So I've decided to walk the length of Scotland via the mountains this winter, during the coldest months of the year, along with my best animal pal, Haggis. Haggis is a big, floppy, cuddly labrador who adores all people and who was obese, unfit and very under confident when I rehomed her two years ago. The first hill day I took her on was a five hour jaunt up into the Pentlands, when she stopped to lay down exhausted several times. She now loves running around in the hills and is very fit, but she does also sleep a lot, which makes me wonder how she will cope with being awake all day, but I'm hoping she will adapt as quickly as I will have to!

My motivations for completing the expedition are...

• To gain fitness and SUFFERING as part of my preparation for Antarctica in 2018
• To raise money for my two chosen charities (please see the 'Charities and Fundraising' page of my site jencrook.com for more info).
• To give Haggis the time of her life
• To get other people out into the hills this winter

What I need to do...

• Raise funds for a home for me and Haggis (a tent) for the expedition
• Get Haggis a doggy jacket and boots 
• Raise money for my two chosen charities
• Contribute my own funds to cover expedition costs
• Beg and borrow kit and accommodation along the route
• Convince people to join in!

We will start somewhere in the Borders and walk north through Scotland, taking in the mountains of the West and eventually finishing in Cape Wrath. I expect that we'll occasionally grab some morale-boosting restbite in local accommodation or any vans that people are willing to park for us, but mostly we will be camping out in the often atrocious Scottish winter conditions.

The route will be around 850km long and I hope to complete it in just over five weeks. We plan to leave on Sat 30th January and finish sometime in March, when it will be absolutely baltic - perfect Antarctica training! I will have to carry a lot of weight, particularly up north when we won't be able to resupply for a few days at a time, and I also expect to get very good at pitching my tent in horrific conditions.

An important element to this expedition is that I would love for people to come join in with us - whether for only half a day or much longer. Apart from increasing the fun factor of the trip hugely, it would be a great help to increasing awareness and therefore the amount of money raised for charity. So if you fancy joining us for a leg or two, please get in touch.

ANYTHING that you are able and willing to donate in support of the expedition would be HUGELY appreciated - by me, Haggis and all the animals that are cared for by International Animal Rescue who don't have the luxury of a comfy sofa (sometimes the bed) and lots of cuddles like Haggis does! THANK YOU!