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FUN • FREE • FLEXIBLE<br />

WALK<br />

1000<br />

MILES<br />

<strong>2018</strong><br />

Join the challenge that will<br />

CHANGE<br />

YOUR LIFE<br />

ONE STEP AT A TIME!


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✔WELCOME<br />

IT SOUNDS<br />

AMAZING<br />

BECAUSE IT IS.<br />

T’S AMAZING THAT you can<br />

walk 1000 miles in a year –<br />

Iand I can guarantee you much<br />

boggling from your friends and<br />

relations. But what’s really amazing<br />

is the difference walking an average<br />

of just 2.74 miles a day can make.<br />

From the first walk you’ll find your<br />

thoughts quieten and your senses<br />

quicken; your body sends messages<br />

of thanks in the form of endorphins, and in spite of the<br />

modest size of your investment – just 2.74 miles, or a little<br />

under an hour for most – the returns grow and grow. Pretty<br />

soon your heartbeat takes up a longer lope, your horizons<br />

grow and your body becomes once again the dependable<br />

tool it used to be. Optimism comes more readily; you greet<br />

the reflection in the mirror with something approaching civility<br />

and eventually glee. What are we going to get up to today?<br />

People run faster, pedal harder, spend more time and<br />

money on gyms and diets and clubs and bats to achieve less.<br />

The whole-person benefits enjoyed by #walk1000milers are<br />

extraordinary, as I hope a read of this magazine will convince<br />

you. They certainly explain why 99.9% of participants<br />

recommend the challenge to a friend. You may <strong>no</strong>t think there’s<br />

much wrong with your life right <strong>no</strong>w. But wait til you see the<br />

person that’s waiting at the other end of #walk1000miles.<br />

Now they’re amazing.<br />

Guy Procter,<br />

Editor, Country Walking<br />

Official magazine of #walk1000miles and with you every step of the way<br />

Contents<br />

SUBSCRIBE<br />

AND GET A<br />

HI-TEC ACTIVITY<br />

TRACKER +<br />

OS MAPS<br />

WORTH<br />

£76<br />

04 Celebs wish you well<br />

06 Meet our <strong>2018</strong> partners<br />

08 Your questions answered<br />

12 For Health<br />

20 Your body on<br />

#walk1000miles<br />

22 For Happiness<br />

30 For Families<br />

36 For Adventure<br />

44 For Charity<br />

50 For Fun<br />

56 What to wear<br />

60 Amazing offer on the<br />

official magazine<br />

www.walk1000miles.co.uk<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

3


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Go for it!<br />

The biggest names in walking want a word<br />

with you about the biggest challenge<br />

‘The best dose of<br />

energy, positivity<br />

and happiness’<br />

“#walk1000miles is a really positive<br />

challenge for everyone who loves<br />

walking, wants to walk more or needs the<br />

motivation to get out and about. I hope it<br />

encourages more people to clock up the<br />

steps on a daily basis and feel the benefits<br />

that I get from walking because I think<br />

it’s the best dose of energy, positivity<br />

and happiness and what’s more –<br />

it’s all for free!”<br />

CLARE BALDING<br />

BBC Sport anchor and presenter<br />

of Radio 4’s Ramblings<br />

4<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔GOOD LUCK!<br />

‘Good luck you<br />

1000-milers!’<br />

“I can<strong>no</strong>t express how much walking<br />

can open up the world for you. A big<br />

sky, a mysterious woodland, a scrambly<br />

rock – it all helps to put the world in<br />

perspective and make you look and<br />

feel lovelier too. So good luck, all you<br />

wonderful thousand milers! May all<br />

your skies be clear and all your<br />

footpaths thrilling.”<br />

BRIAN BLESSED<br />

Actor, Explorer, Life Vice President of the<br />

Campaign for National Parks. The Panther in My<br />

Kitchen: My Wild Life with Animals, is out <strong>no</strong>w<br />

#walk1000miles<br />

is brilliant’<br />

“Ever since my Dad took me walking as<br />

a little girl across the Peak District I’ve<br />

loved hiking. Ever since the first series of<br />

Wainwright Walks all those years ago<br />

I’ve had a dream job where a hobby<br />

and my professional life have <strong>merged</strong>.<br />

I think people just feel in love with<br />

the landscapes and see what lovely<br />

adventures we can all have on foot.<br />

I think #walk1000miles is brilliant. It’s<br />

free, you take things at your own pace,<br />

and it helps you unlock the landscapes<br />

that Britain has to offer. Go for it !”<br />

JULIA BRADBURY<br />

Presenter, ITV’s The Nation’s 100 Favourite Walks<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

5


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Meet our<br />

partners<br />

Passionate about<br />

#walk1000miles and<br />

perfect partners in<br />

your challenge: meet<br />

the brands backing the<br />

biggest challenge in walking.<br />

Fjällräven<br />

Founded in Sweden in 1960, Fjällräven<br />

has stayed true to its mission of making<br />

it easier for more people to stay<br />

comfortable outdoors. From its first,<br />

in<strong>no</strong>vative framed backpacks,<br />

Fjällräven’s range has grown and<br />

<strong>no</strong>w includes including jackets, layers, accessories and technical<br />

midselection<br />

of fits. Characterised by<br />

functional, durable and timeless<br />

designs, the company is best k<strong>no</strong>wn<br />

for its durable and<br />

walking trousers in an extensive<br />

adaptable G-1000®<br />

‘One of our three founding principles is to<br />

fabric. Fjällräven is<br />

encourage people to get outside and enjoy<br />

#walk1000miles’<br />

nature. The challenge ties in perfectly, helping<br />

apparel & rucksack more people realise the physical and mental benefits<br />

partner:<br />

of walking. We’re delighted to be part of it for <strong>2018</strong>.’<br />

www.fjallraven.co.uk<br />

— Ralph White, Managing Director, Fjällräven UK<br />

Walk the Walk<br />

Organiser of the famous<br />

MoonWalks held every year in<br />

London, Scotland and Iceland which<br />

have raised an incredible £121 million for<br />

research into breast cancer and to help<br />

improve the lives<br />

of those with cancer<br />

<strong>no</strong>w. Walk the Walk<br />

is our charity partner:<br />

walkthewalk.org<br />

‘Sign up for a MoonWalk, register for<br />

#walk1000miles, and just get walking…<br />

you will never look back!’<br />

— Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive<br />

Ordnance Survey<br />

For over 200 years Ordnance<br />

Survey has helped people<br />

explore Great Britain. Today it does so<br />

in even greater detail<br />

with its iconic paper<br />

maps, mobile and<br />

desktop applications.<br />

OS is our tracking<br />

partner: www.<br />

ordnancesurvey.co.uk<br />

‘OS Maps is the perfect companion to help<br />

ensure your 1000 miles leads to discovery,<br />

adventure and lifelong memories.’<br />

— Nick Giles, Managing Director OS Leisure<br />

6<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


Whereabouts<br />

Holidays<br />

Our holiday<br />

partner believes<br />

that when you<br />

visit a place on<br />

foot, you truly<br />

discover it. That’s<br />

why walking<br />

holidays are their<br />

passion: you can explore further, get<br />

amongst the culture and experience the<br />

incredible places you may <strong>no</strong>t otherwise<br />

reach. As well as superb walking holidays<br />

across the globe, the firm also offer a<br />

range of adventure holidays. Whether you<br />

want to try your hand at s<strong>no</strong>wshoeing,<br />

kayaking or water rafting, its team is on<br />

hand to help you make it happen.<br />

www.whereaboutsholidays.com<br />

‘Whereabouts Holidays are proud to<br />

<strong>supp</strong>ort #walk1000miles. Walking is <strong>no</strong>t<br />

only good for improving fitness, it’s also a<br />

fantastic way to see the world, discovering<br />

new cultures and sampling delicious<br />

food and wine as you go!’ — Steven Rittey,<br />

Product Manager, Whereabouts Holidays<br />

Bridgedale<br />

The UK’s number one outdoor sock brand<br />

stems back over 100 years and today<br />

boasts a range 400-strong, featuring<br />

in<strong>no</strong>vative Fusion Tech<strong>no</strong>logy<br />

– a unique blend of yarn and<br />

knitting tech<strong>no</strong>logy. With<br />

technical fibres providing<br />

comfort, insulation, fast<br />

wicking and durability,<br />

Bridgedale has a<br />

British-made sock<br />

for every pursuit<br />

providing mile<br />

after mile of<br />

comfort for<br />

your 1000 miles.<br />

Bridgedale is our<br />

sock partner:<br />

www.bridgedale.com<br />

‘The home of Bridgedale is Newtownards<br />

in Northern Ireland and we’re lucky to<br />

have stunning walks right on our doorstep.<br />

A walk at lunchtime helps me feel great and think<br />

more clearly. Wearing Bridgedale socks, I always<br />

have dry and comfy feet whatever the weather too!’<br />

— Carolyn Dunn, Sales & Marketing Manager<br />

Hanwag<br />

Based at the foot of the Alps, Hanwag has produced<br />

handcrafted boots for 90 years, combining traditional<br />

construction with up-to-the-minute in<strong>no</strong>vation. Fit is<br />

fundamental and its range includes Narrow, Wide,<br />

Bunion and Straight Fit options all made from<br />

premium components and are fully resoleable.<br />

Hanwag is our boots partner: www.hanwag.com<br />

‘We’re delighted that Hanwag will be<br />

<strong>supp</strong>orting the #Walk1000miles<br />

campaign in <strong>2018</strong> and are looking<br />

forward to hearing inspirational stories and<br />

celebrating the triumphs of every participant<br />

with each mile they tick off.’<br />

— Christopher King, Brand Manager, Hanwag UK<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

7


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

I HAVE<br />

QUESTIONS!<br />

Of course you do: but you’ll be glad to k<strong>no</strong>w it’s probably<br />

