|
Top of Page
|
The British Isles – overview of the walk
We could do this walk by making one bee-line from Mizen Head to Malin Head, and another bee-line from John o’Groats to Land’s End.
But we’re not going to.
There’s far too much of interest along the way – hills and mountains, lakes and waterfalls, prehistoric burial chambers, hill forts, ancient national frontiers and castles. We’ll need to hit civilization along the way to stock up on food; historical towns and villages should make for some interesting rest days.
For Scotland, England and Wales, we’re very lucky to have a large number of footpaths and trails which will take us through some of the most beautiful parts of the country. So we’ll follow these where we can. In Ireland, we’ll just have to use our maps and whatever information we can pick up along the way to try to devise an interesting route.
|
|
Top of Page
|
Ireland
The great unknown! All we know for sure is that we’re starting at Mizen Head in County
Cork in the far southwest, and making our way north via Killarney, Galway and Sligo,
to Malin Head in County Donegal in the north.
We’ll try to stay as far west as is reasonably practicable while still maintaining a northerly course, but with few long
trails heading in the right direction, we’re prepared (mentally and, as far as
possible, physically) for a lot of miles on roads.
We’re hoping to use the Burren Way and part of the Sligo Way, but any other suggestions welcome!
|
|
Top of Page
|
Scotland
The Scottish National Trail was devised two years ago by the mountaineer and wilderness hiker Cameron McNeish. It links Cape Wrath in the far northwest of Scotland to the northern end of the Pennine Way near the border with England.
We plan to follow the End to End route described in Andy Robinson’s Cicerone Press guide from John o’Groats in the far northeast of Scotland to Oykel Bridge in Sutherland, then join the Scottish National Trail and follow it south to Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders.
|
|
Top of Page
|
Northern England
Having already completed the Pennine Way over Christmas and New Year in 2008, we have decided to follow the Alternative Pennine Way outlined by Denis Brook and Phil Hinchliffe in their now out-of-print guidebook of the same name.
This crosses and recrosses the Pennine Way but doesn’t always follow the high hills. Instead it visits places of historical interest and small towns, so should be an enjoyable alternative
|
|
Top of Page
|
Central England
After leaving the Alternative Pennine Way at Youlgreave in Derbyshire’s limestone dales, we will cut across southwestwards on the Limestone Way and the Staffordshire Way, to join the Offa’s Dyke path at Knighton on the English / Welsh border.
We will then follow Offa’s Dyke down to Chepstow in south Wales,and cross the river Severn back into England.
|
|
Top of Page
|
Southwest England
Finally heading west, we will bypass Bristol to walk through the Mendips and Quantocks, and cross Exmoor before joining the Southwest Coastal Path at Barnstaple in Devon.
Following the northern coast of Devon and Cornwall, we hope to reach Land’s End by early July.
|
