After our gloriously indirect route on the Scottish National Trail, for getting through northern England we chose to follow the Alternative Pennine Way – a relatively direct route stretching 250 miles from Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders to Youlgreave in Derbyshire. The “standard” route from John o’Groats to Land’s End uses … Read More

Thank you very very much to everyone who has donated to Shelterbox! It’s a great cause, so thank you for supporting it and us – Nick and Sue from the Bagot Arms, Dinny Davies, Sarah George, Claire Haycock, Gail Francis, Katherine Sharp, my mum (Rita Savage), David and Lynda Gettie, … Read More

 Sorry for the delay in posting this – the second half of the Alternative Pennine Way just went far too fast. We loved walking through landscapes we’ve visited before such as Ilkley Moor, Dovestone Tor and Stanage, as well as discovering new places in between.  It was also really good to visit … Read More

Hmm yes, the Limestone Way, Staffordshire Way and Shropshire Way – into each hike some rain must fall, and most of it has fallen since we left the Alternative Pennine Way and struck out across the lowlands on these trails, towards Offa’s Dyke on the Welsh border. There’s been a lot … Read More

One thing I love about long distance hiking is the chance to discover a place we wouldn’t necessarily choose to visit on a weekend or holiday. It turns out that Shropshire and the Offa’s Dyke Path are just such a place. In fact, we liked them so much we will … Read More

What a great way to end a hike! The South West Coast Path was a fantastic hiking experience, a scenic rollercoaster of a route. It has a reputation as England’s hardest national trail, on account of the numerous steep ascents and descents, often in very quick succession, most of them … Read More

Over the last 4 months and 1800 miles, lots of people have asked us if we’re doing the hike for charity. So we’ve explained to them about Shelterbox, and the amazing work that they do in providing emergency shelter for people caught up in natural disasters and humanitarian crises. And then … Read More

We have been so lucky with the weather these last 6 days! Since crossing the Severn estuary and turning west towards Land’s End, the weather has been absolutely lovely. From the hay meadows and cow pastures of the Somerset Levels and Mendips, to the high ridges and pretty villages of … Read More

We’ve done it! Not sure of our exact mileages, but after hiking about 500 miles from the most southwesterly to the most northerly point of Ireland, and about 1300 miles from John o’Groats, the most northerly settlement in Scotland to England’s most southwesterly point at Land’s End, we’ve finally finished. … Read More