We leave Land's End behind on the SW. Peninsular
Way keeping the sea on our left, hopefully! Towards St.Ives and onward via Perranporth to Newquay. Pressing on, we pass through
Padstow, Boscastle and Bude. As we prepare to leave Cornwall behind, the coast path doesn't pass through any towns or villages
of note, until we approach the N. Devon towns of Bideford and Barnstaple. We hope to rest here for a couple of days
to recharge our batteries, literally and metaphorically!
Our next section will take us eastwards across N.
Devon and Somerset. Following the Macmillan Way over Exmoor passing through Dulverton, we gradually pick our way through
lovely English villages to find ourselves heading for Glastonbury, Wells and for some quality time off in Bath, we will need
it.
Once we are refreshed, we say goodbye to Bath, and pick up
the Cotswold Way. This long distance footpath will wend its way amidst some of the finest countryside that England has to
offer. After approximately 50 miles we will foresake this trail, and head for the Severn Way.
Near to Slimbridge, we pick up the Severn, hoping to see
the Severn Bore at some stage. Heading almost north in a general direction, we skirt the towns of Gloucester, Tewkesbury,
and Worcester. This riverside side walk should be easy on the feet as well as the eye. Once past Stourport we will be hoping
to pick up the Staffordshire Way at Kinver edge. Following this trail we will head across Cannock Chase to Uttoxeter hoping
to find a small village called Rocester, to once again change paths to the Limestone Way through the white peak area of Derbyshire,
to a village called Tissington. Here we want to find the Pennine Bridleway.
Pressing on ever northwards bisecting the great connurbations
of Manchester and Sheffield on old packhorse trails to the South Pennines. When we get to the village of Summit the Rochdale
canal will provide all the companionship we need to take us to Hebden Bridge. Now we approach the backbone of England, and
the famous or some say infamous Pennine Way. We will walk a lot on the PW until we get to Hawes in Wenslydale North Yorkshire.
Pressing on and keeping west of the hills of the Pennines,
the beautiful valley of Mallerstang draws us along towards Kirkby Stephen, and on to Appelby. Needing to keep away from
the hills, for obvious reasons, we want to keep to the lowlands. Heading through the North Pennines in the direction of Northumberland,
we pass Alston in the South Tyne valley, and Hadrians Wall is approaching. Once we leave maybe the most famous of all Roman
architechture behind, we pick up the Pennine Way again to Bellingham and Byrness.
The border is now in sight, but still a long way to go. The
Borders draw us along to Jedburgh and past Galashiels down the Tweed valley and over the Pentlands hills past Livingston to
Falkirk, and the famous wheel. For probably the first and last time we go slightly SW. to start the West Highland Way at Milngavie.
The route now is quite straigthtforward, keeping Loch Lomond on our left and moving north to Crianlarich, Tyndrum
and foresakeing Glencoe for the path to Kinlochleven. 20 miles or so will see us in Fort William,
and a good rest for the weary bones.
After leaving Fort William we ascend Neptunes Staircase
leading to Loch Lochy, and soon reach Loch Ness, will we see the monster? The Great Glen Way will take us along Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit, where we take our leave of it to start the final push up
the east coast of Scotland. This is where our skills will come in to avoid much road walking, and therefore treading on tarmac
for as little as possible.
Over to the east we pass the Black Isle in a few miles we
will cross the Dornoch Firth. Pushing on, the A9 seems to be the only route possible to make good progress to villages like
Brora and Helmsdale. With our goal now in sight, Wick will be a welcome sight, and with only 20 miles to go we can't
fail now.
When John O' Groats is reached, just a couple of more
miles to Duncansby Head and the end of 5 months of hard work.