simpler than you think – and you can tailor the<br />

challenge to suit your age, stage and ambition.<br />

How do I sign up?<br />

Go online and visit<br />

www.walk1000miles.co.uk,<br />

click SIGN UP and enter your<br />

email. Make sure you tick the<br />

box to say we can contact you.<br />

Within 24 hours of signing up<br />

you’ll get a welcome email from<br />

us with all the information and<br />

links you need to enjoy the<br />

adventure to the full.<br />

Q Q<br />

What happens next?<br />

Put simply, you walk an<br />

average of 2.74 miles a day in 12<br />

months from the day you start.<br />

Put slightly less simply: you<br />

invest a bit of time in yourself<br />

and start to feel better and<br />

better; you join a community<br />

(www.facebook.com/groups/<br />

walk1000miles) that k<strong>no</strong>ws how<br />

you feel and is keen to help with<br />

any question you might have;<br />

you make friends and you share<br />

discoveries and delights; you<br />

see yourself in print perhaps<br />

and feel a giddy glee; you smile<br />

a bit more, sleep a bit better and<br />

start having naughty thoughts<br />

about outdoor gear. You get<br />

complimented, wear a badge<br />

for the first time since you were<br />

six and enjoy rain. It’s weird.<br />

8<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


What miles/steps<br />

can I count?<br />

It’s up to you to decide –<br />

it’s YOUR challenge, <strong>no</strong>t<br />

a competition. Many people,<br />

particularly those starting from<br />

a lower fitness level, choose to<br />

count every step. Most will count<br />

all the miles they do that they<br />

wouldn’t have done before – and<br />

whether it’s in your lunch break,<br />

skipping the bus, round the<br />

block or in the country it all adds<br />

up. Some will count only the<br />

miles they cover with walking<br />

boots on – that’s what people<br />

mean when they refer to ‘boots<br />

on’ miles. It’s up to you, and the<br />

only person you’re competing<br />

with is the Old You – so as long<br />

as you’re walking more than<br />

them, you’re winning.<br />

How do I record my miles?<br />

Q<br />

You fill in the Progress<br />

Tracker Chart available with<br />

Country Walking magazine –<br />

either the daily mileage chart<br />

or the shade-as-you-go map<br />

of the UK. This is essential<br />

to qualify you to enter all<br />

competitions to win gear from<br />

our partners throughout <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

That’s because it’s the way we<br />

make sure prizes only go to<br />

genuine challengers.<br />

Q Q<br />

Do I need to upload<br />

my miles anywhere?<br />

No. The main thing is you keep<br />

track of them yourself. But post<br />

in the group when you reach<br />

milestones and the amazing<br />

group member Susan Miller<br />

somehow keeps a track of<br />

it all and with her help we<br />

publish completers lists in<br />

the magazine periodically.<br />

Is there a leaderboard?<br />

Q<br />

No. #walk1000miles is<br />

<strong>no</strong>t a race to the finish and the<br />

only person you are competing<br />

with is last year’s version of<br />

yourself! Your milestones<br />

will be celebrated by the<br />

community as heartily whether<br />

it’s 10, 50 or a multiple of 100<br />

you’re hitting. The main thing<br />

is surprising yourself <strong>no</strong>t<br />

impressing anyone else<br />

– but we’re pretty sure<br />

you will do both!<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

9


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Mountain miles are<br />

memorable but they’re <strong>no</strong>t<br />

the only ones that count.<br />

Above: A badger meet pic all the<br />

way from Brisbane, Australia!<br />

How do I track my miles?<br />

Q<br />

If you’ve got a<br />

smartphone, download the<br />

‘OS Maps’ app from the iTunes<br />

or Google Play store (or update<br />

it if you’ve already got it).<br />

Ordnance Survey is a<br />

#walk1000miles partner and<br />

this year has added a mileage<br />

accumulator feature to<br />

their app just for you.<br />

Simply record your<br />

walk using the app<br />

(Record a route ><br />

Walking > Record)<br />

and when you’ve<br />

finished, tick the box<br />

to add the miles to<br />

your activity record.<br />

If you subscribe<br />

to Country Walking<br />

you also get free<br />

access to all of<br />

Ordnance Survey’s Explorer<br />

and Landranger mapping –<br />

worth £25.99 – via the app.<br />

Alternatively, you can use<br />

a wearable activity tracker like<br />

a FitBit, use a map and a piece<br />

of string, use Google Maps<br />

or follow paths of a k<strong>no</strong>wn<br />

distance – like the routes in<br />

Country Walking.<br />

To see how many miles<br />

a day you need to<br />

average at any point,<br />

just enter your total<br />

miles so far at www.<br />

walk1000miles.co.uk<br />

to find out how many<br />

you’ve got to average<br />

a day for the remainder<br />

of the year. (Tip: miles<br />

put in early on really<br />

help your motivation<br />

later in the year!)<br />

What’s a badger?<br />

Q<br />

Since 2016 we have<br />

produced challenge badges.<br />

Someone at some point<br />

decided people who wore them<br />

should be called ‘badgers’.<br />

Later, some of them started<br />

meeting up for the occasional<br />

walk, which was fun, and<br />

they’re still happening (look at<br />

the Events tab in the Facebook<br />

group). Here’s one in Brisbane!<br />

We will make <strong>2018</strong> badges<br />

available via Country Walking<br />

soon if you’d like to be a<br />

<strong>2018</strong> badger.<br />

Are there any rewards?<br />

Q<br />

Oh, only your fitter,<br />

happier, sleeker new self!<br />

But having said that, if you’ve<br />

signed up and got a progress<br />

tracker you’ll be eligible for<br />

multiple competitions on the<br />

challenge homepage, in the<br />

monthly newsletter and in the<br />

magazine. You will also be able<br />

to download free completion<br />

certificates, and buy challenge<br />

merchandise like medals, caps<br />

and T-shirts. There are also<br />

badges (pins if you’re from<br />

the US) which declare your<br />

participation and which have<br />

proved highly covetable! There<br />

will be 1000 given away free to<br />

holders of the February issue<br />

(out 4th January <strong>2018</strong>).<br />

10<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔YOUR QUESTIONS<br />

What are some tips for<br />

Q<br />

getting the miles in?<br />

Walk at lunch: a two-mile<br />

walk over 40 minutes each<br />

working day will rack up<br />

500 miles in a year.<br />

Grab a friend, make it<br />

a date: because it’s great<br />

for motivation.<br />

Start early, finish late:<br />

these corners of the day are<br />

often made magical by the<br />

best light and shyest wildlife.<br />

You’ll feel great and sleep well.<br />

Give yourself a thinking<br />

project: it’s amazing what<br />

your brain can do when<br />

you take it for a walk.<br />

Vary your route: pluck<br />

paths at random from the<br />

map or reverse a familiar trail<br />

A photo a day: resolve to<br />

record each walk with one<br />

photo and build a gallery of<br />

micro moments. It could be<br />

the same thing each day<br />

or different each time.<br />

Plan a reward: a slice of cake,<br />

a half of IPA, an episode of Game<br />

of Thrones. Turn a guilty pleasure<br />

into a virtuous circle of reward.<br />

“There is years’-<br />

worth of experience<br />

in the group,<br />

old hands and<br />

newcomers and<br />

everyone is<br />

delighted to help<br />

each other out.”<br />

Is there a<br />

Q<br />

#walk1000miles<br />

Facebook group?<br />

Yes, and it’s brilliant! There is<br />

years’-worth of experience<br />

in the group, old hands and<br />

newcomers and everyone is<br />

delighted to help each other<br />

out. Talking is good and this<br />

is the nicest group of people<br />

on the internet! Don’t stay<br />

on the side<strong>lines</strong> – posting<br />

and commenting is the<br />

best way to stay involved<br />

in conversations and<br />

make friends!<br />

Q<br />

Will I fit in?<br />

We would be amazed if<br />

you didn’t. In a survey of last<br />

year’s participants, 96.5% said<br />

#walk1000miles fitted well into<br />

their everyday lives, 98% said it<br />

was suitable for all fitness levels<br />

and 99% said it was a better<br />

New Year’s Resolution than<br />

joining a gym. 99.6% would<br />

recommend it to a friend. Our<br />

youngest completer in 2017<br />

was 7 and our oldest 86.<br />

Who is behind this?<br />

Q<br />

Country Walking, the UK’s<br />

best-selling and fastest-growing<br />

walking magazine and which<br />

has been continuously published<br />

every month for the past 30<br />

years. It makes a great challenge<br />

companion full of advice,<br />

inspiration and the best of the<br />

challenge every month. Plus if<br />

you subscribe <strong>no</strong>w you also get<br />

a year’s free access to Ordnance<br />

Survey’s mapping for the whole<br />

of the country on your phone,<br />

tablet and computer, worth<br />

£25.99 AND a Hi-Tec activity<br />

tracker worth £49.<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

11


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For health<br />

The science and your stories agree: walking about an<br />

hour a day is the biggest investment you can make<br />

in your health – and the returns are amazing<br />

12<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


‘#walk1000miles<br />

is the foundation<br />

on which my<br />

future is built. My<br />

life has improved<br />

tremendously<br />

by doing it.’<br />

Dr Tom Giles<br />

‘Blood<br />

pressure<br />

tablets<br />

have<br />

halved,<br />

weight dropped and<br />

I can walk a hill<br />

without puffing’<br />

Karen Docherty<br />

‘Lost 5 stones<br />

since January!’<br />

Bob Cullinane<br />

‘Walking + cake<br />

= maintain target<br />

weight!’<br />

Rebecca Gabzdyl<br />

‘Lowered<br />

my blood<br />

pressure<br />

so much<br />

I <strong>no</strong><br />

longer need<br />

medication for it.’<br />

Janet Harding<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

13


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

VERY INSPIRING PERSON: EILIDH SCAMMELL<br />

‘I lost 8 stone and<br />

feel <strong>no</strong>rmal for<br />

the first time in<br />

my adult life’<br />

Eilidh Scammell, 36 from the<br />

Isle of Skye, made a promise at<br />

the beginning of 2017 to improve<br />

her fitness and general health.<br />

With the help of the challenge,<br />

boy did she overachieve!<br />

I<br />

ALWAYS FELT OUT OF<br />

place because of my size.<br />

I wasn’t huge compared<br />

to some by any means. But<br />

I hated seeing pictures of<br />

myself next to other people.<br />

Having my photo taken would<br />

give me that horrible sinking<br />

feeling of self-hatred.<br />

BEFORE<br />

At the beginning of this year<br />

I weighed myself. I was 22st<br />

1.5lb, had a BMI of 50 and was<br />

a size 26/28. I knew I had to<br />

do something. I needed a goal,<br />

and it couldn’t just be ‘lose<br />

weight’ because that had<br />

failed so many times before.<br />

I knew the goal needed to be<br />

AFTER<br />

Eilidh feels at home in<br />

herseld and her beautiful<br />

home country at last.<br />

realistic otherwise I’d never do<br />

it. When I found the challenge<br />

I thought it was reasonable<br />

e<strong>no</strong>ugh for someone with a<br />

desk job to walk an average<br />

of 3 miles per day to reach the<br />

1000-mile target. I had my goal.<br />

To help get my miles in I<br />

started walking in the evenings<br />

round my village. About three<br />

weeks later it dawned on me I<br />

was <strong>no</strong> longer eating my muchloved<br />

dark chocolate digestives<br />

in front of the telly, as I was out<br />

walking instead. I thought that<br />

maybe I could once more<br />

attempt to lose weight and<br />

possibly succeed this time!<br />

I walked over the Skye bridge<br />

for the first time and it was hard!<br />

I had to stop a few times to<br />

catch my breath, but I carried on<br />

and was extremely proud of my<br />

achievement. I made small,<br />

gradual changes to my diet and<br />

lost half a stone in the first two<br />

14<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR HEALTH<br />

Eilidh’s favourite places on Skye<br />

Elgol, in particular the beginning of the track to Camas<br />

Fhionnairigh, at Clach an Fhiodhaich (NG518145) which<br />

looks across to the Black Cuillin. I also really enjoy the walks<br />

around Sligachan (NG486299), and a local forestry walk up<br />

C<strong>no</strong>c a’ Mhadaidh Ruaidh (NG738257), which is close to my<br />

house. I’ve only walked to Camas Fhionnairigh (NG512183)<br />

once, but it is spectacular! I have plans to walk up Beinn na<br />

Caillich (NG770229) in Kyleakin, as I can see it from my back<br />

garden, and I hope to one day climb Blàbheinn (NG529217).<br />

