How did I start long distance walking?
Well, it was the London Olympics 2012. We were told, 'Don't go on the underground. It'll be far too crowded.' So I didn't. I took to the streets and walked. After a few weeks I noticed my trousers were getting looser. And, blow me down, before too long, I had lost one and a half stones! I liked this walking malarkey!
Well, it was the London Olympics 2012. We were told, 'Don't go on the underground. It'll be far too crowded.' So I didn't. I took to the streets and walked. After a few weeks I noticed my trousers were getting looser. And, blow me down, before too long, I had lost one and a half stones! I liked this walking malarkey!
Walk 1 - My first challenge was to walk the Grand Union Canal from London to Birmingham with a friend, in June 2013. It took 7 days to walk the 145 miles and by Day 5 the blisters on my feet were killing me. So I took a taxi into Northampton, home of the shoe, to buy a new pair. This was the day I discovered Merrell Barefoots which have been my constant companions since and enabled me to finish the 6th and 7th days.
Walk 2 - I realised that walking along canals was perfect for me - mostly flat, easy to navigate and safe for a girl on her own. So, when the 10th anniversary of my mother's death came round on 19th October 2013 my decision was easy. I would walk the Oxford to Coventry canal in her memory. She had lived in Oxford and, in the '60s, had taken us to the new Coventry Cathedral designed by Basil Spence to see what all the fuss was about. The canal is 80 miles and it took me 4 days. I walked in aid of The Macular Society as Mum suffered from Macular Degeneration. I raised over £1,000 and was joined by 9 friends on various stages.
Walk 3 was the Kennet and Avon Canal from Reading to Bath at the end of May 2014 - 73 miles in 4 days. This time I didn't walk for a charity and it was a missed opportunity! All that effort for nobody's reward! Several friends joined me on 3 of the days which was great. It is a lovely canal passing through some very pretty countryside. The last day was a bit busy being a sunday and a very popular walk from Bradford-on-Avon into Bath.
Walk 4 was the Thames Path Challenge, in September 2014, from Fulham Palace, Putney to Henley Mills Meadows along the Thames Path - a gruelling 100k non-stop which I managed to do in 28 hours and 18 seconds! The last 25 miles nearly killed me - read the Blog to find out! I raised nearly £1000 for Excellent, Pioneers of Sand Dams.
Walk 5 - I walked from Chester to Worcester in May 2015 along the Shropshire Union Canal, the Stafford and Worcester Canal and the River Severn - 100 miles in 5 days. I raised £500 for ZANE, Zimbabwe, a National Emergency. I was joined by PK(husband) and two friends on the last day. We ended up in Worcester Cathedral for sung evensong and a visit to King John's tomb.
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Walk 6 - I walked the Basingstoke Canal in September 2015 from the River Wey to Greywell. It took two days and I didn't raise any money for charity. It was a rather spur of the minute decision to do it and an excuse to stay with my aunt who lives rather conveniently exactly half way. The first half is quite suburban but the second half is very bucolic.
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Walk 7 - Liverpool-Leeds Canal, all 127 miles of it. It took 7 days and
every step was a joy. It is definitely a 'must walk' with amazing industrial architecture, warm friendly people and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful countryside I have ever walked through. Read the full story
under Walks.
Walk 8 - The Cotswold Way. Here I am a day away from Bath looking back along the escarpment to the north at least three days walking away! The views are what make the Cotswold Way so special, something you don't always get on the canals. It took me 8 days averaging 15 miles a day, It was hard going and I was way out of my comfort zone, longing for my lovely flat canals!! But the walk was definitely up there with the best. Read full story under Walks.
Walk 9 - Trent and Mersey Canal and River Soar
Preston Brook to Shardlow 92 miles
Long Eaton to Leicester along the River Soar 28 miles
I walked through 5 counties - Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
See Blog - Trent and Mersey Canal and River Soar 15.08.17
Long Eaton to Leicester along the River Soar 28 miles
I walked through 5 counties - Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
See Blog - Trent and Mersey Canal and River Soar 15.08.17
Walk 10 The South Downs Way
100 miles Eastbourne to Winchester Cathedral
September 24-October 1 2017
This is the Devil's Dyke on the second day of walking, very impressive. Note the weather - not a good day for views sadly.
For the first time I had a walking companion for the seven days - Christopher Goodhart who raised money for The Big Draw - over £2,000 pounds.
Devil's Dyke
Walk 11 Preston Brooks to Manchester via the Bridgewater Canal, Ashton Canal, Huddersfield Narrow and Broad Canals and the Calder and Hebble Navigation 29 May-3 June 2018
A walk of 80 + miles along both canals, and rivers which have been canalised. The Bridgewater Canal is often called the first canal but is actually the third to be built. Newry Canal in Northern Ireland and the Sankey Brook from St Helens to the Mersey pre-date the Bridgewater, still in private hands, by 18 and 4 years respectively.
The highlights for me were walking up the Bridgewater Canal into Manchester, a city I had never visited before, walking over Marsden Moor and walking down the Colne Valley. The rivers section was a hard slog with an elusive towpath which takes you rather alarmingly away from the river.
A walk of 80 + miles along both canals, and rivers which have been canalised. The Bridgewater Canal is often called the first canal but is actually the third to be built. Newry Canal in Northern Ireland and the Sankey Brook from St Helens to the Mersey pre-date the Bridgewater, still in private hands, by 18 and 4 years respectively.
The highlights for me were walking up the Bridgewater Canal into Manchester, a city I had never visited before, walking over Marsden Moor and walking down the Colne Valley. The rivers section was a hard slog with an elusive towpath which takes you rather alarmingly away from the river.
Walk 12 Walking the Viking Way from the Humber to Lincoln along the Lincolnshire Wolds and the Grantham Canal from Grantham to Nottingham
12-19 September 2018 147 miles
This has to be some of the best walking in England - fabulous landscape, under populated, wonderful views, manageable walking at 7 hours a day, historically fascinating, architecturally exciting, great B&Bs, and where better to end up than Lincoln Cathedral.
Grantham Canal also a wonderful two day walk, easily accessible by train at both ends, and the Crown and Plough at Long Clawson is a great place to stay.
12-19 September 2018 147 miles
This has to be some of the best walking in England - fabulous landscape, under populated, wonderful views, manageable walking at 7 hours a day, historically fascinating, architecturally exciting, great B&Bs, and where better to end up than Lincoln Cathedral.
Grantham Canal also a wonderful two day walk, easily accessible by train at both ends, and the Crown and Plough at Long Clawson is a great place to stay.
Somewhere on the distant horizon is Lincoln Cathedral standing majestically above the landscape.
Also the Pennines in the far distance.
Also the Pennines in the far distance.