From The Twelve Apostles Hotel, it’s a mere 15 km hop over the peninsula to Groot Constantia. One moment you’re gazing at the sparkling Atlantic and the next, it’s the Indian Ocean you’re viewing from the rising vineyards of this historic estate.

Groot Constantia is the birthplace of South Africa’s wine industry. From its founding, Constantia wines made gifts for the Kings and Queens of Europe, as well as historical giants such as Sir Walter Scott and Napoleon Bonaparte. Indeed, Napoleon was supplied with Constantia wines throughout his exile on St Helena. As he lay on his deathbed, so the story goes, his final request was to be served a glass of the ‘liquid gold’ of the Cape.

Today the estate retains the elegance of its heyday. Approaching the original manor house through a valley of antique cultivars, it’s easy to tumble through history, and see the vineyards as they were seen by the estate’s founder, Governor Simon van der Stel.

Van der Stel was born at sea, and his innate sense of adventure led him to a job with the Dutch East India Company, running the Cape settlement as a refreshment station for ships en route to the Spice Islands. Van der Stel saw more in the station than just a ‘tavern of the seas’, and chose the Constantia Valley for his farm in 1663. As an experienced vintner, and stickler for quality, van der Stel’s wines quickly rose to prominence, a position retained to this day.

Groot Constantia offer tours of their vineyard as well as cellar (above)

Groot Constantia now offers wine tastings, and cellar and vineyard tours. The estate has three museums. The Manor House is a 300 year-old Dutch-Renaissance beauty, replete with gables and 18thC furnishings. The Orientation Centre houses artefacts, photographs and paintings depicting the history of the estate and slavery. Lastly, The Cloete Cellar showcases antiquarian drinking vessels and winemaking equipment. Best of all, you know that a chilled Sauvignon Blanc awaits at one of the restaurants.

Groot Constantia has two restaurants with panoramic views of the vineyards and False Bay. Try Jonkershuis for more traditional Cape fare (or a picnic basket to be enjoyed on the lawns), or Simons Restaurant for more avant-garde, fusion cuisine.

For more info about opening times and tours, go to www.grootconstantia.co.za

Experiencing new destinations, exploring new cultures, enjoying new friends… travel is rich and exciting. While there are always new places to go, there are also some that require more than one visit. London is one of them. I recently went to London for my fourth time (second time as a solo traveler) and there was still more to discover because, you see, there is the London of tourists and the London of Londoners. When I go to this fabulous city, I like to enjoy a bit of both.

I like to see the major historical and cultural sites but I also like to explore the neighbourhoods that Londoners love. I find that this is best achieved by choosing a hotel located centrally but nestled in a community. This time, I stayed at Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury; it was perfect for this approach to the city.

Bloomsbury – a London of Londoners
Bloomsbury, as a neighbourhood, is known as a centre of the arts and education. London University is there and, of course, it is home to the famed Bloomsbury Group that included Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster. It continues to attract artists and is home to students as well as the wealthy.

At one end of the block where the Montague is located is Russell Square, a beautiful garden with a cafe that I can recommend. At the other end is the famed British Museum which is free to the public. Go a little farther afield and you enter more residential streets and more squares including Bloomsbury Square, Gordon Square and Tavistock Square. I loved wandering there, looking at the architecture and watching the people. It is very safe for a solo traveler.

Cool Hand Luke is just one of the many plays, musicals and operas on and around The Strand

Beyond Bloomsbury – easy walking to London Highlights
While I do use the London Tube if going farther afield, I prefer to enjoy this city (and just about every city I visit) on foot. Wandering south from the Montague I made my way to the Strand and London’s West End theatre district. From major musicals, to serious plays to the Royal Opera House, it’s all there.

Near the Opera House is Covent Garden, a great place for lunch and a little shopping. When I was there it was delightfully decorated for Christmas. After lunch, I ventured a little further south and walked along the Thames.

Returning back to my hotel, I had time to stop into the National Portrait Gallery and just a quick peak into St. Martin’s in the Field to see what this remarkable church is like. It was a full day, to be sure.