There are many others on the list but those are my top two.<br />

Left: Get thee behind me satan!<br />

Or rather, get on the far side of a<br />

walk where I can scoff a few of<br />

you blighters guilt-free!<br />

Bottom left: Looking great, and<br />

more importantly feeling great:<br />

you can read more from Eididh at<br />

www.mybodybattle.com.<br />

weeks. Nearly nine months since<br />

my first weigh-in and I’ve lost<br />

8st 3lbs. My BMI is <strong>no</strong>w 31.3 and<br />

I’m a size 16. I have a<strong>no</strong>ther 2st<br />

12.5lbs to lose before I reach my<br />

target weight, but it’s <strong>no</strong> longer<br />

daunting and I feel extremely<br />

positive about achieving it. Now<br />

I can walk over the Skye Bridge<br />

at a pace of 18 minutes per mile<br />

without getting out of breath.<br />

My ambitions are growing<br />

with my fitness. I’ve never<br />

climbed a Munro (Scottish<br />

mountain over 3000ft high) but<br />

that goal seems more and more<br />

achievable each week. I hope to<br />

achieve this goal in <strong>2018</strong> and<br />

I’ve already chosen my Munro!<br />

I’ve always wanted to walk the<br />

West Highland Way too but<br />

never thought it achievable.<br />

It’s a lot less daunting <strong>no</strong>w<br />

and I hope to do it in the next<br />

couple of years. I feel so much<br />

fitter. I <strong>no</strong>w feel <strong>no</strong>rmal for the<br />

“I was <strong>no</strong> longer<br />

eating my muchloved<br />

dark chocolate<br />

digestives in front of<br />

the telly as I was out<br />

walking instead.”<br />

first time in my adult life.<br />

I am <strong>no</strong> longer disgusted<br />

by what I see in the picture.<br />

I wouldn’t be where I am<br />

today without #walk1000miles.<br />

I love the Facebook group – it’s<br />

very encouraging and inspiring.<br />

People posting photographs<br />

of their walks makes me want<br />

to walk more and explore new<br />

places. It’s also extremely useful<br />

for getting tips on anything<br />

walking related, whether it’s<br />

equipment, routes, or apps.<br />

My advice is to start small<br />

and be consistent. Just over<br />

a mile each evening round my<br />

village on level ground is how<br />

I started. Set yourself lots of<br />

small achievable goals. Don’t<br />

dive in the deep end and<br />

attempt to climb a Munro if you<br />

can’t even walk a mile without<br />

getting out of breath. Baby<br />

steps is the key to success in<br />

both fitness and weight loss.<br />

And it’s so worth it. Apart<br />

from the obvious – slimmer and<br />

fitter – I’m a lot more confident.<br />

Not just in my physical abilities,<br />

but in my self-perception.<br />

I stand taller, and I have a<br />

more positive attitude towards<br />

myself. Previously I had quite<br />

low self-esteem, but <strong>no</strong>w I feel<br />

like I can achieve my goals,<br />

and more importantly, I feel<br />

I deserve it! My size is <strong>no</strong> longer<br />

a burden, <strong>no</strong> longer an obstacle<br />

stopping me from doing things.<br />

I am simply happier!<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

15


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

HEALTH: CASE STUDIES<br />

‘Something had to change’<br />

I work in IT, which is pretty<br />

stressful and I had six stents<br />

put into my arteries back<br />

in October 2016 at age 47.<br />

I knew then things had to<br />

change. I wasn’t sure how,<br />

so I chose something I knew<br />

I could do – walk! I started<br />

to walk to work – a 4.5 mile<br />

round-trip on January 1st<br />

and have only had the odd<br />

day when I’ve taken the car<br />

since. At first, I found it a<br />

slog, <strong>no</strong>t physically, but after<br />

walking to work for a few<br />

weeks, I started walking<br />

at weekends, gradually<br />

extending my mileage.<br />

My initial challenge was fear<br />

and I kept asking myself<br />

questions like, ‘What if...?’<br />

and ‘How will they find me?’.<br />

Initially, I was doing about<br />

five miles, just in case, but<br />

<strong>no</strong>w I’m clocking up 20+<br />

miles on a regular basis and<br />

am going all over the place.<br />

I’ve lived in Dunstable all my<br />

life and I’ve discovered areas<br />

I never knew existed just a<br />

few miles from my house.<br />

I <strong>no</strong>w realise walking’s <strong>no</strong>t<br />

just about keeping fit, it’s<br />

about appreciating what<br />

we have and making sure<br />

future generations can see<br />

what we’ve seen. I’ve always<br />

loved the outdoors, but<br />

never really been a walker.<br />

I AM NOW! I find the<br />

#walk1000miles community<br />

amazing! There’s such a<br />

diverse range of people<br />

young, old, fit, <strong>no</strong>t so fit,<br />

and they’ve all taken up the<br />

challenge, working towards<br />

the same goal – to walk 1000<br />

miles. I find that incredibly<br />

encouraging to be a part of.<br />

Simon Bullough<br />

BEFORE<br />

AFTER<br />

‘People don’t<br />

recognise me’<br />

In 2016 I realised how unfit<br />

I had become over the years,<br />

so I decided to start a diet and<br />

#walk1000miles. One year<br />

on I’ve lost 11.5 stone, walked<br />

hundreds of miles in the hills,<br />

got to 15 miles a day when<br />

walking, and am at my target<br />

weight. People don’t recognise<br />

me! I’m in 36 inch waist<br />

trousers <strong>no</strong>w, I was 48 inch<br />

waist! Last time I was this waist<br />

size and weight was 40 years<br />

ago! I feel so good, fit and<br />

filled with energy. I feel I can<br />

overcome hurdles and am<br />

looking to the next challenge.<br />

Happy, proud, energetic and<br />

loving being outdoors –<br />

I feel I have got a life!<br />

Doug Stewart<br />

16<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR HEALTH<br />

‘8 stone lighter<br />

in 11 months’<br />

BEFORE<br />

AFTER<br />

All that weight gone and my knees and ankles<br />

are so much better too. I rarely get a cold <strong>no</strong>w<br />

and I can’t remember the last time I had an<br />

asthma attack. Walking has turned my life<br />

around. My wife said to me it was nice to be<br />

able to get her arms around me again. This<br />

summer we celebrated our 40th wedding<br />

anniversary walking in S<strong>no</strong>wdonia. Just got in<br />

from my morning 3 miles around the village<br />

on a gorgeous November day. I clocked up<br />

some of my miles walking up mountains in<br />

New Zealand and best of all saved £2000<br />

on the flights because my backside fitted<br />

in eco<strong>no</strong>my seats this time!<br />

David Smith<br />

‘No cold for<br />

18 months’<br />

I’ve walked up to 18 miles<br />

on my own in places<br />

I have never been before...<br />

(wearing leggings)<br />

I would never have had<br />

the courage to do that<br />

before for fear of getting<br />

lost and people laughing<br />

at me behind my back.<br />

I couldn’t give a monkey’s<br />

<strong>no</strong>w... and I haven’t had<br />

a cold for 18 months!<br />

Ruth Harland<br />

‘You saved me’<br />

Before this challenge I was<br />

diag<strong>no</strong>sed with benign<br />

intercranial hypertension and<br />

I had to have lumbar punctures<br />

every six weeks – sometimes<br />

really painful – and I would get<br />

really bad migraines that would<br />

make me want to sleep for days.<br />

Six months into the challenge<br />

I went to see my neurologist and everything was back to <strong>no</strong>rmal<br />

and I didn’t need lumbar punctures anymore! My neurologist was<br />

amazed! Thank you from the bottom of my heart – you saved me.<br />

Kate Hawkins<br />

‘So much<br />

easier’<br />

I took it slowly at the start,<br />

and have gone on in leaps<br />

and bounds since. Now I’m<br />

16lb lighter, and with more<br />

muscle tone. Walking is so<br />

much easier, <strong>no</strong>w I’m looking<br />

at walking holidays overseas.<br />

I will <strong>no</strong>t be stopping this<br />

challenge.<br />

Guy Brindle<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

17


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

BEFORE<br />

AFTER<br />

‘All better!’<br />

After years of liver problems<br />

I had a life-saving transplant<br />

– two in fact after the first<br />

one failed. While being<br />

pushed around the hospital<br />

in a wheelchair and<br />

watching everyone else<br />

I remember thinking I would<br />

never be able to just wander<br />

around again. Then in<br />

January I came across<br />

#walk1000miles and<br />

decided to try to do it to<br />

raise money for the hospital.<br />

I’ve been on so many lovely<br />

walks and it’s helped me<br />

stay well in body and mind.<br />

Here I am on my final step!<br />

Val Pinfold<br />

BEFORE AFTER<br />

‘Not looking<br />

too bad for 51<br />

I reckon!’<br />

So this is what walking all<br />

this distance does, gone<br />

from 38 inch jeans to 32 inch,<br />

XXXL to XL and I fit in the local<br />

Wetherspoons’ mirror – <strong>no</strong>t<br />

looking too bad for 51, I reckon!<br />

Jeff Hopkins<br />

‘Back from the brink’<br />

I began #walk1000miles on Jan 1st and by 30th of July I’d<br />

walked 1196 miles. That’s a significant day for me because<br />

on July 30th, 2016, I suffered a cardiac arrest whilst walking<br />

along Ormskirk Road in Liverpool. My heart stopped for 11<br />

minutes, and it was only thanks to lovely passers-by and a<br />

nearby defibrillator it got started again. I was six days in<br />

a coma and three weeks in hospital. Now look at me!<br />

Robby Eaves<br />

18<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


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✔FOR HEALTH<br />

This is your body on<br />

SPEND AROUND AN hour a day walking<br />

and <strong>no</strong>t only will you hit 1000 miles in<br />

12 months, you’ll be performing the<br />

most incredible service and tune-up<br />

on your body and mind...<br />

AGING IS OPTIONAL<br />

Walking prevents muscle wastage,<br />

triggers cells’ anti-aging processes<br />

and helps repair DNA. It also wards<br />

against brain shrinkage and<br />

increases memory, creativity,<br />

reasoning and sociability.<br />

BREATHE EASY<br />

An hour’s walk a day can reverse<br />

thirty years’ gradual aerobic<br />

capacity decline, according to a<br />

US study which saw 50-year-old<br />

subjects regain the lungs of<br />

their 20-year-old selves.<br />

LEAN MACHINE<br />

Insulin allows your body to<br />

absorb the energy in food –<br />

but it also encourages fat<br />

storage. Walking causes<br />

insulin levels to drop, but<br />

increases your muscles’<br />

sensitivity to it. That means you<br />

burn energy more efficiently and fat<br />

more readily – cutting your risk of<br />

obesity in half and developing Type<br />

2 diabetes by 60% on the way.<br />

BUILT TO WALK<br />

The fact we put our heels<br />

down first when we step is an<br />

evolutionary advantage that<br />

conserves 53% more energy<br />

per stride than running, the<br />

University of Utah found:<br />

“We consume more energy<br />

to run than the typical<br />

mammal our size. But<br />

we are exceptionally<br />

eco<strong>no</strong>mical walkers.”<br />

FINISHED<br />

YOUR<br />

WALK?<br />

Your body’s elevated<br />

calorie-burning<br />

continues for an hour<br />

even after you<br />

stop.<br />

HIGH ON LIFE<br />

Walking boosts circulation, triggers<br />

endorphins, decreases stress hormones<br />

and increases oxygen <strong>supp</strong>ly to every cell<br />

in your body. A meta-study of research<br />

into the field concluded walking has an<br />

effect on the symptoms of depression<br />

– at least as effective as medication.<br />

BULLETPROOF<br />

Walking is more than twice as effective<br />

as running at fighting off heart disease,<br />

and an hour a day cuts your risk of<br />

heart attack in your 50s and 60s in<br />

half; a 30-minute walk a day cuts<br />

the risk of stroke by a third.<br />

CANCER<br />

FIGHTER<br />

10,000 cases a year of<br />

breast- and bowel cancer<br />

are preventable by an hour<br />

on foot a day, according to research.<br />

Macmillan says for those suffering the<br />

most common types of cancer it can<br />

cut the risk of death 40%-50%.<br />

BONES OF IRON<br />

All exercise is good for the<br />

spine, but unlike aerobics or<br />

gym work, studies have found<br />

walking boosts bone density in<br />

spine and pelvis – reducing the<br />

chances of hip fracture by 40%.<br />

FRICTION FREE<br />

Regular walking increases<br />

levels of ‘sy<strong>no</strong>vial fluid’ in<br />

your joints – a lubricant<br />

supercharged with antiinflammatory<br />

compounds.<br />

20 WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

SOURCES: University of Sydney; American Cancer Society; American College of Rheumatology;<br />

University of Edinburgh; Journal of Integrative Medicine; The Stroke Association, Lawrence Berkeley<br />

National Laboratory in California, University of Texas, World Cancer Research Fund, University of Utah.


