World Travel Holdings staff climb three Yorkshire peaks in 12 hours

Staff at World Travel Holdings UK have raised more than £2,000 for charity after walking 24 miles within 12 hours in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

A total of 11 took part in the exercise on Saturday, June 17, scaling Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres).

Managing director Alison Earnshaw said: “Physically, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – and a number of the team said it was the hardest thing they’d done as well. At the end it was very emotional – we were proud of ourselves and each other.”

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The cruise specialists, based in Chorley, Lancashire, were raising money for Derian House Children’s Hospice and WWF UK.

They started walking at 5am, tackling Pen-y-Ghent first, then heading on foot to Whernside, followed by Ingleborough.

The fastest hikers completed the route in around 11 hours, safely inside the 12-hour limit.

The business takes on a charity event every year, said Earnshaw, with this year’s being thought up by digital product owner Marcus McDonald. The planning was spearheaded by business solutions director Alex Dixon.

Earnshaw described the challenge as “tough but rewarding”, adding: “There were varying degrees of sore feet and sore legs and I would say the next day was very much a recovery day for everybody.”

World Travel Holdings UK is the parent of brands including Cruise118, Six Star Cruises and River Voyages.

Earnshaw said this year has seen a significant bounce-back following the pandemic, adding there has been a “strong” demand for lates. Bookings for 2024/25 are also performing well, she said.