North Americans are not accustomed to fine hotels located in a neighbourhood environment, but in London, some of the finest hotels are not on main streets. Hotels like The Montague on the Gardens offer visitors a taste of the London that Londoners love.

Janice Waugh is author of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook, publisher of Solo Traveler, the blog for those who travel alone and moderator of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook, with almost 5000 members. She has been quoted in many media outlets including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times and USA Today. Janice also speaks about travel and the business of blogging.

The high point of 2011, for the romantics among us, was surely William and Catherine’s wonderful wedding in Westminster Cathedral. And the story of how he proposed, after flying her in a helicopter to a remote and inaccessible lake, overlooked by the dramatic snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya, takes some beating.

So, we have a challenge for you – and a wonderful prize.

To enter the Competiton:

Write us an account of how you, or your partner, proposed in the comments section below. Or, if neither of you has popped the question yet, give us a description of the most romantic occasion you have shared together. The entry judged to be the best by our Red Carnation panel will win a romantic night at The Milestone Hotel that is sure to be truly, madly, deeply and unforgettably magical.

To Win:

The hotel itself overlooks Kensington Gardens, and William and Catherine’s London residence, Kensington Palace – so you’ll feel like a prince and princess from the moment you arrive. In reception you’ll be given the full red carpet treatment – we’ll welcome you with a single red rose and two glasses of chilled Veuve Clicquot premium champagne, then show you to your splendidly luxurious suite. Here you’ll find a bottle of house champagne waiting for you, along with a dish of delicious chocolate dipped strawberries. Then, in the evening, you’ll be served a sumptuously romantic dinner in Chenestons, our famous fine dining restaurant – a quick glance at a sample menu and you’ll realise just how special an experience this will be! After dinner you’ll enjoy a Romantic Turndown then, when you awaken next morning, you’ll be served a hearty full English Breakfast.

If you can tear yourself away from the hotel (not easy!) you can wander over to Kensington Palace and see for yourself where William and Catherine spend their time when in the capital. On the other hand you might prefer a little shopping. Again, The Milestone is ideally placed – it’s just a few yards from the fabulous stores along Kensington High Street, while Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the boutiques of Knightsbridge are only a short walk in the other direction. Nearby Kensington Church Street offers the widest selection of art and antiques in London, with over 60 dealers, and there’s The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Victoria & Albert Museum are all just 15 minutes away on foot.

Your entry can be as short or long as you’d like and should be submitted in the comment section below – so what more encouragement do you need to “look in thy heart and write”?

Closing date for entry is 13th February 2012. Winner will be announced on 14th February 2012. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Prize valid until 31st January 2013, subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Black out dates may apply. Dinner includes one bottle of our house wine. Additional drinks are subject to charge.

KwaZulu Natal is home to more than the gorgeous Oyster Box Hotel. It’s also rich in Zulu, English and Boer history. The land has felt the footsteps of Zulu  Kings, Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill to name but a few.

The legendary Shaka was Zululand’s own William the Conqueror. The illegitimate warrior fought for his place in the line of kings, forming a powerful empire, amassing a huge fighting force, and revolutionising military strategy.

Isandlwana as it appears today

In 1838 the Zulu’s fought in the infamous Battle of Blood River against advancing Voortrekkers. To visit the peaceful Ncome River today, it’s hard to imagine the water flowing red with blood, but fascinating tours bring the history to life.

At Isandlwana, see the site of the crushing defeat of British forces by raging Zulu tides in 1879. While colonial troops were armed with state-of-the-art rifles, a numerically superior Zulu force was victorious with short assegai spears and cowhide shields.

Near to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, visit Spion Kop, where young journalist Winston Churchill was stationed during the Boer War. He reported on the battle that raged in 1900 between British and Boer forces. A youthful Mahatma Gandhi was a stretcher-bearer during the Battle, with the Indian Ambulance Corps he established.

Take a guided tour around the Battlefields, all around 40km from the Oyster Box at Umhlanga Rocks.

