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The big trip
  • Karen Foster
  • John Foster
  • Karen Foster
  • John Foster

The big trip

A 94-day adventure by Karen & John Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 13, 2026
    The big trip

    The start

    May 13 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Well we made it to the airport. We are on our way!

  • The big trip

    We made it to Manchester

    May 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Well it was a long flight but we made it. Arrived in Manchester and now just need to stay awake for a little while

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    Weekend with family

    May 15 in England ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Today we did shopping at Asda, breakfast at Weatherspoons and then off to Blackpool for weekend with family. Good times

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    Family time

    May 16 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Very busy day today. Grandchildren are ensuring I work out prior to starting my big walk 😂 swimming this morning, then climbing ( the grandchildren not me), then cake making ( that was a bit messy) then football. Now resting with a white wine ( me not the grandchildren)Read more

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    Day 1 Land’s End to Penzance

    May 20 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Early start today walked from the camp in Sennen where we stayed last night to Land’s End to get our photo taken at the sign, we had to prove we were there. The walk started off quite easy, flat path, great views, easy walking. We stopped off at the Minak Theatre and took a tour, what a great place. We also had cream teas there to help us with the rest of the walk. The walk got a lot tougher from there. The cliffs went up and down and up and down, working muscles I haven’t used in a while. But we made it and had a pint of local ale to celebrate in Mousehole.
    John says: I forgot how warm English ale could be 😂 We remembered it’s Jam first when eating your scones in Cornwall. Finished the day in Penzance with Fish n Chips proper Cod. 👏👏    Read more

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    Day 2 Penzance to Hayle

    May 21 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    After a very hearty breakfast at the Swordfish Inn we set off at around 9:30am. It was a very easy start to the walk, following the SWCP from Penzance to Marazion. Once the mist lifted we had a great view of St Michael’s mount. Then we left the SWCP to follow St Michael’s Way to the other side of the coast, where we will eventually join the SWCP again. St Michael’s way was a lovely path through rolling countryside. We the passed through Hayle and the last couple of miles to our campsite were through narrow country lanes, which were a bit scary as there are no footpaths and barely enough room for a person and a car to pass. But we got to the camp no problem, got the tent up. It’s a bit windy but the tent is still standing for now. The sun has come out and there is a public house across the road from the camp. What more could you want.
    PS John Says We had our first Cornish Pastie today. Well deserved. Body still in one piece😂 Finishing today with some St Ives Amber Ale, you have to support the local brewers.    Read more

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    Day 3 Hayle to St Agnes

    May 22 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Got a good nights sleep last night once the wind calmed down. Didn’t wake up until gone 7am so a later start than planned. Had porridge and coffee sat outside the tent and then packed up ready to set off. The first part of the walk was quite east, great views, a bit of up and down but not too strenuous. We stopped in Portreath to have coffee and pastry and admire the view. Then on to the hard part of the walk, lots of down and back up again. We passed lots of ruins of old mines, a reminder of Cornwalls mining past. That was interesting. We stopped for lunch at Porthtowwan, it was a lovely little cove and we stayed there for a while. The weather was lovely and we took shoes and socks off and rested our feet. It was then onwards for more up and down on the SWCP. We stopped at St Agnes for a quick break. That is another lovely beach cove. Then we climbed what felt like Mount Everest to get to our camp for the night. This is a great spot at Blue Hills Camp and we are settled now with tent up and cup of coffee in hand
    PA John says you can’t get an uber in Cornwall for love nor money 😂. we have walked 80km in 3 days.    Read more

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    This is an old mine shaft2Are you sure this is the right way John?1John said this is his idea of a holiday

    Day 4 St Agnes to Newquay

    May 23 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We woke up to a rather damp camp this morning. It had rained during the night and was a very misty morning. Still it was nice enough for us to sit outside the tent and have coffee and porridge. We started walking early about 7:30am. Today was not as long a walk so we were able to take it nice and easy, stopping to sit on the beaches and admire the views. Today had everything, some hills, plenty of flat top of cliffs walking, beach walking, dunes and moorland type walking. We passed more relics of Cornwalls mining past and military relics from WW2, including walking past a WW2 airfield. We had a great break when we got to Fistral beach, the weather was lovely and we enjoyed a rest there. Then it was a walk through the streets of Newquay, very busy with holidaymakers enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend, to our accommodation for the night at the Griffin Inn.
    PS walked through some great little Cornish seaside towns and beaches. Could have spent longer in each one.    Read more

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    Day 5 Newquay to Trevone

