Charity | Posted on September 19th, 2025 | return to news

Couple embark on 7,300 mile walk for Dorset air ambulance charity

Mike Langley aims to become the oldest person to hike the entire coastline of Great Britain, a total of 7,300 miles, and raise money for charity.

A couple from Somerset will commence an epic two-year long journey to hike the entire coastline of mainland Great Britain, a total of 7,300 miles, all the while raising funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA).

Ex-secondary school teacher Zoe Langley-Wathen, 54, and her husband, retired carpenter and publican Mike Langley, 73, from Ilminster, aim to raise £10,000 for the DSAA, which plays a vital role in saving lives in rural communities.

They also want to spread the message that adventure has no age limit.

Zoe and Mike will walk every step of the journey, which will begin when they set off from Poole Harbour on 4 October, walking eastwards. The rules are simple: no ferries and only including islands that are connected to the mainland by bridges or causeways.

Mike, who has had two hip replacements, aims to become the oldest person to complete the walk as a thru-hike.

Zoe is the author of the adventure memoir ‘630 Miles Braver – Midlifing on the South West Coast Path’. The journey is her way of showcasing the transformative power of walking, resilience, and midlife reinvention. She is also the founder of HeadRightOut, which is geared towards midlife and older women building their resilience in the outdoors.

“This isn’t just a walk,” said Zoe, who lived in Dorset for 30 years before moving back to her home county of Somerset.

“It’s a statement that midlife is not the end of the adventurous road, and that gap years can be for anyone! We’ll be walking to promote AdventureMind’s message of the benefits of adventure on mental health and wellbeing, and to support the vital work of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.”

The pair will document their progress through social media, writing, speaking, photography, and podcasting, offering a raw, real, and uplifting glimpse into life on the trail. They hope to inspire others to step outside of their comfort zones whilst raising funds for their selected charity and flying the flag for more people, young and old alike, to use adventure to help them through life’s challenges.

Follow their journey on instagram.com/headrightout/ or https://headrightout.com. To donate to the DSAA, visit https://www.dsairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/one-coast-any-age.