Written by Lucy Heavens

The Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach is currently hosting an exhibition entitled “Cocktail Culture” that explores the social rituals of the cocktail hour through the lens of fashion and design.  Featuring more than 150 objects, including attire, accessories, ads, decorative arts, illustrations, photography and more from the 1920s to the present, it promises to “leave you positively stirred, not shaken!”

Since the Leopard Lounge at the Chesterfield is one of the most popular cocktail bars in all of South Florida we thought this was a good excuse to do a quick profile of Michelle Gagnon, our bartender.

Michelle didn’t really plan to follow a career in bartending – it just happened that way.  “When I was at college I had a friend who owned a bar and restaurant.  I was helping them out one evening and one of the bartenders didn’t show up for work, so guess what…I ended up on the other side of the bar.  I absolutely loved it and have been bartending ever since.”
After college she stayed in the restaurant business then opened her own establishment in in West Hampton, New York.  Thirty years ago she rolled up in Palm Beach, and for the last twenty she’s been happily working at the Leopard Lounge Bar.

What has made her stay behind one bar so long?   “I just love the people who hang out here, whether they are regulars or new guests.  Every day is different – fresh stories, different experiences…there’s never a dull moment!  Also, the people I work with are the best.  Mark, my manager is great, the other bartenders, Lou, John and Candy are such a pleasure to work with.   And my fiancé, Adam Austin, piano player-entertainer extraordinaire, works here regularly, so that’s wonderful too.  Everyone on the team has become my extended family, so it’s not really like work at all!”

The Cosmopolitan was Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice in Sex and the City

When asked what cocktail she is most regularly asked for she replies “a Cosmopolitan – but served our way…Sex in the City.”   As you’ll no doubt be aware, the Cosmo was Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice throughout much of the series. The classic recipe includes vodka, Cointreau and lime juice, with a bit of cranberry juice and a dash of orange bitters to add an extra bit of tartness and a nice pink colour.

As for Michelle she sticks to white wine, but she has been told she makes the best Brandy Alexander ever.  The traditional recipe is a mix of brandy, crème de cacao, cream and a little grated nutmeg.  Michelle adds her own secret ingredient but refuses to reveal it – “I can tell you, but then I’d have to kills you” she says with a smile.

Michelle’s other claim to fame, along with the rest of the Leopard Lounge team, is being featured in a host of magazine articles and also in an A&E TV special about Palm Beach.  The Chesterfield Palm Beach and Michelle also feature prominently in a hilarious new book entitled “A Year in Palm Beach” by Richard and Pamela Myers that’s described by Donald Trump as “A fun read that shows a side of Palm Beach most people never see or even hear about.”

So, if you want to experience cocktail culture make a beeline for Palm Beach – you can take in the exhibition of the same name at the Norton Museum of Art, then and experience a few Cosmopolitans and Brandy Alexanders in the company of Michelle!

Let us know your favourite cocktail and why it gives that something special?!

Glimpses of Hyde Park through intricately paned windows, elegance and the rich aromas of Ceylon in Kensington’s Milestone Hotel create a matchless setting for the High Tea ritual.

Upon arrival, I was immediately offered a glass of champagne, a practise that should be more common as far as I’m concerned. It didn’t hurt that the bubbly itself is from the world’s oldest established champagne house, Ruinart.

Afternoon Tea by the fire at The Milestone Hotel

Beneath an extraordinary portrait of Noel Coward in a yellow matador’s ensemble, an effortless waiter took us through the teas. Though I was tempted to go with a traditional Earl Grey or Darjeeling, I chose Russian Caravan for something exotic. The intoxicating infusion is designed to emulate flavours of 18th century tea brought to Russia on camel caravans, picking up the smoky aromas from travellers’ campfires along the way.  

Luckily I didn’t succumb to some eighteenth century impulse to swoon back against the sofa amidst the comforting clinks of bone china, because soon sandwiches, petit scones with clotted cream and pastries were laid upon our table. From the arrangement on the customary three tiers, I drew a sublime chicken and chopped almond sandwich. It must be said though, that the strawberry éclair took trumps with fantastically light choux pastry, fresh strawberries and white chocolate glaze.

