Update

Our next challenge is to walk the length of Ireland following very roughly The Ireland Way. We start in Torr Head on Monday 25th August, North Easterly Tip and hope to arrive in Dursey Head, south-westerly tip 7 weeks and 550 miles later.

The Ireland Way

We'll be staying in a mixture of B&Bs dog friendly hotels, bunkhouses and campsites. If you know anyone who lives close to the trail do let me know.

I'll try and find a few bands

What I'm doing

I'm walking 1100 miles from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, with my springer spaniel Tess in memory of my amazingly kind, strong and nurturing father Glen Mattock.

Why?

In August 2019, 25 year-old I was just a normal guy living a normal life, pretty content after having spent a weekend in the Lake District with my normal-ish happy family, where we went hiking, climbing and canoeing. At the time it wasn't a particularly special trip.

Then in September dad started suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms, which after months of prolonged and elongated tests became a motor neurone disease diagnosis.

Dad continued to love life for as long as possible: visiting the school where I taught in London; filming our passage through the Panama canal; creating beautifully intricate tapestries and friendship bracelets, and learning how to make chocolate from raw cacao nibs.

But in April 2022, on the evening of a beautifully sunny day, dad passed away aged just 61 years, leaving a big hole in our family, town and community.

So that's why I'm walking 1100 miles, to raise money for the MNDA, to continue it's research and support for those who are suffering so intensely from the devastating effects of MND.

The Target

£61,000 is an ambitious target. £1000 for each year dad was here. Sadly I only knew him for 27 of those years.

Follow along

I'll be posting some of my 50-60 legs of the walk here starting on Saturday 1st March 2025

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMAA2013

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spirit_of_walking

YouTube: @WalkingBritainForDad

Feel free to join a long for a mile or a hundred.