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In September 2023 I will be walking the South West Coast Path from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset. 

Here's what Wikipedia has to say!

The South West Coast Path is England's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for 630 miles (1,014 km), running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Because it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more challenging trails. The total height climbed has been calculated to be 114,931 ft (35,031 m), almost four times the height of Mount Everest.^[1]

I'll be doing it 'one go' sleeping at campsites, clifftops, hedges, BnBs and beaches. I imagine it will take 6/8 weeks. My long suffering girlfriend and our two young children will be visiting along the way to enjoy some well earnt rest days together.

It looks, to me, like this is a particularly tough time to be a young person. Social media in particular looks to be a catalyst for the young persons mental health crisis out there. Suicide in young people is on the up.

--Suicide was the leading cause of death for males and females aged between five to 34 in 2019 (v).--

 ONS: Deaths registered in England and Wales (2019) section six ‘Leading causes of death’. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregistrationsummarytables/2019#leading-causes-of-death

I am a firm believer that the outdoors and adventure can have a positive impact on the development of young people and a remedy to mental health issues.

Follow the adventure on instagram:

 https://www.instagram.com/a_long_walk_for_youngminds/