After a magnificent afternoon, I decided sneak a peak of the rest of the property. I discovered the Milestone’s utterly delightful equestrian themed bar, and naturally resolved to return for entirely different kind of ritual in the very near future.

By Lucy Heavens

With a festive chill in the air and the hotels sparkling Christmas lights twinkling in the night, there was a feeling of mystery and excitement in the air as we (The Marketing Team) approached The Leopard Bar.  We’d been sent summons from the team at The Rubens, 41 & bbar to join them for a night of ‘Euphoria’ – fun, food & drink and indeed it really was!

We were greeted at the Leopard Champagne Bar with a glass of champagne, a promising start, and an explanation of the events and challenges to come…

Champagne at The Leopard Bar

Fish & Chips and Champagne!

The first challenge was to sample two glasses of Champagne one a house Champagne and the other from a £5,000 bottle with a glass of water requested to cleanse the palate the competition was on! One by one we went, nibbling on mini fish & chips as we sniffed, tasted, examined and tried to bribe the barman. With the winner announced, ‘time to move along’ our hosts cried…

Kids treats at The Rubens

Fun & Adventure – not just for kids

Task two took us to one of the Junior Suites at The Rubens at the Palace where to our amazement the Director of Fun and Adventure, John Goncalves, had been let loose to create a kid’s haven, showing us how family friendly the hotel can actually be. There were sweeties, been-bags, bath toys, mini robes & slippers, teddy bears and games, not to mention Disney tunes creating a magical ambiance.  As we sampled the beer (strictly for adults) and mini burgers the General Manager, Malcolm Hendry, rolled up his sleeves and stepped into goal. Now this was a mini goal and he is not such a mini man so the challenge to score a goal was tough, but three succeeded and we were whisked from the kid’s toys, with pockets full of sweets onto location three…

Our bbar leopard

The wildness descended to bbar

Mojitios!

The next stop – 43 Below – the private party space underneath bbar (perfect for a Christmas party!), next door to the hotel.  Lined up along the bar were icy Mojitos with a suspicious looking character at the end of the bar purring in a leopard jumpsuit, complete with ears! Miaow! With appetites akin to a lion we devoured Boboite Spring Rolls as we completed the next challenge – naming the Big Five. With three beautiful South African hotels this should have been easy… 

Romantic treats at 41

The Perfect Proposal

From bbar to five star, we entered the magical doorway into Hotel 41, where we were whisked up to one of their fabulous Hospitality Suites. The lights had dimmed , we followed the trail of rose petals into the room and were swooned by the romantic tones from the ipod, candles and scents surrounded us as we were led into the adjoining room and there before us were more drinks and treats but first we had to perform a task. Famous for its proposals that take place in the hotel – we had to (one by one) get down on bended knee and propose to the Director of Sales, Steven.  The competition was stiff and the lines a little cheesy to say the least but true love cannot be mistaken and the lucky winner was congratulated with a specially designed Engagement Cake (double chocolate fudge too!)  Sadly, after such a heartfelt experience we were dismayed to discover Steven to be already married!! Shock horror!

Frozen Delights

Frozen in excitement

Getting even louder still,  it was with a heavy heart that we were then moved to our final destination the Cavalry Bar. Our mission here was to name this Tequila based icy cocktail by this time we were buzzing with ideas and the final possibility of claiming valuable points. In third was ‘Frostbite’ deemed too controversial given Scott died from this, second came ‘ The Final Glacier’ but the winner went to ‘Frozen Planet’  – very topical given the current BBC series showing at the moment (although some suspected it was the fact this idea came from the social media manager that won the top spot!)

After spending the previous 3 hours eating and mixing all sorts of alcoholic drinks, the obvious choice for concluding the night was to head back to bbar for a few more drinks and delicious platters of South Africa inspired cuisine. All in all, a perfect night full of fun, food and a lot of drinks!

