Dorset is sadly lacking in mountains so we picked a coastal walk from the "hard" section of the book. 8.5 miles/ 13.5km - Trig point 666 feet

"Swyre Head is the highest point of the Purbeck Hills and the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Although not very high, its relative height is such that it qualifies as a Marilyn. The chalk hill is part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation.The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen.Set back about 800 metres (half a mile) from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge.The hill has a trig point marked as 203 metres on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 208 metres above sea level."

Book says walk should take 5 hours. We managed it in just over 3.5. BLAM! Take that, Dorset.

Just some of the images from the Ben Lomond Climb ...

Latest Headlines Kidderminster Shuttle. I hate to say it, but another piece of publicity which has had absolutely no effect on increasing donations (or book sales).

Lee’s novel idea to boost charity close to his heart

Friday 27th March 2009

By Adam Burling »

AN AUTHOR who grew up in Kidderminster is giving people the chance to be named as a character in his new book.

In return for a £3 donation to Bowel Cancer UK, Lee Crompton is asking people to put their names in forward, with the first four names out of the hat being included in the novel.
The book, due for publication in the autumn, has not been named yet but Lee hopes plenty of people will get involved.

“I’ve met so many people who have said they would love to be in a book, so I thought the idea would be a fun way to raise money for charity,” he said.

Lee’s previous novel was the thriller Digging Deep, released in 2007, a change in direction from the humorous tone of his other books, 12 Months and Worlds Apart.

Born in Bromsgrove, Lee’s family lived in Woodfield Crescent, Kidderminster until he was six, before moving to the south coast.

He made return visits to Wyre Forest in subsequent years during holiday times to visit relatives. Lee was inspired to start raising cash for the charity after his father, Edward Crompton, died of bowel cancer last May, aged 55.

“It was a complete shock to everyone,” explained Lee. “To lose your father is hard enough but especially when he had remained so positive throughout his treatment and was so looking forward to my stag do and wedding day.”

He also faces the “toughest challenge of his life” in May when he will be taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge. He will attempt to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland – within 24 hours.

“It’s not something I would normally dream of doing,” he said. You can sponsor Lee by visiting www.justgiving.com/leecromp ton or www.justgiving.com/ leecromptonbook

Just for the record, my last book was not called Digging Deep, I left Kidderminster when I was four and I don't remember saying the 3 peaks was going to be the "toughest challenge of my life" but having climbed Ben Lomond, it's probably not too far from the truth.

Ben Lomond (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn, 'Beacon Peak'), 974 metres (3,200 ft), is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. It is east of Loch Lomond, and is the most southerly of the Munros.

So this was the first munro we conquered, all 974 metres of it. Weather conditions, together with my fitness levels, weren't ideal. It was a struggle to say the least and being hit in the face with hail for half the descent wasn't much fun either. That said, lots of positives (and negatives) to take from the day. Firstly, and most importantly, I managed to complete it, as there were times I thought it was best to give it up as a bad job. Secondly, with my new 1000 mile socks, my boots didn't rub (well, they did, but I didn't get blisters). We also managed to do it at a reasonable pace, 4 and 3 quarter hours up & down.

On the downside, Ben Lomond is still a couple of metres short of the smallest of the 3 peaks on the challenge, Scafell Pike. Having completed, driven for an hour home, watched the Grand National and fallen asleep for 3 hours, I awoke at 8pm feeling as though I had been hit by a bus. In reality, it would be about this time we would be arriving at the next peak to do it all again. I had a job to climb the stairs let alone another peak (followed by another one).

So whilst I'm encouraged by today's feat, there is still a long way to go. Despite going to the gym and completed 3 hill climbs, there is still no way I am in any physical shape to complete the 3 peaks challenge. That said, whilst I feel as utterly shattered as I did when we did walk one to Place Fell some four weeks ago, we've been up (and down) a further 1000 feet today than we were in Cumbria. Encouraging signs but still plenty of work to do.