The day after...

 

  

We started from Land’s End on May 3^rd 2025, full of enthusiasm and apprehension and finished at John o'Groats on August 9^th 2025, weathered, weary but full of pride.

Garry has walked 1112 miles through trails, bogs, lanes, fields and roads. I’ve walked nearly 38% of the miles, a total of 421 miles, largely walking small sections each day whilst being the support vehicle for collecting and dropping Garry at the start and end of the routes.

 We have walked through 25 different counties and districts/burghs (a different system in Scotland).

We have stayed in 28 different places, mostly Airbnbs, but also a hotel, a ‘micro-lodge’, at a family member’s house and home. 40 nights have been in Scotland and 60 nights have been in England.

We’ve had 13 rest days and 86 walking days. 

 

Thank you to the following people who have walked with us at some point along the journey;

Craig, Paul and Anita, Isaac, Sarah (on 3 occasions!), Nicky and Jon (twice!), Ali, Phil (Veg) and Sally, Sam, Toni, Lindsey, Tracey,  Tony and Louise, Robin and Britta, Richard, Spencer, Becca, Lorraine and Paul, Jenny and Andy, Vicki and Mark (twice), Tom, and Will.

Also, thanks to Roy and Katherine who treated us to delicious ice cream, Dave and Maria who gave us tea.

 

Some of our memorable moments:

·       *Walking on Mawgan Porth beach, meeting Nicki and Chris (cycling Lejogger).

·       *Being welcomed to the rock choir groups across the UK.

·       *The walk out of Edale. Hard work but rewarding.

·       *Reaching Tan Hill Inn, having a coffee there and walking into the bleak moors beyond.

·       *Hadrian’s wall weather (wind and rain).

·       *Tissington trail in Derbyshire- a change in countryside with wonderful views and a flat walking trail.

·       *Highland games in Dornoch.

·       *Being chased by cows in Staffordshire.

·       *Falkirk wheel and Neptune’s staircase, amazing lock systems.

·       *Whaligoe Steps.

·       *Walking across the moors from Todmorden to Cowling, the longest day with the most ascent.

·       *Seeing seals and castles whilst walking on Brora and Dornoch beaches

·      * Some amazing lunch spots- Malham Cove, overlooking Torside reservoir, overlooking The Shoal with Old Wick castle in the distance

·       *Meeting other walkers along the way, especially on the West Highland Way- Fiona Jayne (on facebook Jogle), the Wild Women, two American women (Crystal and Susan),  two Australian women, many hikers on the West Highland Way, not forgetting Niall, who we met and chatted with during the final week for him and us.

Thank you to those of you (whoever you may be!) who have supported us by by reading and commenting on the blog, donating towards Cancer Research UK, by sending supportive messages through text, emails, phone calls and social media.

We feel privileged to have been able to experience this great challenge together and it is something that we will never forget.