Charity Number 1187246

​Thursday June 25th 2015 

Rachel took on her challenge on behalf on Special Educational Needs children. 
An Epic Run through Dorset despite sustaining neck injuries in an earlier challenge, which were still healing and aware that walking instead of running may be necessary at times.  Support car provided by local radio Abbey 104 driven by presenter Jenny Devitt. 

8:30am...Service lead by Rural Dean at Trent Youngs Endowed Primary School.

9:00am...Run started from Trent Village Green. Then 3.5 miles to

10:00am...Bradford Abbas.

Then 7 miles via Yetminster to:
11:30-12 noon...Rachel ran through Melbury Osmond Estate , past the main house through the park to...
12:30...The Acorn Inn, Evershot for refreshments. A raffle was held at the Acorn Inn for an amazing HNT cake donated by @pennybakes www.pennybakes.co.uk.  All proceeds going to HNT.
Then 7.5 miles to..
2:00-3pm...Beaminster Square.  
3pm...2 miles to Stoke Abbott
Then 3.6 miles to Shave Cross and then 2.6 miles
5:30pm...Whitchurch Cannaonicorum

Here it was into the Abbey FM support car with Jenny Devitt at the wheel to avoid busy road and rest neck injury! 

6pm...Day ending in Lyme Regis

Evening in Lyme Regis - Staying at Coram Cottage where ​physio and acupuncture is required for knee injury!
Then bed before an early rise in readiness for 8am start from Stonebarrow car park nr Charmouth.  www.coramcottage.co.uk 

Day 1 Total Mileage 29.2 miles​​

Saturday June 27th 2015 
    

More challenging coastal path today.

8:00am... START at Ferrybridge, Wyke Regis end.
7 miles Via West Weares Coastal Path to:
10:00-10:30am...Portland Bill

A chance for beakfast at The Lobster Pot Café where Deputy Mayor of Portland Councillor Glen Chadwick will be joining Rachel.

Then 7 miles via East Weares Coastal Path across Ferrybridge, 
Followed by 3.5 miles via Sandsfoot then the Old Railway Line to:
12-1pm...Jubilee Clock Weymouth Esplanade 

 
Then 6 miles via coastal path to:
2:30-3pm...Osmington Mills, The Smugglers Inn
Then another 6.5 miles along the coastal path to: 
5pm... Day ending Lulworth Cove

EVENING at Lulworth Cove - Staying at Bishops Cottage  www.bishopslulworth.co.uk 

Day 3 Total Mileage 30 miles

Day 3 completed, Rachel relaxed at Bishops Cottage. Weather was good and the injured knee had survived another day with the help of support strapping although the last leg of the day along the coastal path to Lulworth Cove proved to be a real challenge with it's steep inclines and decents. Next day Rachel took to coastal path once more as she headed off initially to Kimmeridge Bay at 8am

​Sunday June 28th 2015 

Coastal path continues:
8am...START at Lulworth Cove: 7.3 miles via coastal path:
10:30-10:45...Kimmeridge Bay.  With views to be admired.
Then 5.2 miles via coastal path to:
12:15-1pm...Worth Matravers, lunch at the tearooms.​​​​
Then another 6.1 miles of coastal path to:
3pm...Durleston Head - Visitors Centre Tea Rooms
Then 2 miles to Swanage and 7.6 miles to Studland.
Day ends in Bridport, staying overnight at Spray Copse Farm  @SprayCopseFarm 

Day 4 Total Mileage: 28.2 miles

After leaving Lulworth along the coastal path swirling sea mist greatly reduced visibility making it unsafe to continue along the coastal path so Rachel moved inland where heavy rain became an issue, there was no safe alternative but get assistance from the Abbey FM support car to reach the Kingston Country Fair & Music Festival. With improving weather Rachel then stayed at Kingston to promote HNT and the need for more support for SEN kids, making up for the rained off events on Friday. Less walking mileage today but on average 1+ marathons being completed daily.

​Monday June 29th 2015 

8am...South Haven Ferry crossing
8:30...Start North Haven
9 miles of coastal path to:
10:45...Hengistbury Head.  Then 3.2 miles to:
11:45...Christchurch
Into the Abbey FM support car with Jenny Debbitt to Cranborne Garden Centre to avoid main road and it's traffic.

