Walking the coastline of Britain
Outdoor headlines
21 April 2010 12:55
Setting a year aside to walk the entire length of the United Kingdom is something that most of us could only dream about. But for 24-year-old Nathaniel Severs, this dream became a reality on January 10 when he set off from Portsmouth with a staggering 7,000 miles ahead of him.
“It was an idea that had been floating around since I was 18 when me and a friend talked about it. It’s a great way to explore Britain and an awesome challenge to undertake,” Nat said. “I didn't practice with my bag at all, so I could have definitely prepared better.” Hoping to raise money for Southampton Hospital, the Stroke Association and The Mammal Society, LFTO caught up with Nat in Lancaster as he sailed into his 100th day on foot:
What inspired this challenge?
It’s a brilliant way to get out and see what’s around you. My preparation was minimal and my budget, very tight and yet I am managing quite well. When I was growing up, we would go for a weeks holiday every autumn and complete a long-distance footpath. As we grew up we tackled more and more mileage. I have also done a fair bit of travelling where I have used walking as a way to explore, so I guess this is a bit of a mix of the two. As long as you are committed to completing something, you can do it.
What has been the toughest part of the journey so far?
The first week or two was tough, mainly due to the lack of preparation. I was not used to the bag at all, so the extra weight was really hard and it takes a while for your feet to callous up and stop screaming at you every morning when you put your boots back on. Long days of road walking are tough mentally, especially if it’s around a river and therefore not even part of the coast. It’s always a lift to see the sea again at those times though. Physically, so far parts of the southwest coast path were tough, especially the couple of days after Bude, round Hartland Quay and beyond, but those parts make you feel like you're challenging yourself.
Are you lonely?
The solitude can be quite tough, but I’ve been fortunate enough to stay with some really nice people. It’s hard when you know that you're missing out on real life, but when the walking is enjoyable it’s fine. It all depends on the frame of mind you wake up with in the morning.
What’s in your rucksack?
Gas, stove (Coleman F1 Lite), saucepan, Therm-A-Rest air mattress, sleeping bag, silk and cotton sleeping bag liners, thermals, trousers and clothes, Power Monkey, journal, waterproofs, head-torch and my one man tent (Gelert Solo) hanging on the outside. I don't have any gear that isn't essential.
My boots were the major expense, I have been assured they'll last the whole year – we'll see – and they're holding up pretty well, so far; and I haven’t had a single blister!
What gear have you abandoned since leaving Portsmouth?
Only a thermos and a few clothes since the weather started to warm up. The thermos was pointless for me as I couldn't really be bothered to make hot drinks up most of the time, so it was using up space and adding weight for nothing. Other than that everything has been useful, I purposefully bought a bag that was small in order to force myself to limit what I brought along with me from the start.
Travelling solo for 7,000 miles could be quite risky, have you had any hairy moments?
The ground fell away from beneath my feet at one point on the Llyn Peninsula, but any other hairy moments have just involved animals. It’s slightly unnerving when a flock of sheep chase after you, making a lot of noise. And there have been some genuinely threatening cows: one ran at me whilst my back was turned and then circled me whilst jumping in the air!
What will be the hardest part of your upcoming journey?
I am slightly worried about the northwest coast of Scotland because of its remoteness. At the moment I am eating a lot from day to day but when I get up there I will be walking for long periods before hitting civilisation and potential places for restocking food. But priority for space in my bag will shift towards food and as long as I’m prepared, I’m confident of being able to manage.
I think the other aspect of the remoteness that could be hard is the feeling of being cut off. I know a lot of people in England and Wales and haven't gone much longer than a week without seeing a friendly face. While being alone can be really liberating, there are also times when it’s really nice to be able to phone someone and catch up, and that may not be possible in some areas, so motivating myself may be difficult. But to be honest, I'm far too stubborn and proud to give up, so I’ll just have to keep going.
Aren’t there moments where you just think, ‘I just don’t want to walk today?’
I like the sense of achievement challenging myself gives. By walking you can access more places than you can with any other mode of transport, on land anyway. That is the other aspect that really excites me, the exploration element. I love discovering new places for myself. There have been many times when I’ve been stood watching the sunset or looking around at the view knowing that I'm the only person seeing it in that way at that time, and that feels incredible.
How can people get involved and help you?
Sponsorship is always great, it lets me know people are supporting me, and shows me that what I’m doing is actually having a positive effect. Otherwise, any help that can be offered is great. I'm on a really tight budget so accommodation, food; anything is always appreciated even if it’s a small discount. Local knowledge and advice is also really helpful when hitting places I’ve never been to. People have been really kind so far and it really does make your day when someone offers to help you out. There are definitely still a lot of good people out there.
If you fancy helping Nat out with a sandwich or two, a place to rest his muddy boots or if you would like to donate money to the cause, visit http://natsevs.wordpress.com