It’s September 2019 and I have agreed to support my brother on his epic walk from Coast to Coast to raise money for The Children’s Bereavement Centre. A fantastic charity that helps families who have lost someone close. We are coming towards it’s end, with just two days and 20 miles to go so now seems like a good time to record some of the highlights, lowlights and top tips of a City girl hiking in the country.

Great people and epic kindness – this theme has followed us throughout the past week. We had the kind man who helped me with my case when I arrived at Kirkby Stephen with a heavy case and faced a bridge and two long staircases, the B&B owner who offered to make Ali breakfast for free even though he wasn’t staying there, the lady who dried out our soaked boots and booked us a table in the pub for dinner despite us not asking because she worked out we would arrive too late to do anything else, the man with the foals who raised our spirits after a long day allowing us to pet the horses and then opened his paddock with a soft floor to let us walk through it, the lady who stopped her car to check I was ok when blisters made me hobble. The list goes on and I can only thank each and everyone of the people that have eased our journey. City girl top tip is to stop and talk to people. Unlike London, it’s expected here and you find our fascinating things if you do.

The good (and yes I know it’s out of the title’s order). Where do I start? Honesty cafes, the best bacon sandwich in the world, home cooked food in the pubs (not packet), comfy B&Bs and fantastic scenery. There is nothing not to like about the Coast to Coast. We saw the place tractors go to die, fantastic rivers (swailsdale), beautiful villages (Keld), great vistas (the walk into Reeth). Wow wow wow. It’s been an honour, despite the sore limbs. Top tip- give this part of England a visit. Reeth, Keld, Glaisdale etc. Stunning.

The weird. Suit of armours in a lounge of a B&B, dolls, toy Ferrari’s, police tanks, Priories that become outdoor centres, pubs playing Metallica aka 1990, bright red bathrooms, gates you need a degree to get through and more. There are some very odd parts of this walk. Oh and let’s not forget Richmond. I can’t begin to explain, top tip all I can suggest is you go there yourself and see what you find. #coasttocoast,#england.