1200 miles on foot, an epic walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats completed

On 1 April, retired headteacher Vivienne Arkell set off from Land’s End in Cornwall with three friends and her husband, determined to walk all the way from the start point to John O’Groats in Scotland.

Viv’s aim was to walk around 15 miles a day, avoiding main roads and motorways, covering the 1,200 miles distance. After staying in youth hostels, on people’s sofas and in hotels and guesthouses along the route overnight, Viv finally reached her destination on 29 June. She had walked for 86 days with only 4 days off.

Husband Dave was there to start the journey with her as far as Somerset and joined her for the last few days. Her friends stayed the course and they all celebrated with a slap-up meal and a night’s stay at a nearby hotel.

Viv has been recording her journey on a blog: www.viviennecom.wordpress.com. She is raising money for the charity Classrooms in the Clouds that builds schools and trains teachers in Nepal.

Viv recorded on her blog on the last day, “The path to Duncansby lighthouse, which is the most north-easterly part of the UK was grassy… I got there about 3pm and had an emotional hug with Jo and soon Tracey and Dave. What an amazing, unforgettable journey to get to this point. It was teeming down and we were drenched but it didn’t matter.”

Over the course of her journey, Viv has had to negotiate mountains and bogs, climbed over numerous walls and barbed wire fences, walked through fields of cows and occasionally got lost. She’s also experienced some incredible wildlife and got incredibly wet in the rain.