"In distance terms this is the equivalent of walking from Land's End to John O'Groats seven and a half times!
Starting at Aberystwyth I headed south down the coast - so that winter would be spent in the south and summer in the north of Britain. On the way I tried to stay as close as possible to the "true coast" - taking into account such factors as safety and public access.
I am a former student of the University of Wales Aberystwyth and was 39 years old when I set out.I started and finished the walk outside the entrance to Aberystwyth University's glorious seafront building - the Old College.
Not all of the coast has a path network, but on the way I was able to walk along all or part of these trails:- the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, the Severn Way, the South West Coast Path, the Saxon Shore Way, the Thames Path, the Cleveland Way, the Berwickshire Coastal Path, the John Muir Way, the Fife Coastal Path, and the Cumbria Coastal Way.
On average I walked twenty miles per day. The walk around the Scottish coast alone took six months! I preferred walking shoes to boots and managed to wear out nine sets of shoe soles. I now know from personal experience that walking shoe uppers last about 1,400 miles and the soles about 800 miles.
Over 170 nights were spent wild camping and the rest were spent in youth hostels, bothies and bed and breakfasts. Several times I was given accommodation by kindly people I met on the route - on one occasion sleeping in an empty horse compartment in a stables on the banks of Holy Loch, Argyll.
There are many fine youth hostels around the Welsh coast and I was lucky enough to stay at the Pwll Deri and St David's hostels in Pembrokeshire (both with fantastic views) and at the Port Eynon hostel (a former lifeboat house) on the Gower peninsula.
I have been asked many times why I did the walk. I certainly had no plans to set records for walking endurance. There were lots of reasons including: to spend more time observing the natural world; to discover more about Britain; and because this was a huge challenge and adventure!
One major reason though, was to stage a series of photo exhibitions once the journey was over.
People also often ask what training is necessary for such a walk. Prior to the walk I actually lived in a tent for four months! I camped in the grounds of a remote youth hostel called Tanner's Hatch on the North Downs in Surrey - from February onwards.
This helped to harden me up and living in a tent became the norm rather than a novelty. I also got used to all the night's wild sounds - from badgers snuffling along their regular nightly routes in search of worms to the blood curdling screeches of barn owls calling across the valley.
During this time I was still working - so I built into the day ten miles walking to and from work.
What I hadn't anticipated was just how tough it was going to be to walk everyday with a fully loaded rucksack containing everything you needed for survival.
There's a world of difference between walking unencumbered and with your worldly possessions on your back. By the time I had finished I felt as though I had the physique of an army commando and I had also developed an extra centimetre-thick layer of skin on my feet.
In order to have a better knowledge of coastal wildlife and habitats along with coastal conservation issues I went on an evening course in the two years before the walk in order to obtain a Certificate in Ecology and Conservation from Birkbeck College, University of London.
One of the biggest problems a walker will face is how to cut down the weight of the rucksack. For example there are over 100 different Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 maps which cover the British coast. To help cut down weight I picked up small bundles of maps, letters and provisions at pre-designated post offices along the way, using the post restante collection system.
Used maps and other items like used films were posted off back to my wife.
After the walk I realised my ambition to exhibit my photos from the walk. I staged a touring photographic exhibition "Footsteps on the Edge of Britain". This was displayed at eight venues including the Aberystwyth Arts Centre (2002), the Maltings Art Centre Berwick-upon-Tweed (2001), the Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery in Fife (2002), and the McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Greenock (2003).
Since the walk my wife and I have lived in Scotland. I have undertaken work as a Ranger in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh and developed a new career as an Adult Education Tutor specialising in urban wildlife and garden walks.
In 2006 I trained as a Garden Guide with the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and along with the other Guides provided tours of this famous botanic garden during the 2006 season.
In 2005 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I am currently organising a walking event to be held in May 2008 on the Welsh/English border in order to raise funding for Macmillan Cancer Support. It is intended that this will become an annual event. "
Article written by Peter Griffiths.
your comments
If you are under 16 please do not disclose your surname.
We try to publish as many comments as we can but unfortunately, due to the volume of comments we receive every day, we cannot guarantee that all comments submitted will be published
Philip Bingam, Sheffield
What an amasing achievement! I to am planning to do what peter has achieved. Just reading what he did and what he saw just make me feel like I want get up and go now. You only live once! P.S: I was sad to hear of his passing and let his wife know he has inspired me greatly.
Mon Oct 26 11:09:23 2009
Lee Corbett, Llandudno;
Thank you Pete, for giving me and my friend the courage to do the same. After reading what this man has achieved we are now willing to do the the same for a charity - for help the heroes. Thank you pete.
Mon Aug 24 17:08:00 2009
Peter Murgaroyd from London
well i think wat peter did was a fantastic acievment i would love to do the walk love the outdoors anybody else interestad get in touch
Sun Jun 21 21:59:27 2009
Nathalie Griffiths, Peter's wife
It is with an immense sadness that I have to say that Peter, my marvellous husband and companion, my dearest friend, died of cancer on 4th September.I want to thank the BBC Mid Wales Team for letting Peter have these web pages.I do hope that Peter's walk around the British coast, as well as his courage and determination will continue to fascinate and inspire lots of people.Peter and I organised a charity walk last May, on the Powys/Shropshire border. With a group of friends, we walked from Knucklas to Knighton, via Lloyney and along parts of the Jack Mytton Way and the Offa's Dyke footpath. We had a truly enjoyable day. Thanks to kind donations from friends and family, a total amount of £565 was raised and shared between two cancer charities: Macmillan Cancer Support and Carol's Smile.Peter was very keen on a charity walk to be organised each year in May, even if he was not with us anymore.I will fulfill his wish with all my heart.