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#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For happiness<br />

Peace of mind, positivity, a better perspective<br />

– a little walking goes a very long way.<br />

‘I don’t worry about<br />

the little things<br />

anymore’<br />

Sandra Wilkins<br />

‘I’ve<br />

grown in<br />

confidence<br />

with each<br />

mile.’<br />

Ann Bolton<br />

‘Gave<br />

me the<br />

inspiration<br />

and<br />

<strong>supp</strong>ort<br />

to get out and<br />

enjoy life again!’<br />

Emma Nelson<br />

I feel<br />

stronger<br />

physically<br />

and<br />

mentally.<br />

The stresses of life<br />

quite literally get<br />

blown away.’<br />

Lara Wilkes<br />

22<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


‘I’ve got a new<br />

superpower:<br />

the ability to<br />

trounce bad<br />

moods’<br />

Liz Reeves<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

23


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

VERY INSPIRING PERSON: FRANCIS LAWLER<br />

‘I found I was getting happier<br />

and more determined<br />

every time I came back’<br />

Stabbed in the stomach, beaten and left for dead by attackers<br />

on New Year’s Eve 1998, 48-year-old Francis Lawler has<br />

struggled with anxiety and fear of the dark ever since.<br />

Above: Walking’s power to take<br />

a pumice stone to problems is<br />

one its most remarkable features.<br />

I<br />

’M ORIGINALLY FROM<br />

County Durham where<br />

I grew up in foster care<br />

with my twin brother Patrick.<br />

I moved to Cambridge when<br />

I was 18, and it was there I was<br />

attacked as I walked back from<br />

the pub in the early hours of<br />

1999. It led to major surgery<br />

and a long stay in hospital<br />

– I was very lucky to survive.<br />

I’ve recovered well on the<br />

physical side and today I work<br />

as a <strong>supp</strong>ort worker in a day<br />

centre caring for people with<br />

learning disabilities. But the<br />

attack left me scarred mentally.<br />

For 18 years I’ve been scared of<br />

walking in the dark and being<br />

in quiet places on my own.<br />

It meant I wouldn’t go out<br />

much in winter, and if I did, it<br />

was always in company. I was<br />

overweight, fearful and down.<br />

I started my #walk1000miles<br />

challenge on January the 1st<br />

2017 after seeing the magazine<br />

because I was determined<br />

to finally face these anxieties<br />

head on. I knew it really would<br />

be a challenge <strong>no</strong>t only<br />

because I’d have to balance<br />

working life, children and<br />

“Every day it pushed<br />

me to get out of the<br />

house and even<br />

when I could feel<br />

my fears rising,<br />

overcoming them<br />

made me more and<br />

more positive.”<br />

also <strong>supp</strong>orting a disabled<br />

wife at home, but I’d have to<br />

walk on my own in the dusk<br />

and the dark.<br />

At first my family wondered<br />

what on Earth I was thinking.<br />

But as time went by they got<br />

used to me saying “I’m off out<br />

for a walk” – and I found I was<br />

getting happier and more<br />

determined every time I came<br />

back. It was just so satisfying<br />

making progress. By the end<br />

everyone was willing me to<br />

succeed – it felt like a team<br />

effort and we felt stronger<br />

and more loving.<br />

Pretty soon I was walking<br />

distances I never thought<br />

24<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR HAPPINESS<br />

Main image:<br />

Francis meets his<br />

first ever pair of<br />

walking boots!<br />

Inset left: Chilled<br />

and centred in<br />

the woods or the<br />

on the streetlit<br />

pavements.<br />

I would ever do, and seeing<br />

places I never would have seen.<br />

I was losing weight, seeing<br />

beautiful things, nature and<br />

animals, and I was meeting<br />

fellow walkers too – in the real<br />

world and in the wonderful<br />

#walk1000miles Facebook<br />

group. Every day it pushed<br />

me to get out of the house and<br />

even when I could feel my fears<br />

rising, overcoming them made<br />

me more and more positive.<br />

I reached my thousand in<br />

November a fitter, lighter,<br />

happier, calmer, more fearless<br />

person – more grateful for<br />

what I have in life.<br />

I walk in the dark often <strong>no</strong>w.<br />

I love walking alongside the<br />

river and through wild woods<br />

with lots of flowers. I love<br />

seeing new places and<br />

listening to the birds – or my<br />

favourite albums. My next<br />

walking goal is to walk the<br />

Peddars Way and the Norfolk<br />

coastal path of 97 miles in<br />

<strong>2018</strong> – and to complete the<br />

#walk1000 miles challenge<br />

again. I’m looking to better<br />

myself in life <strong>no</strong>w the challenge<br />

has made me realise there are<br />

big things to work towards<br />

which I can accomplish.<br />

Staying strong in body and<br />

mind can help you deal with<br />

so much. The challenge has<br />

helped me develop both. I’ve<br />

been tired at times. I’ve felt<br />

scared at times. But to push<br />

on through and get to the<br />

other side feeling stronger<br />

is just an incredible feeling.<br />

Above: Son Danny also took up<br />

the challenge this year.<br />

Above: The satisfying sight of<br />

ink on progress tracker chart.<br />

There’s <strong>no</strong>thing like it!<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

25


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

HAPPINESS: CASE STUDIES<br />

‘I feel like a lion’<br />

I remember this day last year<br />

so well. I was feeling down,<br />

so very down. Overweight<br />

and extremely unhappy in<br />

my job. It was a vicious circle,<br />

the more panic attacks I had<br />

about going into a job,<br />

where I was being bullied<br />

the more I ate. The more<br />

I ate, the bigger I got, the<br />

more I was bullied and felt<br />

powerless. Depression<br />

had me firmly in its grip.<br />

Then I picked up a copy<br />

of Country Walking for the<br />

first time, and I saw the<br />

#walk1000miles challenge<br />

and though “I like walking,<br />

right? Imagine how I’d feel<br />

doing that? Could I do it?”<br />

Fast forward a year, and<br />

I still need to lose some<br />

weight but I’m fit, I tackled<br />

my workplace bully and<br />

applied for and got a job<br />

in a profession I’ve always<br />

dreamed of. I feel like a lion!<br />

I’ve climbed a Munro,<br />

I shared in people’s trials and<br />

tribulations in the challenge<br />

community. I’ve walked in<br />

rain... gales... sleet and s<strong>no</strong>w.<br />

I’ve cried as I felt my legs<br />

wouldn’t go any further,<br />

and I’ve walked 1000 miles!<br />

I’ve learnt so much about<br />

ME this year and I’m <strong>no</strong>t<br />

all bad. Quite a change<br />

in a year I would say!<br />

Tizzy Harris<br />

‘I’m <strong>no</strong>w<br />

k<strong>no</strong>wn as<br />

cheerful’<br />

I have to say I feel amazing!<br />

Since doing this challenge, my<br />

whole outlook has been brighter<br />

and people have commented on<br />

how well I am looking and how<br />

cheerful I have become recently!<br />

It has changed me for the better<br />

and in turn, I’m passing my<br />

positivity on to others.<br />

Cathy Rees Fraser<br />

‘Big change<br />

in mood’<br />

The biggest<br />

change<br />

is in my<br />

mood.<br />

Hormones<br />

mean I<br />

have terrible<br />

mood swings,<br />

but walking evens them<br />

out. I <strong>no</strong>w get grumpy,<br />

snippety and down when<br />

I DON’T walk. It really has<br />

improved my everyday<br />

quality of life.<br />

Anwen Evans<br />

26<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR HAPPINESS<br />

‘Can’t believe<br />

I’ve done it’<br />

‘Overwhelmingly happy’<br />

I wasn’t prepared for my reaction to completing the<br />

challenge: I feel quite overwhelmingly happy. This challenge<br />

has really helped me deal with a whole load of stuff this year<br />

and has given me back my confidence in who I really am.<br />

Walking is healing, walking is blessing, walking is LIVING!<br />

Louise Prideaux<br />

I have suffered with<br />

agoraphobia for years,<br />

collapsing even if I went out the<br />

front door, but this challenge<br />

and all the lovely people in<br />

it have inspired me so much<br />

I love to walk <strong>no</strong>w whenever<br />

I get the chance. I was so<br />

pleased to get my medal<br />

– I can’t believe I’ve done it!<br />

Christine Gash<br />

‘Transformational<br />

and I’ve loved it’<br />

I spend the majority of my time outdoors<br />

these days – I have finally at the age of 64 found<br />

myself, grown in confidence and finally have a<br />

sense of self worth, which I have been chasing all my life. I’ve <strong>no</strong>t<br />

travelled far as most of my walks are along the canal close to where<br />

I grew up, but I have seen the turn of the year through the birds,<br />

ducks and insects, I am fitter and happier than I have ever been<br />

and have lost a bit of weight and found purpose, something<br />

that has been missing until <strong>no</strong>w. The journey has been<br />

transformational and I have loved every step.<br />

Jeanette Scott-McDonald<br />

‘Never going back’<br />

This challenge has given me the courage and positive<br />

attitude to have a go! I <strong>no</strong>w can say I have claimed S<strong>no</strong>wdon<br />

and completed the Three Peaks and have others penciled in<br />

for the future. I have gained a most fantastic walking family<br />

and have had the pleasure of meeting a<strong>no</strong>ther badger who<br />

is <strong>no</strong>w a good friend. Without this challenge I would still<br />

