Walking Lands End to John O'Groats 2025 for Alzheimer's Society

After doing some research over the next few days and pulling together notes on the geology so far, I joined Sarie for breakfast before we set off back to Aust. Sarie dropped me off at 9:30. It felt like a real wrench to leave friends and Bristol behind and I was sorry to go. Walking over the bridge was an experience I had anticipated with some interest although I expected it to be more exposed than it happened to be this morning. It was good to have the time to appreciate the structure even as it vibrated, to appreciate the surroundings and watch the ever-changing eddies of the water. I noticed a large gully intruding through the mudflats and wondered if it was a problem. Looking at the OS map it looks as though it has an appropriate name: the Hunger Pill. By10:30 I was over the bridge heading around the outskirts of Chepstow. Part of this was a pleasant walk was along the River Wye before leading into the town centre where I picked up supplies and treated myself to a pre-prepared M...

After a relaxing night and start to the day Malcolm and Sarie took me back to Ladies Mile and Sarie joined me for the first part of the walk to Aust aiming to meet up with Malcolm at Blaise Castle cafe. I was pleasantly surprised by how the route I’d looked at on the OS mapping managed to take us to discover hidden alleyways and green space from Clifton Down, through Sneyd Park, Sea Mills, Coombe Dingle and Henbury, leading us down to Blaise. Sarie pointing out old haunts and telling me about the history of how the villages on the outskirts of Bristol gradually got absorbed. Going back in time some of the old Roman roads and the fascinating Pitch and Pay Lane based on plague times when Bristol was cut off and people would pitch over supplies and Bristolians pay for them. The scenic valley walking through Blaise Estate and to the castle and cafe was a pleasant surprise, as well as the dramatic cliffs of Goram’s Seat. The cafe proved an excellent place for meeting up with Malcolm. I was ...

Foxes were barking through the night and tawny owls calling one much lower in tone than the other. So atmospheric. I thought the new arrangement was working well but I woke shivering at 4:30. The sleeping bag was damp where I’d wrapped up with the reflective blanket.  I managed to doze but started getting up rather dazedly at 6:20. I suppose predictably there was ice on the inside of the tent again. Green and spotted woodpeckers along with squirrels churring gave a different slant to the dawn chorus this morning. As I took the tent down I realised there were wood anemones all around me, and was pleased to leave before 8. The path took me down the lovely wood full of ramsons (wild garlic) with some toxic lords and ladies mixed in, white wild anemones and the start of bluebells. As I came off the Mendips I seemed to come down off limestone onto red sandstone. Looking back over to the Mendips and where I camped, I realised I was now following the Monarchs and the Samaritan’s Way. Prog...

Today was quite a walk both in length and exertion - Cheddar gorge is quite a climb! I’d slept well as my 7am alarm woke me up - for the first time I’d not woken of my own accord. The usual routine followed minus tent and most of the packing - such a luxury. The view out to Glastonbury Tor is very special. Ready for the off, I heard the sound of summer - twittering of swallows or house martins whilst I did a final check that all was left tidy in the shepherd hut. A good night’s stay on top of a great evening catching up with Rollo. As I left, a couple of Heron flew over head with their rather prehistoric look and cry whilst a whitethroat called from the hedge as I walked down a green lane. As my 20:20 vision decreased through my fifties and into my sixties, and as my long distance walking has begun in earnest, I have come to learn to identify birds as much  and more by their calls as by their appearance. Two apps I find invaluable are Chirp-o-matic and British Birds (Collins). I ne...

Although the cabin was very comfortable my mind was buzzing and it took awhile to switch off. I knew I had a long day ahead and all depended on how clear the paths were. The facilities at Secret Valley were excellent and I can’t recommend it enough. With a fully equipped kitchen it was a real boon for me.  With having dried everything well the night before it really just left me to cook the bacon (thick!) supplied with rolls etc and get going before 8:25am. Passing through Goathurst I was sorry to see that the community had to resort to keeping  St Edward’s church locked with limited hours of opening. Offset by seeing some beautiful owl carvings just opposite.  As I turned off the road a roe deer ran ahead of me, the day still had that early morning feel to it. I missed a path off to the left, but realised quickly, crossing stream and entering a field of young corn with wild garlic growing on the stream bank - but beware young arum lily (lords and ladies) which can grow w...