What motivates some people to go beyond the short walks that are so beneficial for mind, body and spirit, and instead trek for hundreds or even thousands of kilometres? And what preparation is needed for those who feel the urge to do the same?

Inspired by stories of other people’s journeys on foot, whether that’s walking from John o’ Groats to Land’s End or trekking across the wild mountains of Patagonia, someone will, at this very moment, decide to set out on an epic walk. The reasons for embarking on such expeditions are varied. Many do it to raise funds and awareness for a charity, some have a deep, spiritual calling to go on a pilgrimage (see Breathe 33), while others have a sense of adventure in their soul and enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from challenge and uncertainty. For some, it’s the desire to see more of the world and gain the sense of satisfaction that comes from completing an epic journey. And then there are those who walk because it seems like the only option.

In 2013, Raynor and Moth Winn walked the entire 630 miles of England’s South West Coast Path because they didn’t know what else to do. Homeless, bankrupt and with Moth facing a life-limiting illness, they made the radical and brave decision to carry their home on their backs and walk. Raynor, who went on to write about their experience in the bestselling book The Salt Path, admits that it was born out of a sense of despair. It was a case of ‘Why not?’ mixed with ‘What other choice do we have?’ They also thought it would give them time to form a plan about what they wanted to do next. It turned into a remarkable journey, during which they came to terms with grief and connected with the healing power of nature. In her account, Raynor writes: ‘Only one thing was real, more real to me now than the past that we’d lost or the future we didn’t have: if I put one foot in front of another, the path would move me forward and a strip of dirt, often no more than a foot wide, had become home.’