Dornock Firth Bridge

The Long Road Home

Walter Scott Memorial

The Original Packhorse Bridge at Carr Bridge

The Highest Point on the A9

Burleigh Castle near Loch Leven

Forth Railway Bridge

Galashiels

'Bloke on Horse' (according to Steve)

Burns Plaque, Selkirk

Self explanatory

River Esk

Crown Court (not Carlisle Prison)

Penrith Town Centre

Clifton Hall Roman Settlement (about 5 miles south of Penrith)

M6 Motorway just north of Shap

Lancaster Prison

Lancaster/Preston Canal

Preston

Reebok Stadium at Middlebrook

Saturday 6 May 2006

Set off 12.30 with Bob & Carol in tow and endured a harrowing 4 ½ hour journey up to Perth . It wasn't anything to do with Bob's driving, more the fact that the final day of the football league season was proving to be fairly traumatic for the two Macc fans but they were able to breathe a sigh of relief at 5 o'clock when they knew the Silkmen were safe for another season. Spent the night in Perth .

Sunday 7 May 2006

Woke up to fog and breakfast in a carrier bag! Made good time and no hassles. Saw an ‘end-to-ender' en route through Inverness . Passed Inverness Caledonian Thistle's football ground – Bob liked the setting so much, he thinks he'll support them from now on!

Arrived at John o' Groats in time for Scotch pies and flapjacks and mid afternoon checked in at the Bilbster B & B.

Monday 8 May 2006

Set off this morning on the first leg of the walk. The weather has improved, in fact it is proving a bit too hot for my liking. Will be handing over the writing of the diary to Carol from now on as it will be easier to update the website! Arrived in Wick and spent some time sunning myself by the river.

Tuesday 9 May 2006

Fairly easy day today - found a back road from Bilbster back to the A99 so avoided having to go back to Wick again. Having set off at 6.30 this morning arrived in Dunbeath. Walked past the b & b, Tormore Farm, twice without noticing it.

Wednesday 10 May 2006

Long day today - 16 miles uphill most of the way. It has felt like being in an oven for two days. Think I've probably lost some weight already as my trousers seem looser! Met a woman walking on a round Britain trip. When I got to Helmsdale, called in a shop for water, was asked if I was staying with Mrs. Poulson, only to be told I wasn't because she'd hurt her back (hope it's better soon!) so would I mind staying with the questioner instead. Nice place, got a room with a sea view.

Thursday 11 May 2006

To-day Steve was due to arrive in Golspie, having had a shorter day than yesterday - that means a total of 69 miles so far. Only one 'major' place to pass through, which was Broro. Lost contact with Steve probably due to bad mobile reception, will try again tomorrow.

Friday 12 May 2006

Made contact with Steve at 08.35 this morning. Just left Golspie after a good night's rest. ....but it's raining - bliss! Will ring again to-night for a bigger update. Seven miles from Tain it stopped raining but was very windy. He's sitting looking out over the coast can see Helmsdale where he stayed 3 days ago. Feet the worse for wear after 24 miles! Plans to leave early tomorrow to get to Dingwall in time for the cup final - whoops it'll be the Hearts/Gretna one. PS. Steve has started eating mushrooms!!!! He'll be trying green vegetables next.

Saturday 13 May 2006

Watched the 'big' match. Not too good a night - a couple of noisy people in the b & b. Feet a bit better today. Over 100 miles completed - just under 400 to go. Been told there's a cycle path down the A9 from Inverness to Perth - that's good, saves being blown over by the lorries.

Sunday 14 May 2006

Good day today, weather just right for walking. It was only 12 miles down back roads from Dingwall to Inverness. Could hear seagulls in the background when Steve phoned. He was just about to go to Morrisons for some food as it's self catering tonight in the YH at Inverness. Seen lots of oyster catchers in ploughed fields. Sent some photos via email so should have those on here soon. Off to Tomatin tomorrow.

Monday 15 May 2006

Wow, what a day this has been. The good news - found the cycle track. The bad news - ended up walking 21 miles instead of 14 and it was up & down, up & down. Did see, on the old A9, a timber viaduct, which is the only one in europe apparently. Got chased by a herd of cattle while walking down a peaceful country lane. They came charging down the hill with the farmer close behind! Took a while to find the b & b as it's ½ mile from the main road - next door to a distillery. Shoes off and shower time now. Fantastic place with it's own river - they do fly fishing breaks! Till tomorrow....

Tuesday 16 May 2006

A crippling day today - literally. Wore a different pair of shoes but had to change back halfway through the day. Got soaked three times so it was a hard 15 mile slog. Beautiful setting here for the YH. Able to check out the website to see how it's progressing. Glad the photos are now on the site.

Wednesday 17 May 2006

Quiet day with not much traffic and an easy walk. Only 12 miles to Kingussie down the old A9 so in plenty of time to watch Arsenal. This is Monarch of the Glen country. Tomorrow Dalwhinnie down the cycle route. Adieu!