Tue Nov 18 09:36:03 2008
Tom Morton from Cornwall
A lot of people dream of such an adventure but few actually do an odessy like this.I was intrigued to read that you posted photographs and paraphanalia back to the wife.I ironically am considering a coastal walk to get away from the wife for at least a year!I recall that while cycling end to end four times in 1984 I met an Indian Man who had walked halfway round the world for a peace March(Height of Cold War!)
Thu Nov 13 16:42:05 2008
Graham, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Hello Peter. Congratulations on your coastal walk. No mean feat! I have just started thinking about doing the walk as I love long distance walking and found your site in these early stages of research. Your summary here is excellent - thank you. Did you plan your whole route in advance or in stages? There are quite a few different mileages banded about, from 4,500 to 11,000. I guess this depends on proximity to the coast. Anyway, an amazing achievement and best wishes in your future adventures. Perhaps I will see you in the fields and footpaths of Sussex sometime!
Mon Sep 1 09:31:04 2008
Paul Harvey, Cornwall
Hi pete, i also walked round the coast of britain, but i did it in 1996-97, started from boston, lincs, am trying to compile a full list of whoi and where etc, my mate james edmondfs walked in 197-98, started also form boston lincs, as far as i am aware, i was first to walk anti clock wise, yourself and james 2nd & 3rd. hope all is well
Tue Aug 5 09:31:27 2008
Peter Griffiths in Eastbourne (we've moved from Ed
Gary, thanks for the comments. The hardest parts? In my opinion the hardest parts are not particular places. First just getting to the starting line is a big achievement, with money, maps, routes, time, and physical preparation all sorted. Second, the first few hundred miles will be a test - especially if you are intending to camp out a lot and you haven't done much of this kind of thing before; and your feet will certainly think that this is the hardest part as the effect of carrying a heavy rucksack will be to develop loads of blisters. But don't worry!! After about 1000 miles you'll be flying and your feet will have developed an extra tyre layer of skin! You don't have to be super physically fit - although it all helps - its how much mental strength you have and how you cope with the problems thrown up as you go around. Let me know where and when you intend to start/finish. Best of luck for next year! Peter Griffiths
Sun Mar 30 19:05:46 2008
Gary lakritz
i admire your walk and wil attempt to complete the walk myself in 09 taking 11 months where were the hardest sections?
Fri Mar 28 11:12:51 2008
From Nath
1st September 2007: Happy 10th Anniversary of the start of your Walk around the British coast, Peter! I keep precious memories of our meetings and walks in so many interesting and beautiful places around the coast - North Devon and Cornwall, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Dunnottar Castle, the Llyn Peninsula and the last stretch between Borth and Aber under snow showers!The photo exhibitions and talks that followed were fascinating too. I admire your endurance and your mental determination, not only during the walk, but in everyday life. Love.
Thu Aug 30 09:01:31 2007
Jeremy Rayner from Reading
A stupendous achievement! Peter’s unbounded enthusiasm for the wonder of coastal Britain is inspirational, as I experienced when walking with him one June day from Dornoch to Golspie in north-east Scotland, then again several months later as part of a small group on the final stretch back to Aberystwyth, and when visiting the fine display of his photos in Sheerness library on the Isle of Sheppey.
Tue Jun 19 09:54:30 2007
Dany&Robert Francoz from Annecy, France
We are not at all keen walkers...but we admired a lot Peter's wonderful achievement. In August 1998 we met him in the Highlands near Shieldaig. He had already made a great part of his walk.We think that one of Peter's characteristics is determination and pugnacity. That is a very good tate of mind for him to be in at the moment in his present situation. Well done for his project to organise a walking event in order to raise funds for Mac Millan Cancer Support.Keep your chin up Pete and see you soon in Bexhill-on-sea.
Sat Jun 9 17:27:21 2007
Jonathan Welbon from Hadlow, Kent
This was a fanatastic single minded achievement, brought about by meticulous planning. Like Mike above,I met Pete on a very cold and very windy day at the Seven Sisters in Sussex in February 1998 and later at the Isle of Grain on a similar day. Was I glad I wasn't going further! Well done Pete, an inspiration to all us dreamers.
Sat Jun 9 17:23:47 2007
Rob Jackson, Nottingham
A fantastic achievement Pete. Some stunning pictures to record your journey also.Best wishes.
Fri Jun 8 16:12:39 2007
Claude, Annecy, France
Hello, congratulations! I think it is a wonderful project and I hope he will realise it; he is very courageous, and also a good photographer. I wish him good luck (even if I am not a keen walker myself) and maybe he will come to France to do the same thing along our coasts!
Thu Jun 7 09:26:57 2007
Mike Davies from Romsey, Hants
Well done Pete. I'll always remember standing on the beach at Lee-on-Solent, waving you off into a howling gale. I'd walked one day with you that first winter and was quite glad I wasn't doing a second. To circumnavigate this island home of ours is a wonderful achievement.
Thu Jun 7 09:14:15 2007
Are you a keen walker? What do you think of Peter's achievements? Add your comments here:
