Crest Nicholson Charity Challenge 2023

Level of Difficulty

The Thames Ridgeway Trail Challenge is graded as Challenging. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind and for people of all levels of ability and experience.

You can tell your supporters that on your Thames Ridgeway Trail Challenge you will be:

• Covering circa 13km, 26km or 35kms depending on the route you opt for.
• Taking on the varied, undulating terrain of Oxfordshire and part of the Chiltern hills.
• Ascending over 700m across the whole route.

Training

The Thames Ridgeway Trail Challenge is a long, sustained event of up to 10hrs (for the 35kms route) and covering uneven terrain with sections of ascents and descents. Therefore, it requires a good level of fitness.

The ideal training for this challenge is, naturally, walking along similar terrain. However, if you do not have the luxury of living near the great outdoors, then the gym or running/walking in your local area are good places to start. Most training should be part of an ongoing lifestyle, but if this is not the case then you should begin training as far in advance prior to the challenge as possible and gradually build up. Remember to use the clothes, equipment and especially the shoes that you will be wearing on the challenge in order to get them worn in. The more you exercise before the challenge, the more you will get out of it. Also see your Charity Challenge Fitness Training notes in your account area.

Group Size and Teams

We are expecting between 100-150 people to be taking part in this challenge. You will be required to join up with 3-5 other colleagues within your division to form a team of a minimum of 4 trekkers and maximum of 6. Each team will need to navigate the route together.

Group Management and navigation

This is a self-navigation challenge and you will be responsible for navigating the route yourselves. Our experienced walking leaders will be on-hand at various points along the route to offer support should you need it. Each team will be provided with a gpx file of the route that you will need to use in an appropriate navigation app (we would recommend the OS Maps app). In places the route will be marked by arrows. However, you should not rely on these arrows as this is not a fully route marked event.

Weather

As you know, the weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable and at times erratic, so being prepared is the key! Please check the weather forecasts to ensure that you bring clothing suitable for warm and sunny temperatures as well as strong winds and downpours.

Terrain

Despite its location in the UK, the difficulty of this trek should not be underestimated as it includes one long day of trekking, with a surprising number of gradual ascents and descents. The route is on good paths and quiet country roads, but it's the variation of terrain that makes this challenge a unique and fun experience.

Challenge Timings

Please note: Precise details and timings will be made available in your Final Details that are sent out one month prior to the Challenge.

Expert route (circa 35kms)

Breakfast on the morning of the trek will be from 6am and your bus transfer will leave the hotel at 6.45am. It is a 30 minute drive to the start of the trek. At the start you will receive your final instructions from the challenge leaders before your trek begins at 7.30am

Advanced route (circa 26kms)

Your bus transfer will depart the hotel at 9.15am with your trek beginning at 10am.

Classic route (circa 13kms)

The bus will depart from the hotel at 12.15pm with your trek beginning at 1pm. You will be given your packed lunch at the start of the trek.

We aim to have everyone transferred back to the hotel by 6pm with the celebration dinner back at the hotel at 730pm.

Getting there

The event will start and end in the village of Goring, just south of Oxford. Bus transfers are provided between the hotel and the trek start/finish location.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided at the Hilton Hotel Reading, Drake Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ.

Food & Drink

On the trek you will be provided with a packed lunch that will consist of a sandwich, packet of crisps, chocolate bar and piece of fruit. Additional snacks will be available at the checkpoints along with water to top up your water bottles. You can expect checkpoints to be reached approximately every 3-4 hours. We would recommend that you bring some of your own snacks to help ensure you have enough energy. You should also have water bottles that allow you to carry 2 litres of water. If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, you can notify us as part of the booking process.

Clothing and Equipment

Equipment of good quality and durability could make the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, waterproof and well-worn in boots or trail shoes will be indispensable. The terrain is uneven and can be very rough, so it is vital that you use either boots or trail shoes with good grip. Sports trainers are not suitable. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here. Once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners Outdoor Hire and Cotswold Outdoor.

Toilets

There will be toilet facilities both at the start and end of the trek; however, during the challenge such facilities will be limited to the great outdoors.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up ‘Challenge Safe’, one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. ‘Challenge Safe’ formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount!

Here are a few important points that you should be aware of:

• The terrain on the challenge is often rocky and in wet conditions can be extremely slippery. Please make sure that your shoes have good grip. Trainers are not appropriate as they lack grip.
• The weather can change in the course of the day. Please make sure you carry an additional warm layer, waterproof jacket.
• This event includes short sections along country roads. Please take care along these sections and keep to the sides of the roads in single file.
• This is a long distance, endurance event. Ensure that you eat lots throughout the day and keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids.

Emergencies

One month prior to the challenge you will receive the event ‘emergency contact’ number. Each team should make a note of this number which they can call should they have any difficulties. If teams become lost then we would ask you to stop and call the event number for support. Please don’t keep walking in the hope that you will relocate yourselves! The event crew is trained to deal with emergency situations and will be carrying mobile phones and radios in case the emergency services need to be contacted. The event is not run as a race and you will never be encouraged to walk at a pace ‘beyond your ability’. Should you find yourself unable to continue for any reason, then our support team, including our support vehicle, will be able to assist you coming off the challenge.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

We do not professionally vet your medical details. Please assess for yourself whether you are fit and able to take on the challenge. Please review the detailed Trip Notes and itinerary to get a better idea of what is involved. Please speak to your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns about taking part. If you suffer from a severe allergy, you are required to contact us to discuss any requirements. If you think that there are things we can do to make the challenge more accessible/comfortable for you, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will then let you know if we can accommodate your request. Whilst we will do our best to put in place appropriate measures we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Medical Support

First Aid qualified staff will be provided with the medical details that you give on your booking form but please note that they are on the challenge to support with medical matters related to the challenge environment and terrain itself, i.e. heat/cold and so on. They will deal with any incidents and accidents (cuts, sprains, breaks and so on). They are not intended to continue any ongoing specialist medical care that you receive in the UK for pre-existing medical conditions, and should not be assumed to have any professional experience of your specific medical condition. If you have any specific needs around pre-existing medical conditions, you should discuss these with your family doctor or specialist in advance and then discuss any advice given by them with the challenge leader.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. On this challenge, we always liaise with the rangers of the Thames footpath and The Ridgeway National Trail to make sure that we minimise our impact on the local environment.  Our leaders care passionately for the environment and will be keen to talk to you about how you can do your bit to conserve the local area and enhance your experience. We believe that acting responsibly should add to your enjoyment of the challenge so we won’t lecture you about not dropping litter. Instead, we’d like to encourage you to support the National Trails who maintain the excellent footpaths we will be walking on. Both the Thames footpath and The Ridgeway National Trails have an excellent website that provides information on their fantastic work and allows you to donate to them directly. Their websites can be viewed here: 

• Thames Path National Trail
• The Ridgeway National Trail