Congratulations to my fellow Newburgh Nomads past and present. Andy Brookfield, Kayleigh Ralphs, Brian Kennedy and Richard Harris who completed this 40 mile challenge for our 40th anniversary.

The route total was 40.5 miles taking in some of the Lake District's finest fell races and challenges.

Starting from Foxfield on the west coast of Cumbria, a steady 5 miles in a stunning area to the home of the Dunnerdale fell race, picking up the Cumbrian Traverse route, then the Three Shires and descending all the way to the Old Dungeon Ghyll on the Old County Tops route.

Some fine ale and food was then consumed and then the final mile to the Langdale bunkhouse. Followed by a night cap in the New Dungeon Ghyll.

The days weather was very windy on the tops with a severe wind chill at times, but very clear conditions and we got off the main fells before the final few miles in the dark.

The next day we retraced our steps to the Old Dungeon Ghyll for a full English Breakfast. Weather was changeable, rain, sleet, sunshine, hot and cold throughout the day.

After breakfast we picked up the Old County Tops route to Grasmere, then the Coffin Route to Rydal and Ambleside. Then, escaping the hoards of shoppers, we picked up the Lakeland 50/100 route to Troutbeck for lunch and the greatest cheesecake ever!

From there, up over the little visited Sour Howes and Sallows to drop into the Kentmere valley and a track straight down to The Watermill at Ings for some fine ale and food. That just left a short walk to Staveley and the train home, ten minutes up on schedule.

I believe the whole experience epitomised what The Nomads are about . Team work, camaraderie and great friends, with a shared passion to literally go the extra mile.