This year saw 165 finishers – 84% of those who set off – in the long-standing Charterhouse tradition of the 50 Mile Walk, our highest completion rate to date. The challenge tests both physical endurance and mental resilience, with pupils and staff drawing on determination, teamwork, and school spirit to reach the finish.
First Year Specialists (Year 12) trekked from Brighton to Godalming through the beauty of the South Downs, the eerie quiet of a nighttime railway line, and the relentless rhythm of one foot in front of the other. They pushed through more than 10,000 steps, 80 kilometres, and countless moments of grit and determination.
Completing the Endurance Challenge was no small feat and is definitely one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I’ve had. The tradition, known for testing both physical endurance and mental resilience, showed me the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and self-belief. Every step reminded me of what can be achieved with determination and a motivational team around you. I now fully appreciate the tradition, and it is an accomplishment I will never forget.
Gemma, first year specialist
Duncan Byrne reflects on his experience as the only beak (teacher) to take on this year’s Endurance Challenge:
The Endurance Challenge was a truly epic day. I must admit to having felt a little scared before starting, not quite knowing if my legs and feet could hold out for such a crazy distance, but it was a huge relief once the miles started actually counting down. As the only beak walking in 2025, I appreciated the freedom I had to surf through some of the pupil groups, whilst also having periods alone with my thoughts where all I had to worry about was putting one foot in front of the other.
I enjoyed some fascinating conversations with a number of First Years, and was moved by the leadership I witnessed from a handful of mentally tough pupils who clearly saw their responsibility as helping their friends to complete the challenge through keeping morale and encouragement high.
Duncan Byrne, Deputy Head (Academic)
Having some experience of stamina-busting events, I knew that the main challenge would be mental rather than physical, and the parts I enjoyed (?) most were those where I managed to empty my brain and just concentrate on a step at a time. Doubt rises to the surface from time to time, and it's a question of finding an effective way of banishing it – for me, it was then that my conversations with our typically sociable Carthusians got me through.
My previous experience with the Walk was from manning a checkpoint in the middle of the night, but I was surprised by how many times I saw certain staff, who were clearly along the route for hours on end, miraculously reappearing at remote checkpoints. It is such a huge enterprise, and so brilliantly run. What a credit to Charterhouse that we continue to run something so difficult, and that, despite the size of the challenge, more than 80% of starters complete it, due to the thoughtfulness of the organisation, the mental fortitude of our pupils, and the power of team spirit.
