Camping should give me flexibility in terms of where and when to stop each night, and allow me to start walking earlier in the morning. I expect to start by 6.30am most days. The biggest benefit of camping, though, is the closeness to the countryside. The C2C, which was devised in 1973 by the fell-walking legend Alfred Wainwright, covers some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain, and there is nothing to match camping wild in the middle of nowhere, watching the sun go down in silence. In particular, I am trying to work out a timetable that enables me to camp at the end of Black Sail Pass, at the foot of Loft Beck (pictured left) in the heart of the Lake District. In the shadow of some of England's most daunting mountains, for me this remote spot is one of the most thrilling and memorable of the whole walk.However, camping will also make the trek more arduous. The most obvious drawback is the lack of comfort. I remember from my first C2Cs how my feet were throbbing each evening, and a good night’s sleep is essential in helping the body to recover each day. This will be even more so with the extra mileage I will have to cover each day, yet I have no idea if I will be able to get enough sleep with just a thin mat between me and the rough ground. Also, it will be far more difficult to dry out clothing etc. if the weather turns bad – as it almost certainly will at some stage. Moreover, carrying a tent, sleeping bag, mat and cooking equipment adds a lot of weight and take up much of the space in my backpack.
Such a test of endurance seemed a fitting challenge to raise money for Help For Heroes. For a soldier, a 191-mile solo walk across the terrain of northern England over ten days represents little more than a training exercise. However, for a 38-year-old of questionable fitness who is more used to spending his days at a keyboard, knocking doors or lunching with contacts than checking a compass bearing or reading a map, it is a genuinely tough challenge. I am a reporter on The Sun newspaper, which has been supporting the charity for several years now. I’ve been out on the frontline in several war zones, covering the Kosovo and Afghanistan conflicts, and it is incredible to see close-up the hardships that our armed forces suffer while fighting for our country. It never ceases to amaze me the sacrifices the Government expect from them, and yet how little they get in return. When you speak to soldiers in the field, you realise how they are often deprived of vital pieces of kit that could help protect them. Often they, or relatives, have to foot the bill for items that should be provided as standard. The very least anyone wounded while putting their life on the line for their country has a right to expect is the best medical care and rehabilitation support. Frankly, there should be no need for Help For Heroes to fill a gap between the needs of the wounded and what the Government provides. But there is, and having seen close-up just how professional and brave the men and women who serve this country are, I want to do something to ensure that those who are wounded while serving our country get the very best treatment possible.
So I set off by train on August 22, and walk out of the Irish Sea on the beach at St Bees the following morning. There is much preparation to do, but I’m already counting the days. I can’t wait.