    May 24 in England ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today we set off later than usual as breakfast in the hotel was 8:30am and we couldn’t set off without breakfast. So we set off around 9:30am. It was an easy walk across Newquay beaches. We saw an aircraft carrier going across the bay, now there’s something you don’t see every day. It was getting plenty of attention. We passed so many beaches and coves today and they were all beautiful. We stopped at Morgan Porth for ice cream. Then later we stopped at Porthcothan beach for a swim, lunch and to rest for a while. That was really nice. Then we had a further 5 or so miles to walk to our camp, perched high above the bay, with great views. It also has a cocktail bar and a pizza oven, this is a great campsite.
    PS Karen said let’s go for a swim. I go in knee deep, get knocked over by a wave, absolutely freezing water was 14 degrees but felt colder. Karen dips her toe and. gets out. 😂 I think she’s taking the michael out of me.    Read more

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    Day 6 Trevone to Port Gaverne

    May 25 in England ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Oh boy, today was a hot one, anything from 27 degrees to 500 degrees depending on who you speak to. In reality I think it was around 29 degrees, now for the UK that it hot and when you are walking up and down enormous cliff paths it’s even hotter. The scenery was still amazing and we just took lots of breaks, Coffee in Padstow, then we took the Padstow ferry across the estuary. The other option would have been to swim and it is a long way across that estuary. We stopped for a swim in Daymer Bay, well John swam and I paddled (I don’t like the big waves). We stopped for lunch at Pentireglaze, a national trust property with picnic tables and we could pick up extra drinking water ( we needed it). We passed through Port Quin, where we stopped to sit in the shade by the harbour, and Port Isaac (Doc Martin country). It was then a short ( up a very steep hill) walk to our accommodation for tonight, Port Gaverne hotel. It’s a great place right across the road from the harbour, where we went for a swim, and there is a bath ( that was so welcome tonight).
    PS John says it is too hot to hike. Everyone else is on the beach or in the sea.    Read more

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    Our hotel in Port Gaverne
    Our hotel in Port Gaverne

    Day 7 Port Gaverne to Boscastle

    May 26 in England ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    What a tough day. It started really well with a lovely breakfast at our hotel. Then the walking began, it started with a great steep uphill, then a terrifying downhill, then another scramble up hill and that was how it went for about 8 miles, before we ended up on a cliff top with a path that was just about wide enough to put one foot in front of the other without going over the edge. We did stop at a lovely little cove for lunch, we couldn’t swim as the sea was coming in and it was crashing over the rocks, but we did find a shady spot to sit. We walked through Tintagel and saw King Arthur’s castle. We then passed King Arthur’s Inn and thought it would be rude not to call in for a Cider. After that the cliff walking to Boscastle seemed slightly easier. Our campsite is on the top of a big hill, it is a lovely spot and very peaceful. So we are now settling down for picnic tea, with G&T in a can to celebrate surviving today.
    PS We passed no one doing a long hike today. I said to karen at one point that the South West Coast path was really tough, she replied if it was easy everybody would be doing it, not just a pair of idiots like us. I thought that summed things up well 😂😂    Read more

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    Day 8 Boscastle to Bude

    May 27 in England ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today was an early start as it was going to be hot again. Thankfully there was a breeze blowing when we started and it made the walking feel so much easier. There was still a lot of up and down cliffs but up to about lunchtime at least it felt cooler. We stopped at Tremounth Haven for coffee and cake and later we had lunch sat high on the cliffs above the bay (because I refused to walk any further without food). The cliffs were very dramatic by the time we got to Widemouth beach I was exhausted from all the walking up and down the cliff path. We stopped at a cafe for drinks and ice cream and then slowly made our way on to Bude, our stop for 2 nights, we have a rest day tomorrow and I am looking forward to that 😀
    PS I’m shattered. Glad for a rest day tomorrow. 👏👏    Read more

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    Day 9 rest day in Bude

    May 28 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today was a lovely rest day in Bude. We got up late 6:30am and washed all our clothes as there is a laundry at our accommodation. Such luxury having properly clean clothes. Then we had a walk to the Castle and sat for a while reading. This afternoon I had a lovely massage at a place called Restore, hot and cold stones massage. It was great and really released the tension in my back, after carrying the backpack for 8 days. Then me and John went to a beach sauna. A little mobile sauna on the beach with a cold plunge bath set up next to it. It was great and the view was amazing. Now we’ll have an early night before setting off walking again tomorrowRead more

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    Walking through the country lanes outside BudeBack on the SWCP for the great viewsHartland QuayHartland AbbeyHartland village1

    Day 10 Bude to Hartland

    May 29 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Today we detoured off the SWCP a bit. My left knee isn’t liking all the steep ups and downs on that path so for the first half of today we took an inland route across fields and through country lanes, it was much easier walking. Still some hills but not as sharp up and down as on the SWCP. For the second half we did rejoin the path as the scenery is stunning and worth risking my knee for. We passed Hartland Quay and then Hartland Abbey ( but it was closed) on the way up to Hartland village, our camp site for tonight is just outside the village. A very nice days walking and my knee held up fine.
    PS We left Cornwall today, no more black and white Cornish flags. Now in Devon. Is that a good excuse to stop? 😂😂    Read more