Thursday 18 May 2006

Arrived in Dalwhinnie at 3.15 pm, soaking wet and ravenously hungry! As we phoned, Steve was just sitting down to a well-earned dinner. Dalwhinnie only small place - nothing there but a distillery - and sits on the banks of Loch Ericht definitely beautiful in the right weather. Tomorrow will be another long day (probably the longest one of the walk ) but hopefully mostly downhill to Pitlochry - ha ha. Almost half way now. That's it for now folks - weekend update on Monday. See you then.

Friday - Sunday 19/21May 2006

Well, broken the back of this trip and now on the downward 'stroll' home. Friday was a long day - 10 hours and it was a warm 10 hours at that. Going to see the fish ladder in Pitlochry before setting off for Perth Saturday morning. Rained all night. Saturday was a bright day. Walking down the cycle path towards Perth, stopped by at least eight people and told to turn back as no-one allowed down the track - tree felling in progress. That meant another six miles on the journey. Good to know that even though the breakfasts are getting bigger (scrambled egg, bacon, sausage, black pudding, haggis & potato cakes), the belt is being taken in by a couple of notches! From Perth on Saturday to Milnathort just north of Kinross on Sunday - only 6 hours. Can see Loch Leven from the room. It's 29 miles tomorrow to Edinburgh, so off now for a long soak!

Monday 22 May 2006

Made it to Edinburgh. Just had cottage pie and beans, followed by two yoghurts. Youth hostel pretty full so hope it's not too noisy overnight. Need a good rest for the 27 mile hike tomorrow. Wasn't too bad a day today, mixed weather. Crossing over the bridge (last photo) thought Edinburgh was in sight but still a fair way to go. 10 days and counting!!

Tuesday 23 May 2006

What was that about a 27 mile hike? Some sort of miscalculation happened there - it was 32 miles from Edinburgh to Galashiels along the A7. It's not quite as hair-raising as the A9 to walk along though. Nice place Galashiels - b & b 'compact & bijou' but they still had room for me - if it's a takeaway Chinese meal tonight they might not have!! Off to Hawick next - one eye always open for the Border Reivers.

Wednesday 24 May 2006

Not far from the border today. Will be trying to stick to B roads in future . Traffic on the A7 is mad. Nearly hit by a car. Loads of blind bends and vehicles doing 60 mph. Hope the room tonight is slightly bigger - feet touched the door when lying in bed!! Took the photo of the 'bloke on the horse'.

Thursday 25 May 2006

Brilliant day today. Hardly any roads spent the day walking over hills until 6 miles from Langholm - only had 2 cars passing. Could see the Lake District & Solway Firth. Will be in England tomorrow.

Friday 26 May - Sunday 28 May 2006

Arrived in Carlisle safely (yes we guessed what the photo was) - not much to report but looking forward to an easier weekend. Weather has been very mixed. Got soaked to the skin three times. Penrith to Shap on Sunday only 11 miles so will arrive early and rest a while. Having some trouble with right calf muscle, which is very painful each day after walking a couple of miles - have to keep going through the 'pain barrier'! Not long to go - the end is in sight.....

Monday 29 May 2006

Not too far a day today but boy did it hurt. 9 miles up to the top of Shap and another 9 down - it was down that was the killer! By the way the phot in Carlisle was the Crown Court not the prison. Kendal tonight - very busy with daytrippers and won't be trying Kendal Mint Cake.

Tuesday 30 May 2006

Not much sleep last night in the YH - had to get up at 3.00am to quieten a group of kids. Getting a bit past staying in youth hostels though not the oldest there last night. Met a chap doing Lands End to John o' Groats on a bike and he was making 100 miles a day! Lancaster tonight and a cold compress on the leg! Lancaster tonight.

Wednesday 31 May 2006

Last but one day today. Pleasant stroll down the Lancaster to Preston canal and a really good sized bedroom at the end of it! Looking forward to tomorrow, even though it'll be a long haul, and my last night out. Mercury Motel here I come!!

Thursday 01 June 2006

Arrived safely at Westhoughton after a rather longer day than anticipated. Was made very welcome by all at the Mercury Motel. The lads arrived in the evening for a celebratory meal and everyone joined in the quiz - didn't finish bottom! Got a good reception from the rest of the contestants and thanks for the sponsorship. Well last day tomorrow..............

Friday 02 June 2006

Steve arrived!! Just before 10.00 and looking really well - feet not too sore and raring to go. Hasn't started work yet - thought he deserved a bit of rest. He says he can start this afternoon - only kidding!! We're expecting him to get up each morning to do 20 laps around the 'parade ground'. Just received Steve's last post card from Preston. When asked for the worst parts, Steve thought the Dalwhinnie to Pitlochry was the toughest and the best part - getting home!!

Thank you for reading Steve's Diary - we hope you continue to visit our website to see how we are going on!!