As a teenager I read a book. The book was Journey through Britain by John Hillaby. Once I had finished it, I read it again. I also read his other books but none had the effect on me that the first did. One day, I told myself, I would do the same as the author had done. I would walk from one end of Britain to the other. The years passed but the ambition never did. I had a loose set of rules in place and a relatively simple premise- To walk from the most southerly point on mainland Great Britain to the most westerly, finishing at the most northerly. In other words, Three Points of the Compass. For good measure I decided I may as well take in Land’s End and John O’Groats too. It was going to be a long walk.
I arrived in Poole on 30th March for my walk to start proper on 1st May 2018. Having walked the South West Coast Path, Offa’s Dyke, Pennine Way, West Highland Way and the Cape Wrath Trail, plus the hundreds of miles between these, I completed my walk 152 days later at Duncansby Head, the most north-easterly point of mainland Great Britain, on 29th August. I had walked over 2000 miles and it was amongst the greatest experience I have ever had.
This website is about my build up to that trek, my subsequent walking exploits, lessons learnt and other associated matters, or anything else I wish to ramble on about…
Three Points of the Compass reached John o’Groats on 29th August 2018.
I love this blog so much
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This is really interesting
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Good day! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to
new posts.
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This is my first time go to see at here and i am really impressed to read all at single
place.
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We would love to link up with you for your planning and epic walk, would it be okay to link to your blog on our Association Webpages/FB pages and do updates etc?
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Ian
thank you for your comment. The Land’s-End John o’ Groats Association has been on my radar for some time. As my time for setting off on my Three Points of the Compass walk looms ever nearer, I am, of course, checking up and rechecking those other fool hardy souls that attempt similar challenge. That said, I may be foolish, but never hardy!
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I believe you have noted some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
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Hi there!
I would like to know how to get in touch with the owner of this blog. I recently found a photo in a post for which I would like to ask permission to use!
Please reach out to me as soon as possible. Thank you! meaganmichal@gmail.com
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Hi, what photo are you after?
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Hi Thanks for visiting my blog. I think the link on your Gravatar needs updating as I got a site deleted message? Just thought you might want to know 🙂
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Hi, thanks for the heads up- hopefully I have now sorted that, Jools
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Great To Bump Into You Between Mawgan Porth and Watergate Bay On The 05/05/18 As I Was On My Section Hike From Minehead To Penzance, Hope You Managed To Find The Wild Camp Spot I Suggested Between Port Isaac And Tintagel And Good Luck For The Rest Of Your Journey
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Good to hear from you Justin. Nope, that site didn’t work out. As you said, a lovely spot. So lovely that there must have been 25+ surfers in the water, 10 or so family/friends on the shore, bbq’s on the go. I.was fortunate that it was a still evening, so was able to climb up the side and found a good wild camp on top of the cliffs with just a few sheep to bother me. Hope your section hike went.well. As I write this, two days left on the SWCP before I strike inland
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Back home after my week at Tintagel YH and checked your website. It was good to chat to you briefly over coffee/tea as a break from bed making ( and from the rain for you!) Good luck with what lies ahead. I’ll check in from time to time to see your progress…
I won’t say the best is yet to come, as the SWCP takes some beating!!
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Thanks for your hospitality at Tintagel. I am fully aware the door should have been bolted and barred when I came calling for sanctuary… and tea. I enjoyed our chat, and
such a lovely hostel too.
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What ?
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What what?
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Jools, it was a real privilege to have met you on your adventure, thank you for all your advice and you certainly inspired me to keep on hiking, John
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Thanks John, keep an eye on those feet…
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Hi, we met you today, first in the community veg shop then just on our way back to Ardnamurchan light house on our bikes. You’d had a wee dram at the most westerly point. Well done carry on your travels.
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Great to meet you guys. Still think you should try and get that tandem Mountain Bike out to the ‘true’ westerly point. That can be your challenge, there can’t be anyone else that has even attempted it, probably with good reason!
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Hi Jules, hope you are doing well. We met in A’Chuil bothy, where you helped my friend with a blister. We were wondering whether you completed your journey and did you get over the river at Sourlies?
Looking forward to hearing your journey.
David
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Hi David, thanks for dropping by the website, and your comment. I think your pal was Grant. We enjoyed a couple of hours drying out with the little wood we could gather that would burn. The two of you made an early escape from the bothy, you certainly left a good deal less to clear up in your wake than the three french lads who were away from the next room even earlier. I followed them hours later and caught up with them at Barisdale (after quite an adventure in Glen Dessary and beyond) eight o’clock that evening. It took me two hours the morning after that to clear up the mess they left. Not a happy bunny. The river crossing was a bit after Sourlies, got across OK. Soulies itself was a lovely and welcome lunch halt, dried out my feet with deer outside the door for company. A wet day indeed. We met at A’Chuil on day 129 of my expedition, I finished on day 152. Scotland was a fitting, and tough, end to my Three Points of the Compass trip
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Hi Jules
We met along the Offas Dyke and enjoyed several conversations (and shared accommodation/meal at Prestatyn.) It has been great reading your blog and learning that you got home to your family safely. I have a question. You mentioned a “lovely pretty walk” in the Dales. Was it the Dales Way or the 3 Dales. It seems there are 2 walks with similar names. Looking for a trail in September so would appreciate your recommendation.
Best Wishes
Sally (&Kathy USA)
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Hi Sally, I remember well meeting the two of you on Offa’s Dyke. Ran in to any more angry swans recently? It was almost certainly the Dales Way that I referred to, it is a very pretty trail. I did it in the Spring with a myriad of new lambs bouncing around, a lovely time of year to complete the walk. I have no idea what it would be like in September. Best, Jools
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Hi Jools
Hope you are well. Got any plans for this year? Having done the Pennine Way last year and left you reading your maps in Kirk Yetholm, am taking on the challenge of the Cambrian Way in July. Similar distance, but over twice the elevation and much more wild. Looking forward to it.
Regards
Steve
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Hi Steve
not a great deal planned for this year. Section hiking the Greensand Way when I can find time. Had a couple of weeks hiking in Madeira. Hoping to do the Cleveland Way in the autumn, that’s about it. Good luck on the Cambrian Way. Let me know how you got on.
Jools
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