Often when entering a hotel one can feel a little overwhelmed by the impressive lobby, frantic reception team with a queue of guests waiting to check out or the grumpy concierge who you don’t want to bother as they seem preoccupied trying to secure a dinner reservation for an important guest and not really getting anywhere… not so at The Chesterfield Mayfair!

Chris Campbell

A sense of calm and unhurried attention is immediately evident from the moment you walk through the door, it’s smiles all round and warm greetings from the well turned out team behind the front desk that make you feel very much at ease and amongst friends. Probably the brightest smile of all, and certainly the most captivating comes from Assistant Concierge Chris Campbell who is eager to assist new guests as well as bid a fond farewell to those departing. It’s Chris I have come to meet and he has already bowled me over with his demeanour and very likeable character, I am really looking forward to getting to know him and delving into the unknown world of the concierge.

The word concierge originates from French, meaning “keeper of the keys”, originally referring to the literal  holding of keys to a stately home or large building, as the role of the concierge has grown the meaning now refers to the holding of the secrets of the local area. The foremost requirement for the concierge is an indepth knowledge of the area with a passion for discovering the best spots suited to their guests needs and making sure they have the ability to obtain any request. 

Throughout an average day Chris tells me he finds himself assisting guests with directions around London to make them feel like locals rather than tourists, working his contacts to get an extra table squeezed in to seat guests at a top restaurant and charming the theatres for last minute tickets to London’s West End Shows.

Chris takes great pride in personally sampling the finest restaurants in the area or the latest West End theatre smash in order to provide the best possible advice to guests and visitors to the hotel and the city, some may see this simply as a “perk” of the job but Chris is professional to the nth degree, taking extensive notes on his experience and getting to know the right people at the venue to ensure a seamless booking for his guests.  He fondly recalls his favourite restaurant in Mayfair (besides  Butler’s of course); the Michelin starred  Greenhouse Restaurant on Hays Mews just around the corner from the hotel, serving contemporary French cuisine, and smacks his lips as he describes the  spicy Black pudding which accompanies the white Herefordshire pork – perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea for sure but his animated description is beginning to win  me over – I now will have to try it for myself.

One of the highlights of Chris’s career, he tells me, was his first trip to see The Lion King on stage.  A great lover of this Disney classic, and having watched the DVD a hundred times, he was full to bursting with excitement when he was invited to the show with his wife and children.  He was overjoyed by the performance, as were his kids, it even brought tears to his eyes!  Of course now, whenever families are staying at the hotel, he practically insists they see this show together claiming it to be one of life’s most memorable moments for young children (and their parents). 

The Society of the Golden Keys

So far I am thinking the life of a concierge is a charmed one but it’s not all fun and laughter, Chris is currently hoping to secure the pinnacle of concierge status when he will be interviewed by the Society of the Golden Keys in November and hopefully earn his “stripes” as an official concierge gaining the much coveted gold cross-keys pins, worn on either side of the lapel. Formed in Great Britain in 1952, The Society of the Golden Keys is part of the international and somewhat mysterious ‘Les Clefs D’Or’, whose members are acknowledged as having a wealth of  “professional gravitas, integrity, local knowledge and impeccable recommendations“.

We wish Chris all the best and have every faith that next time we see him, he will be sporting his new pins… and we can’t think of anyone more deserving”

by Sasha Kerman

Let us get you into the Christmas spirit early this year while we celebrate the forthcoming opening of our new Alpine Lodge. We are giving two chances to win a one night stay for two people at the Montague on the Gardens.

To be in with a chance to win, help us complete our 12 vodkas of Christmas by creating a special Christmas themed flavour you’d like to see on the menu. We have 10 delicious flavours so far including Cinnamon, Spiced Apple and Candy Cane, we simply need a further two to add to our menu.

