A determined group of Winckworth Sherwood walkers braved the wild Welsh weather to take on the Horseshoe Loop in the Brecon Beacons, raising over £4,000 for Women’s Aid!
The adventure began the day before, as everyone came together and made the journey down—cars packed, playlists loaded, and spirits already high. Thanks to James’ top-tier organisational skills, everything ran like clockwork (well, mostly). From coordinating logistics to rallying the troops, he was the glue that held the chaos together.
We kicked things off with a pre-walk dinner at the finest retail park in South Wales—a glamorous setting for sharing old stories, finalising plans, and carb-loading like champions. Laughter, memories, and a few interesting food choices set the tone for what was to come.
On the morning of the walk, we had the pleasure of meeting the Welsh Wizard himself—Fintan—who gave us a mystical pep talk and gently reminded us that James was, without a doubt, his neediest client. Fintan, who had just returned from Everest Base Camp, had never seen such poorly dressed hikers.
Then came the walk: relentless rain, howling wind, and visibility that could only be described as “imaginative.” The views? Non-existent. The gear? Questionable. (Special shoutout to Andrew, who brought two rain jackets and wore neither).
Breaks were brief—those dressed for Clapham Common quickly learned that standing still wasn’t an option. The two Aussies never felt so far away from home and longed for glimmer of sun. Fair to say it never came. Sue kindly gave Ben her hat to bring his total number of exterior clothing garments to three…But we pressed on, finishing the loop in 4 hours—a seriously respectable pace.
Despite the cold, the mist, and the soggy socks, spirits were sky-high. Thank you to everyone who supported us—your generosity will go a long way!”
