This summer SOS Africa will host a 160ft charity abseil fundraising event from King Alfred’s Tower at Stourhead. Back by popular demand, the sponsored charity abseil will take place on the weekends of 27th/28th September and 4th/5th October 2025. Courtesy of the National Trust Stourhead, SOS Africa’s King Alfred’s Tower Charity Abseil is the charity’s highest to date and a unique opportunity for the general public to abseil this iconic historical venue.
SOS Africa hosted its first charity abseil fundraising event from King Alfred’s Tower in September 2023 during which 270 fearless fundraisers raised a remarkable £41,000 for SOS Africa and Stourhead, National Trust. Since then, the Shepton Mallet based charity has been inundated with requests to host the event again.
Throughout this highly anticipated 4-day charity abseil, brave fundraisers from across the Southwest and beyond will climb Alfred’s Tower’s 205 steps and descend from the top of this iconic monument in aid of the SOS Africa charity children. Before touching down at the base of the tower they will be able to savour breath-taking views across the surrounding counties.
Register to Abseil from King Alfred’s Tower
To participate, each abseiler is required to pay a £20 deposit to cover Aardvark Endeavours Instructors fees and raise a minimum of £50. To enter as an individual or team, please contact Event Organiser Matt Crowcombe by email (matt@sosafrica.com) with the following details:
- Full name and email address of individual/team leader
- Preferred abseil time/date (9am – 5pm, 27th/28th September or 4th/5th October 2025)
- Transfer a £20 deposit per abseiler to: SOS Africa, 40-47-28, 32032554
Matt will then confirm your abseil date/time, set up your online fundraising page and add it to our Event Fundraising Page where you will be able to track the progress of your fellow abseilers and event fundraising total. No previous abseil experience is required and abseilers must be age 9 or over (under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian). Although plenty of time will be allowed for abseilers to climb the 205 steps to the top of the tower, a reasonable level of fitness will be required.
Click here to follow our Fundraising Event Total on JustGiving or visit our Facebook Event Page.
Additional Event Information
The SOS Africa Children’s Charity was founded by Shepton Mallet student Matt Crowcombe in 2003. Each year the charity staff and volunteers have hosted fundraising challenges from iconic venues from across the southwest of England including Glastonbury Festival Pyramid Stage, Shepton Mallet Prison and Wells Cathedral. These events have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to educate disadvantaged children across South Africa.
Aardvark Endeavours are an experienced team of instructors who host various outdoor activities including abseiling, rock climbing, caving, archery and kayaking from their activity base near Cheddar in Somerset. They partnered with SOS Africa back in 2014 and together they have organised charity abseils from iconic buildings and landmarks such as Glastonbury Festival Pyramid Stage and Wells Cathedral.
Built by Stourhead Estate Owner Henry Hoare II in 1772, King Alfred’s Tower was constructed at the site of Egbert’s Stone, the folkloric landmark where Alfred the Great rallied his Saxon troops in 878AD to hold off a Saxon invasion. Constructed with over a million red bricks, the tower has become the pride of the 2650-acre Stourhead Estate.
Stourhead General Manager Philip Niemand has supported the event from its inception and cannot wait to welcome more brave abseilers to Alfred’s Tower this September:
“Alfred’s Tower was built 250 years ago, reputedly marking the spot where King Alfred raised his standard and rallied his troops before setting off to defeat the Vikings at the battle of Eddington. This moment in time started our societal journey of freedom and democracy. We now have an exciting opportunity to raise valuable awareness of and funds for communities that are not as fortunate. The SOS Africa Abseil from the Tower is itself a unique call to action, an opportunity to join the charity’s most challenging event to date from one of the most iconic monuments in the Southwest, raising funds for two very important causes.” Philip Niemand (General Manager, Stourhead)
This is likely to be a popular event and places will be limited so we recommend signing up and sending your deposit as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you to the top of King Alfred’s Tower in September…
