Author: DanielleWatson

After having quite a dip, I had a stern talking to myself, that went something a bit like this:

“I just want to be outside all of the time”

“Well, you can mope about being indoors all the time, or you can go outside”

It probably sounds harsh and I would never consciously talk to someone else that harshly, but it was what I needed. The engineer in me, needed a solution and the solution was getting outside.

I set myself the challenge to go outside for a walk or a run each day. It’s been just over a month of doing this and I feel so much better!

Each day, I’ve been getting my daily dose of wind in my hair and a little moment of freedom. The freedom that I was missing, was just 5 minutes from my house. Even 15 minutes outside makes such a difference! I’m really lucky to live on the edge of Buxton. 5 minutes from my house, I can be in fields or picking blackberries along the cycle path. The sunny weather has definitely helped my motivation to get outside, I’m really hoping that I can continue into autumn and winter.

I downloaded a habit tracker app; seeing a streak build, and a satisfying ding, each time I complete something, gives me a little hit of dopamine that is definitely helping!

Whilst I had been on my challenge, my mum had been training for her own challenge. At the beginning of the year, she set out a plan to complete the Edale Skyline route in July. I was very pleased to be her guide and join her for the day. The route is about 20 miles and goes along the tops of all of the hills that you can see from Edale. It was the first time that I’d walked that distance, since finishing my walk, but my legs held up well. For my mum, it was her longest ever walk, she smashed it, and I was really proud to see her achieve her own challenge! The weather mostly held up for us too, only giving us rain in the afternoon. It was lovely to spend a full day walking, and a nice reminder that I’ve still got it!

This year my parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, so we had a lovely weekend away to celebrate. It was so nice to spend some time together. We spent the weekend in an airBnB, on a farm. It was really peaceful and I got to feed  Bumble, the highland calf. Which was pure cuteness overload. On Saturday we went on a steam train, then a cruise along Windermere. It was lovely to look longingly out at the hills surrounding Ambleside.

In the afternoon, my dad and I went for a run together. For me it was a recent PB, for him, I think it was his slowest run in a while. I really enjoyed spending the time together and it was probably our first run together since I was 16!

Before setting off on my walk, I had planned a week off in August. I knew that after finishing, I’d want to get back out into the hills. That gets me to where I am now. It took me a while to decide where to go. Having walked so much of the country, the whole place is so beautiful and it made decision making even harder! My first thought was to finish the Cape Wrath Trail, but I would have to brave the midges. Option 2 was to go to the Lake District and bag some more Wainwrights, or there were Options 3 and 4 to go to Wales and either go hiking in Eryri or walk some of the Cambrian Way. It took me right up until 3 days ago for me to decide. I realised, that what I really wanted to do was finish the Cape Wrath Trail, I’d just put it off because of the midges. I’m lucky that midges don’t bother me too much, and I’ve survived the Scottish midge before. So, I’m on a train up to Inverness, so I can travel to Oykel Bridge and this evening I’ll continue where I’ve left off. I’m really looking forward to being back on the trail. Once I get to Cape Wrath, I’ll only have a 20 mile section from Loch Linnhe to Corry Hully bothy to fully complete the trail. That section can be completed, when I one day walk to Inverie.

So Danielle, Harvey, Sally and Ziggy are off on another whirlwind adventure!

I’d hoped to write an update sooner than this, but adjusting back to life was as expected – hard! I’d always said that the hardest part of the challenge for me would be adjusting back afterwards, I expected it, but that didn’t stop the reality.

Quite a lot has happened, so I’m going to write an update in a few parts. Spoiler Alert: I’m writing this post from a train on my way up to Scotland.

Waking up in my bed the following day, was definitely the weirdest feeling. I lay in bed in exactly the same position as before I set off. The same blankets, the same room and I couldn’t help thinking, was that a really long dream?! Then the realisation hit and I had completed something totally amazing, that I’ve dreamt of for so long.

I felt so proud, mostly that I had, had an idea for 7 years and made it a reality. Even two months later I still look at the map of my route in disbelief. Whilst I was walking I knew that I was moving across the country, the landscape was changing and I could count off the counties. Despite that it could sometimes feel like I was walking on a treadmill. I was putting one foot in front of the other and travelling the distance, but there was a disconnect between that and my actual progress as I walked up the country. I think some of that remains when I look at my map, I try to imagine myself at the different points. I know that I did it, but there’s part of me that has such amazement that I question if I actually did. It’s a magical feeling really, to feel so in awe of something. I hope it stays forever. The map of my route now hangs on my kitchen wall. Everyday starts with a reminder of this trip of a lifetime.

My first week back was quite a whirlwind. I had kit to wash, a tent to dry and boots to clean. Importantly, I got to spend time with my family. I got to have tea with them again. It was amazing how quickly things that had not been normal for a few months, feel so normal again.

In my final couple of months walking, with help from my family, I planned a zigzag completion party. I wanted an opportunity to share my adventure with my friends and loved ones. I knew that people would ask me how my trip was and I would probably, hopelessly, say it was amazing, or incredible but be terrible at giving any detail. So the hall was booked and I spent my first week back procrastinating then finally putting some photos into a coherent order to share with everybody.

It was really lovely evening. It was so lovely to see everybody and I was amazed at the effort that people had made to come.

From spending time with my family to planning a party and fitting in an outdoor first aid course, I didn’t really take time to sit down and process anything very much those first couple of weeks. Though I think the distraction was definitely a good one.

I’d planned myself two weeks off before going back to work. It gave me flexibility to finish behind schedule (if needed), but also two weeks to adjust back to normal life.

Importantly it also meant that I could go petaling! Like many other towns and villages in Derbyshire, but has an annual Well Dressing Festival. It’s my favourite time of year in the town. I’ve helped petal since I was 18 and there’s no way they’re getting rid of me! The well dressings are made by pushing leaves, petals and other natural materials into boards of clay, slowly building the design. I love the repetitive nature of the craft and at the same time, being able to make something so beautiful. This year I had lots of fun making a chimpanzee, two meerkats and working on some of the frog. It was lovely to celebrate the beauty of nature, after spending so much time in it.

After that, it was time to return to work. It was nice to see everyone and nice that people were glad to see me. The oddest part was definitely when someone says “it’s nice to have you back”, it’s lovely to be wanted and I felt grateful for that but on the flip side it meant that I wasn’t walking, so could I really be glad to be back?! It felt odd to have both feelings at the same time, but I came to accept that both are as valid as each other.

After my first full week at work, I definitely had my biggest dip. The reality of not walking each day hit me, and I have lots to be grateful about in life, but my life wasn’t outdoors anymore. I’d felt so comfortable outdoors and the sensory aspects of normal life were starting to grate on me.

With the heatwave, I’d struggled to get outside. I’d gone from 13°C in John O’Groats to 30°C+ in Buxton! It was a shock to the system and I’d spent any available time hiding in my house. This definitely hadn’t helped, with the couped up feeling.

I’d experienced such freedom whilst walking. I only had myself to rely on, but I also got the freedom of only having nature and myself to live by. It had been such an amazing feeling and definitely one that I missed after coming back.

Even though the dip was a challenge, I would definitely go and do the whole experience again, if I could have the chance. It was absolutely incredible and something that I’ll never forget.