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    We didn't see this sign until we'd already walked through the field!!2ClovellyDown by the harbour at ClovellyOur camp for tonight

    Day 11 Hartland to Bideford

    May 30 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today we woke up to a rather soggy morning. It hadn’t rained but it had been cold during the night so there was a very heavy dew. I was lovely and warm inside my sleeping bag with my thermals on so didn’t realise how cold it had been until I got up in the morning. Our walk today started through fields and quiet lanes again, then we got back on to the SWCP. We passed through Clovelly which was definitely not to be missed, even though the steep cobbled streets were challenging to walk. It is a beautiful place and half way back up the hill we stopped off for a coffee and a chat with some of the locals. Then we were off again along the path. We then stopped at Bucks Mill for lunch, we found a nice bench overlooking the beach and stayed there for a while. Then we walked through some little country lanes to our camp for tonight. It is a very nice place, very quiet.
    PS John says: That’s the last of the cliff walking for a while. Glad to see the back of it. Now we have a few days of rain and Exmoor to look forward to. 😂👍    Read more

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    Looking over towards AppledoreLunch at the old Fremington station

    Day 12 Bideford to Barnstaple

    May 31 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We set off early today from our camp, after a nice breakfast and coffee in their great utility room. It had rained during the night, we were nice and dry inside the tent but it was still wet when I packed it up, so that added some weight to my pack today. Luckily it was a fairly easy walk. Started with some hill climbing and scrambling through fields. We passed through Bideford, which has some urban areas on the outskirts but has a historical centre as you get towards the river. Soon we were on the very well defined Tarka Trail (which also crosses with the South West Coast Path at various points). It was easy flat walking and we passed through some lovely little villages. Instow was very pretty with views to Appledore across the estuary. We stopped for lunch at the old Fremington station, which was very nice. Then on in to Barnstaple where we met up with Emma (our daughter), Danny (her husband) and Elsie (our granddaughter). We’ve spent a lovely couple of hours with them at Westwood Ho and we will all have dinner together tonight. Great end to the day.Read more

  • The big trip
    The start of the day was dry
    The start of the day was dryThe early walking quiet easyBrayfordBrayford. Where we sat to eat lunchIt's getting wetterThis was a big hill that we had to climbIt was very misty in the afternoonLater the rain was very heavyElsie was offering to carry grandad's bag7

    Day 13 Barnstaple to Simonsbath (Exmoor)

    June 1 in England ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Well we had some weather today. It started off ok dry but overcast as we left Barnstaple. We had had breakfast with Emma, Elsie and Danny and bid them goodbye and then we were off walking. The walk was straight forward at first through fields and quiet country lanes. We stopped in Brayford to eat our lunch. A very small village but it had some picnic tables by a small stream so we sat there for a rest. That is when the rain started. At first it was only light rain, nothing to worry about. We carried on through country lanes out of Brayford until we had to start making our way up onto Exmoor. Then the rain got heavier. The walking was also harder, through fields of long grass with very little sign of any actual path. We only knew we were going the right way because we were following the OS map. Climbing over a few stiles, through a few gates until we reached a better path. It was very misty by this point. The final couple of miles to the Exmoor Forest Inn where we are staying were along a country lane and the rain was really heavy by this point. It was such a relief when we arrived at the Inn. I had initially booked camping in their garden but I asked if they had a room available instead and they did. I am so glad because I really was not looking forward to putting the tent up in that weather! We are now in a lovely warm, dry room and very happy.
    PS Must be mad to do this on a day like this 😂    Read more

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    Day 14 Simonsbath to Luccombe

    June 2 in England ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Today we had a late start. Breakfast at 9am then off to the cafe in Simonsbath to stock up on food for today, as we will not pass anywhere to get food today. The weather was much better than yesterday. We got a few rain showers in the morning, some of them heavy, but then by the afternoon they had cleared. Today was real moor walking. Through bog and across marsh. We had to test the ground with our walking sticks to ensure we didn’t end up neck deep in the bog. The views though were well worth it. When we reached Dunkery beacon we had views out to Wales across the Bristol Channel. We also got a clear view of Western-Super-Mare. Combined with the views across Exmoor it was pretty amazing and worth the climb up there. Tonight we are camping at Porlock Vale camp a real off grid campsite, so quiet and lovely and the sun is currently shining. What more could we want.
    PS John says, What more could you want? All i got was moor, moors, and more moors today John says a proper bed and a beer would do.    Read more

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    The yarn store DunsterDunster CastleJohn was trying out for the butler jobLover's bridge Dunster3Finding our way through the fields3Making friends with the locals

