We finally did it. After picking up our camper van back in January, life seemed determined to keep us off the road. Between a mountain of “house stuff, “ unexpected snow and even a bout of shingles, the van sat waiting – until this past weekend. We finally made our escape to Edale for our long-awaited first night away.

The Great British weather was unexpectedly kind, bathing the landscape in sunshine, as we tackled the climb up to Hollins Cross on Sunday afternoon. It was a classic peaks walk; six hilly kilometres featuring energetic stream jumps and what felt like a gallon of mud across the fields. We finished the day exactly how you should; tucked into the Nag’s Head, celebrating our first successful outing over a couple of creamy pints of Guinness and some well-earned hearty pub grub.

The first night in the van was a resounding success, thanks largely to the new roll-out mattress which proved to be incredibly cosy. Waking up to the quiet of the outdoors with hot coffee and toasted crumpets felt like the height of luxury.

We also had some top-tier entertainment right out our window. We spent the morning watching two men across the field engaged in a desperate battle against the wind, running back and forth in a frantic bid to stop their stove from toppling over. To be fair, they had been our main source of amusement the evening before too; we spent over an hour captivated by the spectacle of them pitching their tents, scratching their heads, and generally grappling with the Great Outdoors. Although as armchair critics we did make some of our own blunders, forgetting cutlery and having to stir our coffees with a penknife.

Our next trek took us up toward Barber Booth and back – a relatively modest six-kilometre loop that was made far more dramatic by a ferocious, unrelenting wind. It was the kind of ‘breeze’ that physically buffets you, threatening to knock you off balance with every gust. As we braced ourselves, we couldn’t help but wonder what the conditions were like up on the exposed plateau of Kinder Scout. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for adverse weather; there is something about battling the elements that makes you feel profoundly, vibrantly alive.

Away from the van, our running training is hitting its stride. We’ve both successfully worked up to 18km of hilly trail, and with that under our belts, we’ve feeling more than ready for the off-road marathon in a few weeks. Looking further ahead, we’ve plotting a major adventure in September, though the specifics are still under wraps. We’ve currently debating whether we’ll both be on foot, or if I’ll take the lead runner role with Chris providing the ultimate mobile support in the camper van. We’ll have a clearer picture in a few months, but for now, we’re just relishing these run-walk outings and enjoying the rare feeling of being injury free.