To enter please email winterwonderland@rchmail.com, or comment below with your new idea of flavour and we’ll pick the two best flavours to win:

• A one-night stay in a luxury room for two people including breakfast
• A Festive afternoon tea for two
• A bottle of their own flavoured vodka to keep

So get creative! Points will be awarded for originality of mouth-watering flavours that will help keep us warm while we’re in our Winter Wonderland this December!

Closing date for entry is 11th November 2011. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Prize valid until end of March 2012, subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Festive Afternoon Tea will be replaced with Traditional Afternoon Tea from January 2012.

Go Alpine in Bloomsbury with Montague Lodge!

Dirk Crokaert

A wood deck is not just for summer. Here at the Montague on the Gardens we’re turning ours into a veritable winter wonderland – perfect for the après….without the ski. General Manager Dirk Crokaert invites you to wrap up warm and get yourself down to Bloomsbury for some Yuletide fun and games!

The Wood Deck at the Montague on the Gardens is one of London’s best kept secrets – a delightful oasis of peace and tranquillity in the very heart of the city, overlooking the enclosed trees, lawns and sculptures in the gardens of the Bedford Estate.

It is already the perfect summer venue, but what do you do with it in the winter?

This year we’re embracing the winter chill by turning our Wood Deck into a ski lodge perched high up in the mountains.

A screen of pine trees suggests a secluded clearing amidst a forest while snow machines, life-sized reindeer, snowmen, racks of skis, piste maps, lanterns and fairy lights all add to the feeling of being in Lapland. To help combat the cold, and the lightly drifting snowflakes, there’s a sizzling barbecue serving grilled bratwurst, mini turkey burgers and other delicacies. Roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, mugs of steaming hot chocolate and big woolly rugs will all help to keep you lovely and snug during the long winter nights.

On the deck there’s a vodka bar serving a selection of 12 different flavoured vodkas – one for each day of Christmas. A few shots of these and you really will think you are somewhere between Val d’Isere and St Anton! (Feel a little dizzy? It’s the altitude!).

So if you’re finding it a little hard to get yourself into the Christmas spirit then the answer is simple – grab your gloves, goggles and woolly hat and head for the slopes of Bloomsbury.

“Suzie, I have a question for you”; is where it all started – “have you heard of the 3 peaks challenge?” JR continued – “No, I haven’t but sounds fun” was where it went downhill – or rather uphill. 3 of them in fact, all equally as steep and exhausting as the next!

The team feeling fresh

On Friday the 16th September I made my way to Luton Airport to meet 3 of my Red Carnation Hotels colleagues – JR (the boss), Sandra and Sarah. We were on our way to complete the 3 Peaks Challenge to raise money for Hospitality Action*.

Laden with walking boots, my trusty red ski jacket, a head torch, 2 walking poles, a rucksack full of homemade flapjack and blister plasters – “You won’t be able to walk for a week because of the blisters” friends and family advised, I happily accepted their words of wisdom except for those along the lines of “don’t do it, you must be mad”

Arriving at Glasgow airport, we immediately spotted another group of fellow hikers; it quickly became evident that I was no longer alone in the “lack of preparation” and “ignorance of the task at hand” department, so I started to feel a little more relaxed.

Around 5pm we were met by a guide called John, “just back from Killer” he confidently boasted, excellent experience I noted and started to look forward to the task ahead. I watched as John disappeared into the distance with another group and turned around to be greeted by Andy, a young man from Hereford who led us off to our minibus without a whisper of Kilimanjaro or similar boastful experience – I wasn’t convinced.

On arrival by mini bus at Fort William, we were joined by 3 other teams at the “Bunkhouse” which is exactly that – a house full of bunk beds. After a large glass of red, we left our guide Andy at the bar and after briefing him to be “at his best” for the morning I settled down for the night with the words “breakfast at 5am” tormenting me as I tried desperately to get some sleep.

Andy 3 Peaks

5am is a little early for Muesli but I was determined to stock up -  “Andy 3 Peaks” as we had now nicknamed him was the last to join us for breakfast and had a look of too many red wines from the night before; I was still not convinced and as the rain streamed down the window of the Bunkhouse, I reluctantly pulled on my waterproof trousers, layered myself up with thermals, 2 t-shirts, a fleece and ski jacket – determined I would not be beaten by the miserable weather.