be at home on the sofa... I’m never going back to that.<br />

So all in all, a huge thank you.<br />

Denise Moulson<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

27


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

‘Happier<br />

and<br />

healthier’<br />

I’m healthier and<br />

happier since January<br />

1st and I just wish<br />

I had this insight<br />

before. It’s so simple<br />

to turn it all around by<br />

simply putting one<br />

foot in front of the<br />

other. Having the<br />

encouragement<br />

and <strong>supp</strong>ort from<br />

everyone on #walk1000miles has been such a positive thing<br />

for me as they too understand my passion.<br />

Sally Tronina<br />

‘My best<br />

walking year<br />

so far’<br />

The #walk1000miles challenge<br />

brought daily activity into<br />

my life and I’ve been out and<br />

about every single weekend<br />

of this year. I feel so much<br />

fitter, I’m happier and I’ve<br />

learned to cope with the<br />

mental stress of my job. And<br />

<strong>no</strong>t to forget the wonderful<br />

people I met in this group:<br />

friendly, encouraging and<br />

<strong>supp</strong>ortive. I wouldn’t<br />

want to have missed this<br />

experience. Thank you!<br />

Nancy Herter<br />

28<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For families<br />

On foot you see the best of the world and best of each<br />

other – and with the shared purpose of #walk1000miles<br />

it’s Baby Bio for families of all ages and stages.<br />

30<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


‘I feel happiest<br />

when I’m out<br />

walking with my<br />

family, <strong>no</strong>t on<br />

the sofa! Best<br />

challenge I’ve<br />

ever done’<br />

Clair Maskell<br />

Most days I<br />

walk with my<br />

wife and our<br />

relationship<br />

has got much<br />

closer as we spend our<br />

(<strong>no</strong>n distracted) time<br />

together. Jim Freer<br />

The real success<br />

this year was<br />

inspiring my<br />

previously<br />

‘walking allergic’<br />

daughter to come along on the<br />

odd stroll for a mile or 8! Just an<br />

hour ago, she asked me if I could<br />

buy her walking boots for<br />

Christmas! Karen Hayes<br />

We’ve had<br />

an amazing<br />

year of<br />

walking<br />

with Emma.<br />

She loves her walks, and it’s<br />

a great way for us to spend<br />

time together as a family.<br />

Lisa Cadwallader<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

31


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

VERY INSPIRING PERSON: JENNY MARSHALL<br />

‘Walking has<br />

helped in so<br />

many ways’<br />

How #walk1000miles rebuilt<br />

Jenny Marshall’s relationship<br />

with her mum – after 16 years of silence.<br />

Back on track with mum and<br />

taking selfies with her too.<br />

Things Jenny thought she’d<br />

never be doing 1 and 2.<br />

M<br />

Y NAME IS JENNY<br />

– nickname Elvis.<br />

I’m 41, married for<br />

21 years in February, with<br />

two children. Amy who is 11<br />

and Lewis who is 17. I was<br />

introduced to the challenge<br />

by my Aunty Sue, who told<br />

me about the Facebook group.<br />

It came at a time when I was<br />

lost, my fitness had dropped<br />

off and I needed to find myself.<br />

I needed a challenge that<br />

would kickstart my life again.<br />

The relationship I had with<br />

my mum had been <strong>no</strong>n-existent<br />

for over 16 years. A fall-out in<br />

the late 1990s had resulted<br />

in all contact being stopped.<br />

My wedding, the birth of my<br />

children – I made sure she<br />

wasn’t a part of any of it.<br />

But <strong>no</strong>w my own kids were<br />

slightly older I thought, what if?<br />

I remember going over in my<br />

head a way to make contact<br />

with Jan. Then I thought, why<br />

<strong>no</strong>t ask her if she wanted to<br />

go for a walk?<br />

It happened very slowly.<br />

We had <strong>no</strong>thing in common to<br />

begin with, and I didn’t want<br />

to get my family involved until<br />

I knew that <strong>no</strong> one was going<br />

to get hurt. But walking soon<br />

became that common interest,<br />

and being outdoors gives you<br />

something positive to think<br />

about rather than your<br />

problems. Walking has helped<br />

in so many ways. Not only with<br />

fitness and mental well being,<br />

but helping to mend our<br />

relationship.<br />

Mum and I have been to<br />

lots of new place this past<br />

year, both together and apart,<br />

making new, happy memories.<br />

I’ve taken control of my own<br />

issues, and mum has faced and<br />

32<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR FAMILIES<br />

Above and right: Troops<br />

mobilised! The challenge has<br />

brought Jenny through a dark<br />

patch and her family together.<br />

overcome some challenges<br />

I never thought possible for her.<br />

Like climbing Pen y Fan ªin the<br />

Brecon Beacons in South Wales<br />

– the highest place in southern<br />

Britain) with a dodgy heart,<br />

with my Aunty Sue, who’s<br />

unwell also. I am so proud of<br />

her for that. Which is something<br />

I wouldn’t have said years ago!<br />

How has walking gone down<br />

with my own family? Well,<br />

teenage boys will only come<br />

out if food is on the cards, but<br />

Lewis is getting better at<br />

spending time with us oldies.<br />

My daughter likes the walks<br />

we do. I tend to make a spot<br />

it game, which keeps her<br />

focused, and I get to teach her<br />

things without her realising!<br />

Or she map reads, which<br />

on occasion has led to a few<br />

wrong turns, but it’s all part of<br />

the fun. Hubby Dave is usually<br />

“Walking soon<br />

became that<br />

common interest,<br />

and being outdoors<br />

gives you something<br />

positive to think<br />

about rather than<br />

your problems.”<br />

lurking somewhere in the<br />

background, itching to routemarch,<br />

while I make videos,<br />

or take pictures of fungus.<br />

I’ve had so many memorable<br />

moments this year. Losing my<br />

shoe in the mud after a detour<br />

went wrong. Seeing strangers<br />

reactions to my outburst of<br />

reaching a walking milestone,<br />

which usually ends up in me<br />

telling everyone about the<br />

#walk1000miles challenge.<br />

Tense face-offs with farm<br />

animals. But one of the best<br />

memories is watching mum and<br />

my daughter, holding hands,<br />

walking in front of me talking<br />

away without a care in the<br />

world. It’s something I never<br />

thought would happen.<br />

The future for me <strong>no</strong>w is<br />

onwards and upwards. For<br />

mum and I, keep building our<br />

relationship, and discover new<br />

places and walks. Because<br />

I <strong>no</strong>w realise while you can’t<br />

change the past, you can move<br />

forward and change the future.<br />

For me, maybe a mountain or<br />

two if my nerves will allow.<br />

And of course a<strong>no</strong>ther year<br />

of #walk1000miles, the<br />

challenge that saved me from<br />

a dark patch and brought<br />

together my family.<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

33


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

FAMILY: CASE STUDIES<br />

So many memories<br />

to cherish’<br />

In 2012 my partner had an<br />

accident at work and was off<br />

for 9 months. As part of his<br />

recovery we started to take<br />

our girls for a walk around<br />

parks most weekends. After<br />

a few weeks we went a bit<br />

further and started to buy<br />

walking clothing and boots.<br />

A year on, my partner’s<br />

sister joined us with her<br />

partner and their daughter<br />

A few months on and we<br />

were venturing out to the<br />

Peak District. One of our first<br />

walks there was Dovedale.<br />

A holiday to the Lake<br />

District for a week came<br />

next, with one aim – to climb<br />

Scafell Pike! At the time my<br />

daughters were 11 & 8 and my<br />

niece had just turned 4 so it<br />

took us a while but we got<br />

there on our own feet and felt<br />

a great sense of achievement.<br />

It’s become a staple of our<br />

week – all meeting up and<br />

going out for a walk, it’s our<br />

chance to relax, see each<br />

other and for my girls to<br />

spend time with their cousin.<br />

Our girls have got so<br />

many memories to cherish<br />

when they’re older. Every<br />

time we walk, something<br />

funny happens or one of the<br />

girls say something funny. It<br />

doesn’t matter what house<br />

you live in or what car you<br />

drive, spending time with<br />

your family is priceless.<br />

My eldest sometimes<br />

moans when we walk and it<br />

takes a while for her to get<br />

out of bed but once we’re<br />

out and walking she’s fine.<br />

And I don’t k<strong>no</strong>w what I’d<br />

do without my weekly<br />

walks in the Peak District.<br />

Emmi Lou<br />

‘I’ve got hikers<br />

on my hands!’<br />

I’ve got a budding hiker on my<br />

hands thanks to this challenge.<br />

Every weekend my 3-year-old<br />

asks to go walking in the hills<br />

even when it’s raining. It also<br />

helped us to bond with our<br />

rescue dog who wasn’t used to<br />

walking and was a little tubby.<br />

We’re all fitter and trimmer <strong>no</strong>w<br />

Claire Mct<br />

‘Out and talking!’<br />

I’ve got three children<br />

(12, 12 and 14) – they love<br />

their phones and games<br />

and football, so it’s lovely<br />

to get them out and<br />

watch them talking<br />

to each other!<br />

Helen Chambers<br />

34<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR FAMILIES<br />

‘Special<br />

times’<br />

I’ve had some<br />

really special times<br />

this year getting<br />

out walking with<br />

my daughter Ivy. I was always a rubbish walker when I was<br />

her age but with her long legs and boundless energy we’ve<br />

had some great walks! As we live in London, I try to take<br />

her out to experience beautiful countryside as often as<br />

possible. It’s so important to instil a love and joy of nature<br />

in children and I think her face captures that so well! Next<br />

year she might be signing up for 500 miles!<br />

Lizzie Huckle<br />

‘Totally bowled over’<br />

I’ve been bowled over by my<br />

3- and 6-year-olds and how far<br />

they’ve walked with me! Here<br />

they are at Gordale Scar a few<br />

weeks ago – they did nearly<br />

6 miles Just deciding which<br />

Lakeland Fell we should do this<br />

Christmas! P.S. Crisps are the<br />

key to keeping my two going.<br />

Lizzie Hughes<br />

‘Granddaughter<br />

on the go’<br />

My 7-year-old granddaughter<br />

walks everywhere on a daily<br />

basis, but she really wanted to<br />

climb mountains with us. Last<br />

year we took her to the Peak<br />

District where she climbed<br />

Win Hill and revelled in the<br />

360 degree views. This year<br />

we walked on The Roaches,<br />

and next year we’re taking her<br />

to the Lake District. She looked<br />

at my 1000 mile badge and<br />

an<strong>no</strong>unced that she’d really<br />

like to walk 1000 miles. I’m<br />

quite sure she will. Anne Doyle<br />

‘My boys have been with me on<br />

my challenge from the beginning’<br />

Not only have they completed the challenge but brought their<br />

friends along too. My eldest <strong>no</strong>w faces his own walking challenge<br />

by taking part in his first DofE next year, which I’m sure he and all<br />

his friends will smash #walk1000miles #familytime Sally Davies<br />

‘My inspiration’<br />

Even though he has being<br />

receiving chemo, Darren‘s come<br />

with me on some of my walks.<br />

We got a campervan this year<br />

so have walked and seen lots of<br />

different areas of the UK. He is<br />

my inspiration! Tracey Parnell<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