12:45-1:15pm Lunch at Cranborne Garden Centre where Rachel was joined by Poole Town Crier David Squire the worlds longest serving town crier.  See: https://vimeo.com/53628604
Then 4 miles to:
2:15...Wimborne St Giles. 
Then 4 miles to:
3:15-4pm...Gussage All Saints 
Then 2.5 miles to:
4:45...Long Crichel.  
Then 5 miles to:
6:00-6:45...Tarrant Monkton - The Langton Arms, refreshments!
Then 2.5 miles to:
7:30...Tarrant Rawston.  Then 1.6 miles to:
8pm...Ashley Wood Golf Club. Then 2.5 miles down to:
9pm...Day ends in Blandford.  

Overnight stay at the Crown Crown Hotel  www.crownhotelblandford 

Day 5 Total Mileage 33.3

Day 5 started with a fast run, watching tracker pointer move was unbelievable, from North Haven - Hill Head. A refuelling stop at Spring Copse Farm. Next stop Cranborne Garden Centre where where Rachel was greeted by the oldest reigning Town Crier. Then on through villages via very hot lanes, wrong directions given by farmer so extra mls! Reached Langton Arms where Rachel almost hit the proverbial "Brick Wall" after refuelling and a rest it was onto Blandford for dinner, rest and bed

​Tuesday June 30th 2015 

7:00am...Start Blandford. 4.7 miles to:

Winterbourne Stickland then 2.5 miles to:

9 - 9:30...Milton Abbas - The Hambro Arms and breakfast!
Then 5.3 miles to:
10:30...Dewlish.  Then 8 miles to:
12:30...Fordington nr Dorchester. 

Then 2.5 miles to:
1-2pm Dorchester Opportunity Group for lunch with Opp Group families and supporters.  Being joined by the Mayor of Dorchester councillor Robin Potter, Town Crier Alistair Chisholm and local Town & District Councillor David Taylor.​

Then off to Cerne Abbas to resume the run
3pm Leave Cerne Abbas
3 miles Walking up and over Cerne Abbas Giant Hill along hill tops to Minterne Magna.
4:30-5pm...Minterne House & Gardens and tea?
Then 3.5 miles via Up Cerne across the hills.
6:30...End of day at Cerne Abbas

Cerne Abbas Brewery and Abbots Tea Room welcomed all to enjoy beer & nibbles outside the Abbots Tea Room from 6pm onwards.  FREE Beer & Nibbles were in exchange for Donations to HNT.

Day ended with an overnight stay at The Abbots Tea Room http://abbotsbedandbreakfast.co.uk 

Day 6 Total Mileage 30 miles

Day 6 started with a long hual to Dorchester Opp Group via very hot lanes with breakfast stop at Hambro Arms Milton Abbas on route. Rachel got warm welcome at Dorchester Opp Group event by SEN kids their families, Mayor and Town crier. Next it was onto Cerne and the last 10 miles up and over Crene hills to event at Cerne Brewery and Abbotts Tea Rooms.

​Wednesday July 1st 2015 

6:00am...Start from Cerne Abbas 
4.7 miles via Minterne Magna, Giants Hill to:
8:00am...Middlemarsh.  Then 1.5 miles to:
8:30-9:00am Glanvilles Wootton, breakfast!
Then 3.5 miles to Bishops Caundle 2.8 miles to Haydon and 3 miles into:
12:15pm...Sherborne Castle Park. Another 2 miles takes Rachel to:
12:45-1:15pm...Run through Sherborne via Cheap Street.

Refreshments at Olivers Coffee Shop, plus Barry from The Bakery Café was selling "Stared Cup Cakes" that Rachel's son William helped to make.  All donations to HNT.

1:15pm...Leaving Sherborne, son William 12yrs and Luke from @bluewatchwalk. Joined Rachel for the FINAL Leg to Trent Village.
4.7 miles to Over Compton and top of Trent Hill + 1.5 mile down hill into
2:45-3:00pm...FINISH at Trent Youngs Endowed Primary School

A Hidden Needs Trust Fun Afternoon at the school, plus an evening at The Rose and Crown, Trent rounded off this 7 day challenge.

Day 7 Total Mileage 23.7 
Total Run Mileage 202.9 miles

Day 7 the last and easiest leg, in which Rachel was joined by son William (12) for the last 6 miles from Cheap Street Sherborne to Trent where 2 vicars joined in the run down Trent Hill to the school, event on Trent Green marked the end of "Rachel's Epic Run" 2015​.

​Rachel's Epic Run 2015