Dusk Till Dawn: The Seaside Switchback

Dusk Till Dawn: The Seaside Switchback kicks off at The Cafe in the Park in Hamworthy on Saturday 26 September, with the walk starting around 10:30pm to 11:00pm and finishing at Hengistbury Head as the sun rises. It's a 22-mile overnight endurance coastal walk from Hamworthy to Hengistbury Head, run by the Nimsdai Foundation in tribute to the late Nepali-British mountaineer and former SBS veteran Nirmal 'Nims' Purja, who died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan in July 2026.

This is the foundation's annual Dusk Till Dawn event, and this year it carries a bit more weight. After Nims' death, the organisers weighed whether to cancel the 2026 edition, but decided to go ahead instead. Their reasoning was that 'Nims never stood still' and that he inspired people to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The walk starts with a safety briefing and a remembrance video of Nims, so there's a moment to acknowledge why everyone's out there before the first mile.

The route itself is a proper stretch of the Dorset coast. Over the 22 miles, you'll take in 21 beach access paths, 14 Peaks and 7 Summits. Because it's a night walk, you're likely to spot nocturnal wildlife along the way that you'd miss during the day, and the whole thing is timed so you reach Hengistbury Head just as the sun comes up. Every donation and pound raised goes to the Nimsdai Foundation's projects.

If you're thinking of signing up, keep in mind it's an overnight endurance walk, not a casual stroll. You'll be on your feet through the dark, covering 22 miles of coastal path from Hamworthy to Hengistbury Head, starting late on Saturday night and finishing at dawn on Sunday morning. The start is at The Cafe in the Park in Hamworthy, with the first briefing and video around 10:30pm to 11:00pm.