35


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For adventure<br />

Your feet can take you to places <strong>no</strong> luxury car<br />

or private jet can – the wonders start <strong>no</strong>t far<br />

from your door, and they never stop.<br />

‘I’ve<br />

discovered<br />

wonderful<br />

new places<br />

I would<br />

have never<br />

come across I’ll return to<br />

again and again’<br />

Tracey Stansfield<br />

‘Found the mag<br />

on the train<br />

in February,<br />

ended up on<br />

the summit<br />

of Toubkal in Morocco.<br />

If anyone had told me I’d<br />

do that at the start of this<br />

challenge I’d have laughed!’<br />

Karen Hegarty<br />

‘Climbed my first<br />

mountain and<br />

found out I’m more<br />

determined than I<br />

think! The amazing<br />

views are worth every step!<br />

What a fantastic world we live<br />

in and you should go explore<br />

it from the highest height!’<br />

Eve Smillie<br />

36<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


‘If it wasn’t for<br />

this challenge,<br />

I’d still be stuck<br />

behind a desk,<br />

bored stiff,<br />

getting even<br />

more unhealthy’<br />

Alan John Francis<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

37


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

I<br />

VERY INSPIRING PERSON: JAMES FORREST<br />

‘My last mountain was Scafell<br />

Pike and I miraculously had<br />

the summit to myself’<br />

Amazing 34-year-old Cockermouth writer James<br />

Forrest hit his 1000 miles in six months – taking<br />

in every mountain in England and Wales on the way.<br />

’D OWNED THE guidebooks<br />

to the 444 Nuttalls – hills<br />

in England and Wales over<br />

2000ft – for quite a few years,<br />

but only done a few of the<br />

walks. Then one day, the idea<br />

struck me of an intensive<br />

challenge to tick them all off<br />

in one summer – faster than<br />

anyone else had. My main aims<br />

were quite simple: to explore<br />

the wild landscapes of Britain I’d<br />

never been to before; to indulge<br />

in my love of the mountains;<br />

and to prove you can fit at least<br />

one crazy, epic adventure into<br />

your everyday life. The brilliant<br />

#walk1000miles community<br />

gave me the confidence to<br />

k<strong>no</strong>w I wasn’t alone in doing<br />

similar things.<br />

Above: 446 mountains in his<br />

wife’s old hiking boots!<br />

I became obsessed, a man<br />

on a mission that would take<br />

me 82 days of walking over<br />

a six-month period, meaning<br />

I spent virtually every spare<br />

day away from work climbing<br />

mountains. It was manic – but<br />

the adventure of a lifetime too.<br />

My longest day was summiting<br />

13 peaks in the Berwyn<br />

mountains in North Wales<br />

(I don’t k<strong>no</strong>w how I did this on<br />

the energy-sapping, heatherclad<br />

slopes of the Berwyns)<br />

and my toughest overall<br />

section was climbing 86 peaks<br />

in S<strong>no</strong>wdonia in a gruelling<br />

14-day hike in August.<br />

The one factor that helped<br />

me climb the mountains so<br />

quickly was wild camping.<br />

I often went out on mini<br />

expeditions for four, five or six<br />

days at a time, wild camping<br />

under the stars – a magical<br />

way to have a more intimate<br />

interaction with the mountains)<br />

and thus I avoided long walksout<br />

back to my car and I woke<br />

every morning in the midst of<br />

the action, ready to summit<br />

that next peak. I averaged<br />

approximately 13.5 miles per<br />

Above: The final summit<br />

– James completes his<br />

challenge on Scafell Pike.<br />

38<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR ADVENTURE<br />

Left: Sunset<br />

while wild<br />

camping at<br />

Dead Stones in<br />

the Northern<br />

Pennines.<br />

Below:<br />

A glorious<br />

evening on the<br />

Aran ridge in<br />

North Wales.<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

39


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

day, completing 82 full days<br />

of walking in the Lake District,<br />

Yorkshire Dales, Pennines,<br />

Northumberland, Peak District,<br />

S<strong>no</strong>wdonia, Central Wales,<br />

Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor.<br />

Along the way I’ve learnt that<br />

mountains are good for the<br />

soul. I love the freedom, the<br />

fresh air, the isolation, the<br />

unpredictability, the escapism.<br />

I always found that walking is<br />

life-affirming. Every walk was<br />

time well spent – time for<br />

solitude, self-reflection, for<br />

escapism and nature. Every<br />

step brought me boundless<br />

happiness. I’d encourage<br />

everyone to spend more time<br />

outdoors – you won’t regret it,<br />

“Edging along the<br />

exhilarating razorsharp<br />

ridge of Crib<br />

Goch on a perfect<br />

day in August…the<br />

most adventurous,<br />

adrenaline-fuelled<br />

climb of my<br />

entire challenge.<br />

and you CAN walk 1000 miles.<br />

It can seem a daunting<br />

challenge at the start, but in<br />

essence it is incredibly simple<br />

– keep putting one foot in<br />

front of the other and you’ll<br />

make it to the finish line.<br />

My last mountain was Scafell<br />

Pike and I miraculously had the<br />

summit to myself. I just enjoyed<br />

a quiet moment to think about<br />

the past six months. It was a<br />

real mix of emotions – relief,<br />

elation, excitement and<br />

gratitude; <strong>no</strong>t least to my<br />

wife Becky for understanding<br />

why I wanted to do it, and<br />

for powering me up those<br />

mountains with her delicious<br />

flapjacks. Mainly I thought<br />

about the good times and<br />

how thankful I was to have<br />

experienced the beauty,<br />

solitude and freedom<br />

of the mountains.<br />

JAMES’ STANDOUT MEMORIES<br />

Edging along the<br />

1 exhilarating razorsharp<br />

ridge of Crib Goch<br />

on a perfect day in August.<br />

The jelly-leg inducing<br />

scramble along the top<br />

was the most adventurous,<br />

adrenaline-fuelled climb<br />

of my entire challenge.<br />

Climbing Pillar Rock<br />

2 – the only Nuttall that is a<br />

rock climb, rather than a walk.<br />

The weather was atrocious<br />

and the climb on greasy<br />

rock was difficult. But it felt<br />

amazing to stand atop what<br />

Wainwright called “the most<br />

handsome crag in Lakeland.”<br />

Wild camping in the<br />

3 Aran mountains in<br />

Wales – the weather was<br />

beautiful and the tranquility<br />

was intoxicating. I ate dinner<br />

outside my tent watching<br />

a phe<strong>no</strong>menal sunset, and<br />

feeling so happy to be<br />

out in the mountains.<br />

40<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR ADVENTURE<br />

James’ pick of the peaks<br />

What are the three best hills<br />

someone starting walking in<br />

<strong>2018</strong> can look forward to?<br />

STEEPLE<br />

819M, LAKE DISTRICT<br />

Alfred Wainwright described<br />

the summit of Steeple as a<br />

“thrilling spot” where “one’s<br />

feet are on the ground but<br />

one’s eyes see as from a cloud<br />

in the heavens”. Surrounded by<br />

precipitous drops on all sides,<br />

this is my favourite viewpoint<br />

to gaze out over the beauty<br />

of Lakeland. I’m sure new<br />

walkers would love it.<br />

TRYFAN<br />

915M, SNOWDONIA<br />

I love dramatic mountains<br />

and you don’t get much<br />

more dramatic than Tryfan.<br />

It is a fine peak, blessed<br />

with crags, cliffs and epic<br />

scrambling opportunities.<br />

Surely a real treat for any<br />

newcomers to hiking. My<br />

only regret? Wimping out<br />

of the leap between the<br />

twin summit mo<strong>no</strong>liths<br />

of Adam and Eve, a jump<br />

that – as tradition dictates<br />

– grants you the freedom<br />

of Tryfan.<br />

RHINOG FACH<br />

712M, SNOWDONIA<br />

A rugged and remote peak<br />

where you’re more likely to<br />

see feral goats than fellow<br />

hikers. I felt like the only man<br />

on Earth hiking in this heatherclad,<br />

rocky wilderness. If new<br />

hikers want to get away from<br />

it all and experience a wilder<br />

Britain, this is a good choice.<br />

PHOTO: THE PHOTOLIBRARY<br />

WALES/ALAMY*<br />

Below: Standing atop<br />

Steeple in the Lake District.<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

41


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

The Jurassic Coast in Dorset, fabulous walking area!<br />

David Young<br />

Reading Country Walking got us to look further afield<br />

and took us to the Gower peninsular. What an<br />

amazing find! Sadie Griffiths<br />

My adventure<br />

Be it mighty trail or microadventure<br />

– here’s some of the<br />

new terrain #walk1000 miles led<br />

participants to discover in 2017<br />

A wood full of bluebells<br />

10 minutes’ walk from<br />

home. Cindy Rowlands<br />

Sheep’s creeps on The<br />

West Highland Way –<br />

never knew they existed!<br />

Aileen Candlish<br />

The beautiful Shetland<br />

Isles. Douglas Dingwall<br />

Dartmoor – driven past hundreds of times, finally<br />

stopped to walk! Michelle McDonald<br />

An old cemetery in<br />

a secret garden!<br />

Angela Barnes<br />

Yorkshire: being a southerner<br />

by birth it was a place I had only<br />

heard of prior to this challenge!<br />

They have big, bonkers people<br />

here. Maggi di Rozario<br />

Lapland – it was amazing! This<br />

is at full moon. Lorna Koskela<br />

The source of the Thames! I’ve<br />

lived near Oxford for years – <strong>no</strong>w<br />

walking different parts of the<br />

Thames Path in <strong>no</strong> particular<br />

order. Lisa Kinahan<br />

42<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR ADVENTURE<br />

I would never have even<br />

thought of walking up<br />

Mount Teide in Tenerife.<br />

Best/hardest hike of my<br />

life. Maddie Hewitt<br />

Amazing trail at Bryce<br />

Canyon in Utah. Just the<br />

most beautiful place<br />

I think I’ve ever seen.<br />

Feeling so lucky.<br />

Lois Love<br />

Hulne Park in Alnwick<br />

which has amazing<br />

views of the Cheviots<br />

and this incredible folly.<br />

Ruth Taylor<br />

I discovered that there are six hills over 2000ft<br />

in Wensleydale and decided to walk up them all<br />

this year as a mini challenge! All were fabulous<br />

adventures on my own, in remote parts of the dales.<br />

Several do <strong>no</strong>t have recognised routes to the summit<br />

and it was certainly an experience discovering<br />

the routes. Here is Hugh’s Seat summit near<br />

Mallerstang Edge. Jo Winship<br />

The Galloway Forest & Glen Trool – a hidden gem<br />

I’d spotted on a friend’s photos earlier in the year.<br />

So peaceful, and a Goshawk flew feet from my head<br />

through the trees across my path. John Spencer<br />

I’ve been doing a lot<br />

more local walks and<br />

‘just following my<br />

<strong>no</strong>se’ – it’s made me<br />

realise how much is<br />

out there that I never<br />

knew existed, right<br />

on my doorstep.<br />

Bob Brunt<br />

The Precipice Walk in S<strong>no</strong>wdonia which we would<br />

<strong>no</strong>t have k<strong>no</strong>wn about if it hadn’t been for this<br />

challenge and CW magazine, thank you all,<br />

it was amazing! Sue Meek<br />

Discovered the beautiful Inner Hebridean island of<br />

Islay by taking part in its Walking Festival... my first<br />

ever walking holiday inspired by the amazing<br />

Walk 1000 miles challenge. Shelagh Creegan<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

