right from the start with drinks station at Buttermere and friendly marshals at every peak. The camaraderie on the day was excellent and a lot of fun, which helps keep everyone going!’

What are the track conditions?

With no rain, the track was dry and manageable most of the way. It was the fact it only seemed to go up that proved most bothersome for me.

What have I learnt?

If I am going to compete with these mad Brits who can run up and down fells as if walking on a flat road I need to give myself the best chance I can. That means ditching the heavy day pack. There was so much donated food in the valleys and on the peaks that I only needed water, a rain jacket, light fleece, and a few blister plasters. I persisted with my heavy load and I completed the walk, but I made hard work of it. Despite having just completed Britain’s hardest trail, the Pennine Way, I was not prepared for this gruelling fundraising walk. Once again, I sucked it up, and am thrilled to have supported Yvonne and Duncan Booth taking part in their event. Scoring a free t-shirt at the end was worth the pain.

Getting There

We drove to Keswick, just north of Derwentwater in the Lake District. Coming from London, Keswick is 400kms (249miles) north by road. This is where they made the famous Derwent pencils. They have a small museum detailing its history I found most informative.