Day 1: Land's End to Gunard's Head

Brad and Adele Poulson kindly ran me to Land’s End and after the obligatory photos at the signpost I set off at 9.40 along the coast path.

The morning was a little tense because I knew that I had to have phone signal at 11.50 to do an interview with Radio Nottingham. This took me quite a way from the coast path.

I went on to St Just to make sure of lunch and then reverted to the coast path until doing the last couple of miles by road to save time. I had forgotten how much effort and time it takes to walk on the rocky bits of the coast path.

Good walking weather – either cloudy or warm sun – not too hot.

A half plan I had in mind to do a rate public loos along the way and award a best and worst at the end of the trip was scuppered straight away – the Land’s End Loo was immaculate and will never be beaten, and the St Just one was quite the most disgusting I have ever seen. So that competition is already over.

Today felt more like just a day’s walk, rather than the start of a long adventure – I guess because I will be eating with Brad and Adele again here tonight.

The walk was 16.88 miles with quite a lot of climbing. However I had a light pack as Brad and Adele took some of my stuff by car.

An odd moment when I arrived at the hotel – two cows were eating the hedge at the hotel front. This is quite a regular occurrence apparently – and they have even been known to enter the building.

A surprise comp bottle of Champagne awaited me – which I am saving to use at dinner.

Daily Data

Days left until John O’Groats	75
Route miles walked	16.88
Estimated miles until John O’Groats	1033
Miles walked including evenings and rest days	3
Counties walked through	1
Number of walking companions so far	0
Number of stiles crossed	7
Current sponsorship total	£11,710.30
Cast of characters	Jeremy Pemberton, Laurence Cunnington, Adele Poulson, Brad Poulson

Support the Charities

To donate to any of the four charities, click here.