43


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For charity<br />

You soon discover the good<br />

walking 1000 miles does for you –<br />

but when it does good for others too,<br />

the feeling multiplies...<br />

‘Raised £1500<br />

and just feel<br />

doubly proud<br />

of myself’<br />

Clare Wilson<br />

‘It’s lovely<br />

to raise<br />

money for<br />

others<br />

while<br />

doing something<br />

you enjoy’<br />

Jacqui Piper<br />

‘A real<br />

sense of<br />

personal<br />

achievement<br />

and it has<br />

been a great focus<br />

to keep going’<br />

Pat Brunskill<br />

‘Given special<br />

meaning to every<br />

step of my journey’<br />

Kim Russell<br />

‘Excellent<br />

experience<br />

– kept me<br />

very<br />

motivated<br />

to complete this<br />

challenge’<br />

Peter Lovegrove<br />

44<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

45


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

CHARITY: CASE STUDIES<br />

‘Go great together’<br />

I did the Edinburgh Moon-<br />

Walk in 2017 (walkthewalk.<br />

org) and loved it! Cancer<br />

had turned my world upside<br />

down more times than<br />

I care to remember. The<br />

#walk1000miles challenge<br />

really helped with my<br />

training, pushing me to want<br />

to walk in the colder<br />

weather rather than hide<br />

indoors. This year I’m doing<br />

both again but I intend to<br />

push myself harder and<br />

beats this year’s miles!<br />

Both such great ways of<br />

getting bums off seats!<br />

Kat Paterson<br />

‘I’ve had<br />

a blast’<br />

As a doctor in the UK I have<br />

all the resources I need. The<br />

situation for millions of people<br />

throughout the world is very<br />

different. I am particularly<br />

inspired to help those in the<br />

most extreme situations. In my<br />

practice seriously ill or injured<br />

patients have a greater chance<br />

of surviving than a woman<br />

giving birth in the Congo.<br />

Medicins Sans Frontieres<br />

brings medical care in extreme<br />

situations. If we don’t care for<br />

the victims of violence, war,<br />

famine and natural disasters<br />

who will?<br />

I’ve had a blast. Every time<br />

I thought it’s too hot/cold/wet<br />

to walk I reminded myself why<br />

I was doing it. That said I’ve<br />

become addicted to going for<br />

a walk for my own sake – it’s so<br />

restorative. I <strong>no</strong>w recommend<br />

it to many of my patients. The<br />

benefits of this free activity<br />

could save the NHS a fortune!<br />

It’s a shame Country Walking<br />

isn’t available on prescription!’<br />

Karen Hegarty<br />

46<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR CHARITY<br />

‘Walking on<br />

a new<br />

scale’<br />

I was sponsored<br />

for my 1000<br />

miles to raise<br />

money for the Oli Mills<br />

Foundation (connected to<br />

Teenage Cancer Trust).<br />

I’ve raised over £1700! I’ve<br />

<strong>supp</strong>orted them for years<br />

in memory of my son.<br />

They are an amazing<br />

charity and I feel<br />

ho<strong>no</strong>ured and grateful<br />

that I am able to do this.<br />

It’s important to fundraise<br />

doing something that you<br />

will enjoy as well. I’ve<br />

always loved walking but<br />

have never done it on this<br />

scale! It’s been more fun<br />

than a fundraising tea<br />

party... and healthier!<br />

Sarah Tight<br />

‘Easy thanks<br />

to #walk<br />

1000miles’<br />

I did a sponsored climb of<br />

S<strong>no</strong>wdon for Parkinson’s<br />

with my son Caleb. We<br />

wanted to do it because<br />

a family member was<br />

suffering from the disease. We raised £750 and thanks to<br />

doing #walk1000miles, we both did the climb pretty easily!<br />

Alan John Francis<br />

‘Words can’t describe’<br />

I did the Alzheimer’s Society, Cotswold Way<br />

Ultrachallenge as part of my 1000 miles<br />

because my grandad suffered with dementia.<br />

Sadly I had to withdraw after 65km of the<br />

100km due to injury. But I raised £830 and words<br />

can<strong>no</strong>t describe how happy I am that I am able to help<br />

others by doing these sort of challenges. I really<br />

recommend the feeling!<br />

Melanie McCourt.<br />

‘I remind myself why I am doing it’<br />

It is 30 years this year since my Aunt passed<br />

away at St John’s. I was only 13 when she died<br />

but we were incredibly close – I still miss her<br />

<strong>no</strong>w! I’ve raised money for St John’s previously<br />

when I decided to sign up for #walk1000miles<br />

I saw it as the perfect<br />

opportunity. Signing up to<br />

the challenge came first; I<br />

considered the fundraising to<br />

be an additional opportunity/<br />

bonus. It makes me feel<br />

happy and proud that the<br />

money I raise will make a<br />

difference, and I think my Aunt<br />

would be proud of me too.<br />

When I’ve had days where I’ve<br />

felt a little tired or out of sorts,<br />

I’ve reminded myself why I’m doing it, and how<br />

<strong>no</strong>thing I feel can ever remotely compare with<br />

what the people who need St John’s are going<br />

through. That thought has really spurred me<br />

on. I’ve had my own dedicated Facebook page<br />

for the #walk1000miles<br />

challenge and have given my<br />

followers daily updates and<br />

photos of my walks. I’ve also<br />

‘featured’ on St John’s<br />

Hospice’s Facebook page<br />

a few times. It’s important<br />

to give regular updates so<br />

people don’t forget about<br />

what you’re doing and<br />

why you’re doing it.<br />

Sara-Jane Davies<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

47


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Regular posting of<br />

my walks on FB and<br />

some badgering to<br />

part with their money<br />

has done wonders.<br />

Stephen Cheeseman,<br />

raised £1227 for the<br />

Christie Cancer<br />

Treatment Centre<br />

in Manchester<br />

I’ve learned that people<br />

will <strong>supp</strong>ort you in what<br />

ever you decide to do as<br />

long as it is for a good<br />

cause and they can see<br />

that you are committed to<br />

completing the challenge.<br />

Andrea Lewis, raised<br />

£275 for the Animal<br />

Health Trust<br />

Your fundraising tips<br />

You’ve climbed your first mountain, you’ve<br />

accrued pennies-per-mile, you’ve done<br />

challenges within the challenge: but what<br />

have you learned about getting the most<br />

money for good causes from your miles?<br />

Keep at it,<br />

don’t give up,<br />

people can be<br />

very generous<br />

when they<br />

hear the<br />

reason for<br />

you doing<br />

what you do.<br />

Amy Gill,<br />

raised £1300<br />

for Macmillan<br />

Get out there<br />

and tell as<br />

many people<br />

as possible<br />

what you are<br />

doing. Go<br />

round<br />

businesses,<br />

local shops etc, and ask your<br />

employer to match your donation.<br />

Jane Senior, raised £1009<br />

for Macmillan<br />

Be organised<br />

and don’t try<br />

to raise an<br />

e<strong>no</strong>rmous<br />

amount.<br />

Every bit<br />

helps and<br />

raising funds<br />

of any<br />

amount is a success.<br />

Beccy Hammond, raised £300<br />

for British Heart Foundation<br />

I had a pot<br />

and just asked<br />

friends and<br />

family to<br />

donate. Felt<br />

it was easier<br />

for people to<br />

make small<br />

donations.<br />

Carin Fearnley,<br />

raised £700<br />

for Bloodwise<br />

Do something really tricky and<br />

challenging, people are very<br />

kind and generous. Oh and<br />

then do something involving<br />

cake, people love to buy and<br />

eat cake! Louise Hill, raised<br />

£800 for Macmillan<br />

Use social media to spread the<br />

word. I had donations from<br />

Facebook friends in Canada<br />

which I wouldn’t otherwise<br />

have managed to get.<br />

Meg Vickers, raised £530<br />

for HospiceCare North<br />

Northumberland<br />

Post lots of photos and keep<br />

giving people the link to the<br />

JustGiving page, they loved<br />

to see my progress. It amazes<br />

me just how generous people<br />

are and also, sadly, how many<br />

people have loved ones who are<br />

suffering with Alzheimer’s too.<br />

Gina Crees, raised £730 for<br />

the Alzheimer’s Society<br />

48<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


Saturday night 12th May Clapham Common<br />

WANTED<br />

ALL COWBOYS and COWGIRLS to SADDLE UP<br />

and join the MOONWALK RODEO...<br />

SIGN UP<br />

NOW!<br />

REWARD: £6 MILLION<br />

For vital breast cancer causes. Sign up for the MoonWalk, Volunteer or simply<br />

make a donation... Walking the Walk saves lives – be a part of a healthier future!<br />

walkthewalk.org<br />

Charity No SC029572<br />

Patron HRH The Prince of Wales<br />

Official media partner of Walk the Walk


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

For fun!<br />

S<strong>no</strong>wballs, pratfalls, <strong>no</strong>sey sheep,<br />

whiffy feet; new friends, old jokes<br />

and that giggle you get when you’re<br />

tired... you’re going to enjoy this....<br />

50<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


Laughter,<br />

friendship<br />

and fun –<br />

sums it up!<br />

Zoe Beresford<br />

‘Whether it’s<br />

celebrating or<br />

<strong>supp</strong>orting, helping<br />

or just having a<br />

laugh, the Facebook<br />

group is the best.’<br />

Delma Bryant<br />

‘Beautiful day, lovely<br />

people, such fun<br />

when we met up!’<br />

Lizzie Huckle<br />

‘Meeting up with<br />

other badgers and<br />

getting a walking<br />

group together who<br />

meet regularly. Great<br />

fun as they all love<br />

tea and cake too.’<br />

Juliette Smart<br />

‘Gave me the<br />

inspiration and<br />

<strong>supp</strong>ort to get<br />

back out and<br />

enjoy life again!’<br />

Emma Nelson<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

51


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

VERY INSPIRING PERSON: JAY MISTRY<br />

‘A head full of memories and<br />

a herd of new friends’<br />

After walking changed his life, lover of all things<br />

#walk1000miles-orange Jay Mistry – 31, from<br />

Huddersfield – set about getting the gang together.<br />

EFORE #WALK1000<br />

MILES I got to a point<br />

Bwhere all I was doing was<br />

drinking in the pub and eating<br />

take-aways, and I thought to<br />

myself I needed to change my<br />

ways or I’ll end up in a early<br />

grave. I started walking more<br />

and more and went from 116kg<br />

to 95kg, then 85kg. Now I’m<br />

36kg lighter, walks are much<br />

easier and more enjoyable.<br />

In fact walking is pretty much<br />

my life <strong>no</strong>w... my holidays, any<br />

spare time and my great set<br />

of close walking friends.<br />

I love the fact #walk1000miles<br />

is a challenge that’s open to<br />

your own interpretation,<br />

BEFORE<br />

and I love the fact it’s led me<br />

to see parts of this country I’ve<br />

never seen before. This year<br />

I’ve climbed all the national 5<br />

peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike,<br />

S<strong>no</strong>wdon, Carrauntoohil and<br />

Slieve Donard during this<br />

challenge, and many other<br />

hills, and I feel epic! This year<br />

has changed my life and<br />

<strong>no</strong>w I can’t wait for <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

