Last month I turned 61. I also set off on a 90-day walk, which will see me traverse 900 miles from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Scotland. It may seem a mind-boggling thing to do, but since my mum, Susan, passed away last October, walking and spending time in nature has helped me cope with my grief.
My mum had been living with dementia for nine years, and although we'd been losing her bit by bit over the years, I felt untethered when she was gone for good. Exploring the UK on foot is helping me come to terms with her loss, plus every step of this walk is meaningful as every mile represents 1,000 people in the UK living with dementia, with 900,000 in total. My walking experience So far, I've made it to Cumbria on my walk.
I’ve had lots of ups and downs, but with every mile, I’m learning new things. The start of the walk which saw me go through Cornwall and Devon, was difficult. With no amenities on the way, I had to carry my food, water and tent in my trusty rucksack.
The hills in Cornwall were steep and it was so hot. I got through those miles on pasties, cake and jelly babies. At night my legs and knees hurt from the exertion.
That leg of the journey was tough, but insanely beautiful with turquoise water, golden surfer beaches and stunning granite cliffs. INSPIRATION: I feel fitter than ever in my sixties - here's my routine Disaster in Devon As my walk took me through Exmoor, the path on the map was nowhere to be seen on the ground. I wandered over the mist.