Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
The 19 mile walk from Coleford to Tiverton is an interesting mix of hill and dale followed by a riverside section.
The day started with a lovely walk through fields and woods to the charming and colourful village of Cheriton Fitzpaine, where I spoke to more people in 30 minutes than I have all week. Every single person in this village says hello and has a chat with every person they see. It was so delightful and felt otherworldly. This is even a village where locals will not only pin lost property in a prominent place, but will also launder it first.
A steep climb out of the village would take me to the highest point of the day. Along the way, the highlight of the day occurred as I stumbled up a herd of deer and stag. I love these animals – they are so majestic and beguiling.
They spook easily, of course, and bolted as soon as they heard me. But I waited a while and the reappears en masse at the brow of the hill to inspect the situation.
Once at the top of the hill, the remaining walk was an undulating but descending path through farms and small communities until it would emerge near the river Exe.
At Bickleigh, I cross the river via the busy road bridge and cut through Bickleigh Mill, which houses a railway museum and small theme park.
What I had assumed would then be a pleasant, easy going stroll along the Exe Valley Way turned into something more akin to the Krypton Factor. With huge areas flooded and needing to be traversed, long stretches of deep bog to wade through and fallen trees to climb over, it was an exciting end to the day.
My boots have a water clearance of around 7 inches, but were submerged well beyond this on several occasions. Luckily my feet remained mostly dry.
I arrived in Tiverton, checked into a hotel and began the search for good food.
The Day 11 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
Leave a Reply