At 6am we arrived at Achaintee House, at the foot of the mighty Ben Nevis. “This seems OK” I thought to myself as we picked up pace and started to head into the hills, I started to get in the swing of using my new walking poles, enjoyed the convenience of my new “bladder system” (water bottle with straw attached) and started to feel like a real adventurer.

"Get a move on Suzie!"

30 minutes in and hanging at the back of the group – it started to go slightly wrong. “Is it too early to drop out now?” I thought to myself, looking across at my team mate Sandra, I uttered the formidable words “I can’t do this” to which she dutifully responded “neither can I” so we decided to take a breather.  “SUZIE GET A MOVE ON”  were the booming words of encouragement from JR – “no time for sitting down” he continued and so despite the rain, leaking bladder system (see above), exhaustion and inevitable stitch, I de-layered and with some kind words of encouragement from Andy 3 Peaks ¬– I got a move on…

Reaching the top of Ben Nevis was amazing, the Red Carnation Flag was swiftly removed from JR’s back pack and we posed proudly for a team photo, unfortunately due to the poor weather conditions the views were non existent and so Andy 3 Peaks promptly led us back down Ben Nevis and back to the mini bus for the next leg of the journey – Scarfell Pike in the Lake District.

Spending 7 hours in a mini bus, drenched and exhausted was almost as uncomfortable as the climb itself. We eventually arrived at Seathwaite, at the foot of Scarfell around 7pm and were reminded to pull out our head torches for the night climb. Climbing a mountain in the dark is not something that would have ever occurred to me a sensible idea and as I stood clinging to the rock face at midnight, being told to “lean into the mountain” I understood why. “This is ridiculous” I shouted in amongst some other choice words “someone is going to get hurt” – my concerns were once again met with JR’s words of encouragement …“Get a move on Suzie”.

Several hours of climbing later and as we headed back down the Pike, I started to appreciate the wonder of climbing a mountain in the middle of the night, as we walked through flowing rivers and skilfully traversed the harsh rock face, It dawned on me that I might actually be starting to enjoy myself..

The night climb at Scarfell Pike

After making it back down to the bus at approx 2am; we had 3 hours to rest while we made our way to Snowdon – the final peak! Waking up on a warm bus after a couple of hours sleep, with 2 mountain climbs behind me and the sound of rain lashing down outside – to say I was less than eager was an understatement! As many of our team mates chose to quietly sit the last one out and swap the looming 7 hour hike for a few extra hours sleep; I also started to question whether two peaks was perhaps enough….”Get a move on Suzie”

Starting out from Pen-Y-Pass, we made our way up Snowdon in the dark, absolutely exhausted I felt a slight tickle of excitement “I am  almost there” I thought to myself and I couldn’t quite believe it. As the sun rose over the beautiful lakes of Snowdon I once again reflected on the past 24 hours and upon reaching the top of Snowdon, I was delighted!

I was certainly delighted to have completed the challenge and for such a worthy cause – but more so that it was almost over. Andy 3 peaks and I made it to the bottom of Snowdon at 12pm to be greeted by the lovely people from Hospitality Action; I proudly showed off my medal and posed for a final photo. I was delighted to have successfully finished the challenge, but at the same time felt quite sad that it was all over…as I said my goodbyes to Andy 3 Peaks – my new found friend – and briefly pondered my future as a mountain guide – I was ushered back to the waiting mini bus and for the final time heard the now familiar instruction to “get a move on Suzie”.

Written by Suzie Wotton, Vice President of Marketing at Red carnation Hotels

* For over 170 years Hospitality Action, the Hospitality Industry Benevolent Organisation, has offered vital assistance to all who work, or have worked within hospitality in the UK and who find themselves in crisis. Red Carnation Hotels raised £5000 for Hospitality Action during the 3 Peaks Challenge and will proudly continue to support the organisation’s great work.