It wasn’t just the mountains<br />

that were awesome though<br />

– meeting lots of new friends<br />

was also epically awesome.<br />

It all started after I kept<br />

seeing on the group people<br />

hadn’t met many badgers<br />

[the name for challengers that<br />

AFTER<br />

“It was so good<br />

getting new people<br />

to meet each other,<br />

and I think we all felt<br />

it builds amazing<br />

friendships.”<br />

sprang from the challenge –<br />

badges available from spring<br />

each year], so I thought a meetup<br />

– set up as an Event in the<br />

challenge Facebook group –<br />

would be a good way to bring<br />

people together. But then as<br />

this challenge is spread across<br />

the whole of the UK and world,<br />

I ended up doing three! So far<br />

we’ve had them in Keswick,<br />

Dovedale and Richmond Park<br />

and it went so well I got asked<br />

to arrange some more, and<br />

the <strong>2018</strong> plan got into motion.<br />

Arranging meets is actually<br />

pretty easy – it’s the planning<br />

and checking the routes that’s<br />

the tough part. But that’s the<br />

beauty of a big group – there<br />

are always other group<br />

members who live close to<br />

52<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR FUN<br />

Jay’s meet-ups organised<br />

through the Facebook group<br />

have attracted more and more.<br />

Above: High on Sharp Edge on<br />

Blencathra in the Lake District<br />

– where many of Jay’s miles<br />

have been had.<br />

walks who could do the recce.<br />

On the day, they helped lead<br />

the walks for me so I could keep<br />

an eye on the group and make<br />

sure the back and front didn’t<br />

get separated. I was a bit<br />

nervous each time but the days<br />

ran smoothly and we didn’t lose<br />

anyone! It was so good getting<br />

new people to meet each other,<br />

and I think we all felt it builds<br />

amazing friendships, and<br />

memories that will last forever.<br />

The friendships I’ve made<br />

in the group mean a lot to me.<br />

One in particular – I mean you<br />

Helen Smith! – has pretty much<br />

become like a sister to me and<br />

an awesome walking partner…<br />

through the tough times and<br />

good times of this challenge.<br />

Then there’s Heather, Peggy,<br />

Helen, Brian and many more<br />

whose <strong>supp</strong>ort and friendship<br />

makes this challenge’s<br />

community one of the best<br />

around for <strong>supp</strong>ort and<br />

motivation.<br />

Two years ago if the new<br />

Jay could give some advice<br />

to the old Jay he’d have said<br />

‘Guess what? The next two<br />

years are going to make you<br />

into a new man – with a head<br />

full of great memories from<br />

walking and a herd of friends.’<br />

Above: Friendships formed in<br />

cyberspace quickly take root<br />

in the real world.<br />

Dress as Oompa Loompas<br />

for a scramble in Langdale<br />

for Mountain Rescue?<br />

But of course!<br />

Jay’s meet-up tips<br />

1Plan a walk that’s<br />

interesting and easy<br />

e<strong>no</strong>ugh for a wide<br />

audience.<br />

2Plan an easy place to<br />

meet from a transport<br />

and accommodationbooking<br />

point of view.<br />

3Make sure there’s a<br />

good refreshment stop<br />

at the end for everyone<br />

to have chat and drink!<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

53


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Zoe Beresford<br />

Our surprise Lakeland badger meet!<br />

Catherine Shine<br />

Caroline Do<strong>no</strong>ghue<br />

Shrieking, being<br />

presented with my<br />

medal by Susan<br />

Miller for passing<br />

1000 miles!<br />

Heather Peel<br />

Fresh air fun!<br />

After approximatly, 20,000,000 miles of<br />

experimentation we can confirm that to the<br />

best of everyone’s k<strong>no</strong>wledge and using all<br />

available evidence it’s <strong>no</strong>t possible <strong>no</strong>t to<br />

have fun at some point on a walk.<br />

My 1000th mile<br />

Juliette Smart<br />

Anita Ovalle de Garcia<br />

Whernside trig – it was raining, but<br />

it didn’t dampen our spirits!<br />

Devina Firth<br />

Jenny Marshall<br />

Speaking of<br />

mascots, I may<br />

have to rethink<br />

mine!<br />

Keith Parker<br />

Ann Doyle<br />

Claire Bond<br />

54<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔FOR FUN<br />

Denise Moulson<br />

My daughter<br />

and me training<br />

for the Macmillan<br />

Cumbrian walk<br />

Stacey Medhurst<br />

Violeta Webb<br />

True story… went out for milk, Thought,<br />

beautiful day, why <strong>no</strong>t go for a walk?<br />

3 1/2 miles later… wonderful walk,<br />

came home… <strong>no</strong> milk<br />

Jacine Clark<br />

Zoe Summers<br />

How to walk a 1000 in 4.17km<br />

Christine Brooks<br />

Tried running – hated it. LOVE walking<br />

– and climbed my first mountain too!<br />

Lizzie Huckle<br />

Nicola Gordon-Wilson<br />

Karen Hayes<br />

David Mellor<br />

Paula Miller<br />

Fran McPhee<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

55


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

HOW TO DRESS<br />

FOR 1000 MILES<br />

Some clever basics to get you going –<br />

and some long-lasting options for<br />

when you k<strong>no</strong>w what you need…<br />

J<br />

EANS AND TRAINERS are fine for an easy walk<br />

on a dry day, but if you’re aiming to rack up the<br />

miles, the chances are you’re gonna hit some<br />

adverse weather (we hate to admit it, but it does<br />

rain sometimes). And that’s when jeans and trainers<br />

suddenly become cold, soggy and heavy. Here<br />

we’ve lined up some essential advice to get you<br />

started, and some smart investments for when<br />

you’ve worked out your preferences…<br />

56<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔GEAR ADVICE<br />

Stay dry<br />

If there’s one thing to get right<br />

apart from boots, it’s a jacket<br />

that keeps you dry. Again it’s<br />

about a balance: you want<br />

the magic combination of<br />

waterproof (so you stay dry)<br />

and breathable (so you don’t<br />

sweat to bits). Chances are,<br />

a high street near you has<br />

a branch of Trespass, Millets<br />

or Mountain Warehouse, and<br />

any of them will sell you a<br />

reliable starter waterproof<br />

for somewhere between<br />

£40 and £100. But for a<br />

longer-lasting, more durable<br />

and more comfortable<br />

option, consider something<br />

like the Fjällräven Sten jacket<br />

(£175, www.fjallraven.co.uk), a<br />

great everyday jacket that you<br />

can custom-waterproof with<br />

Fjällräven’s clever Greenland<br />

Wax. At the specialist end,<br />

Fjällräven also make one of the<br />

smartest ready-waterproof<br />

jackets on the market:<br />

the Keb Eco-Shell (£435).<br />

Love your feet<br />

Without a doubt, a sturdy shoe or boot that fits you perfectly is a walker’s<br />

best friend. First up, decide if you fancy a shoe (lighter, nimbler) or a boot<br />

(tougher, more <strong>supp</strong>ortive), then if the outer skin should be leather (stiff<br />

and sturdy) or mixed fabric (light and flexible). Then think waterproofing:<br />

generally walkers like footwear that lets out<br />

unwanted heat and moisture but won’t let rainwater<br />

in. Chains like Go Outdoors or Cotswold Outdoor<br />

offer a vast range of footwear from budget to<br />

high-spec. For a great all-rounder that will<br />

last you for years and won’t cost a bomb,<br />

we recommend the excellent Hanwag<br />

Banks II boot (£175, www.hanwag.com).<br />

TOP TIP:<br />

always try on<br />

before you<br />

buy, and wear<br />

your footwear<br />

in and around the<br />

house before you<br />

go out in them.<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

57


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

Be kind to your pins<br />

Your legs are going to do the lion’s<br />

share of the work in your quest to<br />

hit 1000 miles, so take care of<br />

them. Jeans and casual trousers<br />

may feel comfy, but what you<br />

need on a walk is stretch,<br />

ventilation and the ability to walk<br />

through brambly bits without<br />

anything nasty being able to<br />

scratch you. You can find good<br />

basic pairs for around £25-£30.<br />

But our friends at Fjällräven<br />

make the longest-lasting, most<br />

sophisticated, purposedesigned<br />

walking trousers<br />

money can buy. Consider the<br />

awesome Vidda Pro trousers<br />

(£145, www.fjallraven.co.uk).<br />

Remember your gender<br />

Some apparel firms complete their ranges by taking their<br />

men’s clothes and using the ‘shrink it and pink it’ technique.<br />

If you’re a woman it really is worth shopping around for stuff<br />

that was actually designed for you. That’s especially true of<br />

footwear. Always ask if the boot came from a<br />

‘female-specific last’ (which means it was<br />

designed separately from the men’s<br />

version, around a female foot). Our<br />

partners at Hanwag won’t let you<br />

down on that score; try the newly<br />

upgraded, hand-made Tatra II<br />

Lady, which also comes<br />

with Gore-Tex as<br />

standard (£220,<br />

www.hanwag.<br />

com).<br />

58<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong>


✔GEAR ADVICE<br />

Spread the load<br />

Yes, you can find rucksacks in any<br />

accessories shop on the high street.<br />

But if you’re going for distance,<br />

it’s good to have a pack that is<br />

specifically designed to spread the<br />

load evenly, move naturally with<br />

your body, and resist the elements<br />

too. For a great everyday walking<br />

pack, try Fjällräven’s 24-litre High<br />

Coast (£60, www.fjallraven.co.uk).<br />

For an advanced pack with<br />

exceptional load-bearing and<br />

ventilation, try their 28-litre<br />

Kaipak (£130).<br />

Avoid cotton<br />

Cotton doesn’t<br />

breathe, which<br />

means if you wear a<br />

cotton T-shirt or<br />

jumper on a walk, it (and<br />

you) are likely to come<br />

back drenched in sweat.<br />

Specialist walking shirts are<br />

often highfalutinly called<br />

baselayers, but they do make a<br />

difference because they’re<br />

(usually) a synthetic<br />

polyester blend or<br />

(more expensively) meri<strong>no</strong> wool,<br />

both of which take the moisture<br />

away nicely. You should find a<br />

decent synthetic baselayer on<br />

the High Street for around £15,<br />

and a good meri<strong>no</strong> option<br />

starting from £30. And you won’t<br />

believe the difference that good<br />

wool-fibre socks make<br />

to your walking. Try the<br />

WoolFusion Trekker from<br />

Bridgedale (around £17,<br />

www.bridgedale.com).<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

59


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WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

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Warning! This map<br />

may cause an<br />

uncontrollable<br />

urge to GetOutside.<br />

The Great British Adventure Map showcases over<br />

❀❝❃✾✾,#/&1&+♥0"01,21!,,/06&10❝&+ )2!&+$<br />

1%"1,-❃✾!3"+12/"), 1&,+0❝" "+1/& "3"+10❝<br />

.2&/(61,2 %"0❝*,/"/,21"01%+6,2 +0%("<br />

01& (1❝+!),10,#/+!,*)6&+0-&/&+$1/&3&❜<br />

+!,+1,-,#))1%&0❝$"1#/""1/&),#1%"<br />

OS Maps app.<br />

os.uk/adventuremap


#WALK1000MILES<strong>2018</strong><br />

I have just signed up for <strong>2018</strong> – can anyone tell me if it costs<br />

please? x<br />

Caroline Perry<br />

1h Like Reply<br />

Oh yes Caroline Perry, it definitely costs! It will cost you hours<br />

of reading posts on this group, drawing up lists of places you<br />

have never heard of before, but <strong>no</strong>w k<strong>no</strong>w you must walk. You<br />

will laugh and cry with loonies, the achievers, the heroes! You<br />

will become addicted to socks, shoes, trousers and jackets that<br />

you had <strong>no</strong> idea you needed before, and there will be a long list<br />

of shops that you can <strong>no</strong> longer walk past. I hope you already<br />

have e<strong>no</strong>ugh shelf space for the maps and walking books too.<br />

You will absolutely need to buy Country Walking magazine<br />

to see which of us has featured this month, even better, buy<br />

a subscription so you have free access to OS maps online.<br />

What’s the payback? That is up to you really... Choose from<br />

feeling fitter, happier, lighter, more relaxed than ever before.<br />

Comments and compliments from admiring friends and family.<br />

Finding that you can do things you wouldn’t have thought<br />

possible. Making new, like-minded friends. Learning about and<br />

loving the countryside or maybe your local town. Whatever,<br />

I hope that you enjoy every mile you walk and please share<br />

with us your photos and milestones along the way. Welcome!<br />

Jacqueline Gale<br />

32m Like Reply<br />

35<br />

I couldn’t have said it any better, Jacqueline. Perfect.<br />

Julia Stent<br />

27m Like Reply<br />

12<br />

Ha ha fab, looking forward to starting it.<br />

Caroline Perry<br />

6m Like Reply<br />

17<br />

Write a comment...<br />

GIF<br />

WALK 1000 MILES <strong>2018</strong><br />

63


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