    Day 15 Luccombe to Washford

    June 3 in England ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    We packed up early today as rain was forecast at 7am and I didn’t want to be packing up a wet tent. We had coffee and fruit for breakfast and then set off. We did get a lot of rain showers today but interspersed with some lovely sunshine. We followed the Macmillan way most of today, starting off through forest until we arrived at Dunster, which is a lovely medieval village. The high street was very pretty, we stopped for a coffee as it was raining and we wanted to wait out the shower. Then we had a walk around the village before going to Dunster castle. Well worth a visit, we spent a couple of hours there, luckily today is a short mileage day (only about 14 miles). We then set off again on the Macmillan way to Washford. It started off as a fairly well defined path through forest and then started to go through farmland, we needed to take a few detours as fields had been planted so we had to go around the edges, but we got there in the end. We are now enjoying a pint at the White Horse Inn where we are staying tonight.
    PS funny bit was Karen making friends with the local hunting pack and then the horses They really took a liking to Karen. 👏    Read more

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    Day 16 Washford to Cannington

    June 4 in England ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Today we walked up and over the Quantock Hills. We set off early as we had a long walk today. Our first stop was Williton to get food for lunch. We have to plan our food stops carefully as there are no other options along this route. We picked up lunch and as there was a coffee shop too we stopped for coffee. Then it was off on our walk. Quite easy walking at first then we hit a navigational issue, our map said we had to walk straight through a farm and I mean straight through, I didn’t like that idea, especially as the farmers dogs didn’t seem to like the idea either. So I decided that we should cross a railway line (there was a pedestrian crossing) and dash along an A road ( it was very busy and there was no pavement), John was not happy with that idea, but we did it and we survived. After that we were back to nice country walking again we did pass a few farms but no angry dogs. Then we passed through a forest area, which was very nice and had a picnic area where we stopped for lunch. We had just settled down to eat our lunch when a heavy rain shower came over, but we had our waterproofs on and the shower didn’t last long so it was fine. Sandwiches were a bit soggy though. Then we needed to navigate to our accommodation for tonight across more farmland. This time we had to navigate round cattle, then when we finally made it out of the field we found a sign that said the farm had redirected the path to avoid the cattle field, but the same sign wasn’t at the other end of the field when we entered, or it might have been blown away. It is rather windy. Anyway we have made it to the Malt Shovel Inn in Cannington and to my great joy the room has a bath. The first thing I did was take a nice soak in the bath. Now we will seek some refreshments at the InnRead more

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    23Passing over the M5Location of the battle of Sedgemore2Looking out over Glastonbury Tor2Street where Clark's beganThe chimney is all that is left of the old Clark's factoryStreet High Street

    Day 17 Cannington to Street

    June 5 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today was a long days walk (over 19 miles) so we set off early. There was a lot of lane walking today. A couple of hours after we set off we were in Bridgwater. We were just walking through industrial estates, shopping centres and housing. But we did manage to get breakfast in subway and I go myself an inflatable pillow from mountain warehouse, as I have been missing a pillow when camping. We left Bridgwater going over the M5. The walk then became far more rural, passing through some very nice villages. We arrived in Street earlier than we thought we would, there were only a couple of climbs in today’s walk (giving us good views of Glastonbury Tor) otherwise it was very flat easy walking. We had a walk along Street High St, which is very nice. Tonight we are staying at Hygge Somerset, this is a great place. We can use the kitchen, so we bought ourselves some meals from Sainsbury’s. Our host is really nice and the place is so comfortable.
    PS John Says 17 days is as far as we have ever walked in days before. 265 miles is 65 more than we have walked before.    Read more

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    Glastonbury TorGlastonbury TorThe remains of Glastonbury AbbeyThe New Inn in Wedmore was like an oasis in the desert. Except it was much wetter in Wedmore

    Day 18 Street to Cheddar

    June 6 in England ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Today started well. We had a very nice breakfast at Hygge Somerset. Toast, eggs, coffee, set us up for our days walking. We set off just after 7am and first headed for Glastonbury. The weather was really clear and we got great views from Glastonbury Tor. It was quite windy and I nearly got blown away. But we made it down back into Glastonbury and had a coffee and a walk round the shops. It was very nice. Then we set off for Cheddar. It was easy walking as this area is quite flat, but the rain started and it went on and on and on. When we reached Wedmore ( a couple of hours walk from our camp) we saw a pub and decided it was a great place for a break. It was so nice to get out of the rain. Then we were off again ( in the rain) to Cheddar. We got to the site just after 5pm, luckily tonight we are in a pod, so no trying to pitch the tent in the rain.
    PS John says it was tough today, second day on the run over 30km. It is flattish, but rainy conditions, country lanes, poorly maintained, overgrown and blocked paths. Views from Glastonbury were great though.    Read more