Kathy's walk the trail diary
I set off on 1 July to walk all 200 miles of the Sussex Hospices Trail to raise money for Friends of Sussex Hospices and I completed the walk on 31 July.
The Trail has 26 sections, ranging in distance from three to eleven miles long and I walked at least one each day, taking the odd day off to give my feet a rest! Find out about my progress in my diary below.
Walk The Trail Day 2020
Walkers from across Sussex took part in our fourth annual Walk The Hospice Trail Day on Oct 3rd 2020. The self guided event, for groups of six or less, was organised to raise awareness of the ...
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My personal thanks
I’d like to express my sincere thanks to those who have supported me through my journey this past month, not least the three hundred and ten (at the time of writing) generous individuals who have helped ...
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Walk 26: Halnaker to Chichester
We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. From Four ...
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Walk 25: Amberley to Halnaker
Another gloriously sunny morning. Katharine Minchin chauffeured me to Amberley Station and within 100 yards I was once again in the middle of the most spectacular scenery, walking along the grassy embankment of the Arun. Lots ...
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Walk 24: Pulborough to Amberley
Caroline Nicholls drove me to the start of this section which she’d walked with ‘Charlie’s Angels’ on one of our Walk The Hospice Trail days. It was a lovely bright sunny morning as I set off ...
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Walk 23: Billingshurst to Pulborough
It was a fine fresh morning - blue sky with some interesting clouds. Walking across a huge playing field with football nets and rugby posts - not a soul around - there, sitting in the middle ...
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Walk 22: Horsham-Billingshurst
Gosh, it was good to get my little blue GPS dot back! Lisette Petrie, who has completed the whole Trail, sent me some notes and suggestions about this walk so I used these as my guide ...
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Walk 21: Balcombe to Horsham -Lost in the High Weald
Before starting this section of the Trail, I called by St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley and was greeted by (left to right) Hannah Liles - Income Generation Project Manager, Laura Kelly - Philanthropy Manager, Tom Abbott ...
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Walk 20: Haywards Heath to Balcombe
Mum and St Anthony have been doing sterling work - this was another perfect walking day - bright and sunny and not too warm. Haywards Heath station was pretty quiet for a midweek morning but the ...
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Walk 19: North Chailey to Haywards Heath
Within minutes of starting this walk at North Chailey I was at St George’s an attractive red-brick building which once housed the Chailey Heritage Crafts School but has since been converted into residential accommodation. Next to ...
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Walk 18: Uckfield to North Chailey
Comedian, author, playwright, musical librettist, actor and director Ben Elton who has been a Patron of FSH since 2007 lives near this section of the Trail and I was delighted to get his message of support. ...
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Walk 17: Heathfield to Uckfield
It was a bright sunny morning as I set off on this walk which passes through my village. People were queuing outside Heathfield's Patisserie Valentin - no surprise as there’s usually a queue in non-covid times ...
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Walk 16: Burwash Common to Heathfield
Before setting off I was puzzled as to why this route it zig zagged across the A265 but soon all became clear. After walking up a very steep narrow path and through some farm buildings I ...
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Walk 15: Etchingham to Burwash Common
Passing Jarvis & Sons (where a Jarvis has been working behind the counter for 50 years!) I left Etchingham and turned into into Borders Lane. It wasn’t long before I found myself in the beautiful pastoral ...
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Walk 14 Robertsbridge to Etchingham
On leaving Robertsbridge Station the trail took me on a path between some houses and fairly soon I was through a kissing gate and back in the picturesque rolling countryside. There were some splendid views across ...
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Walk 13: Battle to Robertsbridge
Setting off from Battle Station I walked up past Battle Abbey. It was a bit of a grey start but the cloud was lifting and the sun was beginning to break through. I walked along Battle ...
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Walk 12: Crowhurst to Battle
I left Crowhurst and after crossing a couple of fields arrived at a woodland entrance to the Fore Wood RSPB Nature Reserve. The information panel and my guide notes promised a variety of birds and their ...
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Walk 11: West St Leonards to Crowhurst
Another beautiful sunny day and a great start to the morning! Before heading for West St Leonards I called at St Michael’s Hospice where Perdita Chamberlain greeted me and I met Jo Pinder, Inpatient Unit Nursing ...
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Walk 10: Norman’s Bay to West St. Leonards
It was a beautiful sunny day as I set off from The Star Inn at Norman’s Bay. The sky a powder blue and the moon a faint half crescent but I could imagine the whole sphere ...
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Walk 9: Eastbourne to Norman’s Bay
I had more of a spring in my step this morning - I think my spring is weather-dependent and today promised much better walking weather than the past two days. Eastbourne Pier On leaving the Pier ...
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Walk 8 Alfriston to Eastbourne
My walk started in Alfriston where was 'seen off' by Jimmy & Fran. I think these canine send offs might have something to do with my posing by signsposts they frequent! I chatted with their owner, ...
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Walk 7: Southease to Alfriston
It was a grey and drizzly morning and I have to admit my step didn’t have much spring in it as I set off from Southease and headed up onto the Downs. I took the steep ...
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Walk 6 Brighton to Southease
I was seen off (in the nicest possible way) from Brighton Station, the start of walk 6, by Rudy, the four legged barista at The Coffee Counter. A huge colourful portrait of Rudy adorns the wall ...
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Walk 5: Shoreham to Brighton
It was a grey, misty, mizzly morning and I must say that a stroll along the seafront wasn't looking that attractive. But on the way to the start I stopped off at the Martlets Hospice where ...
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Walk 4 Goring to Shoreham
My day started with a desperately needed haircut at 7.00am with Lisa at the newly Covid-perspexed Village Hair Shop in East Hoathly. It was so good to catch up with Lisa and Michelle and hear their ...
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Walk 3 Arundel to Goring
Another perfect day. Caroline Nicholls very kindly ferried me to Arundel Station, the start of my third walk, and gave me some useful pointers about what I might expect as she’d walked this section as part ...
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Walk 2: Barnham to Arundel
Ideal conditions again this morning for walking - thanks mum and St Anthony! I headed off in the direction of Yapton, home of David Bathurst. David is a marvel: a trail completer, a participant in the ...
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Walk No.1 Chichester to Barnham
The weather was perfect for walking - much kinder than yesterday’s wet and windy conditions. My mum, who’s been living with me since lockdown, is in charge of the weather for the duration of my walk ...
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I’m ready for the off!
All set! I’ve done a few practice walks, taken advice from walking experts as well as those wonderful people who have already completed the Trail. I’ll be carrying spare batteries for AllTRails and Strava, an OS ...
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200 Miles and 26 Walks
Starting on 1st July I plan to walk the whole Trail. While I’ve been beating the drum for 25 years about how wonderful hospice care is, until recently I hadn’t experienced on a personal level just ...
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Kathy takes on the Hospice Trail!
Running and walking have always been important to me.I've completed six marathons to raise funds for FSH and in 2012 I was privileged to have been chosen as an Olympic torch bearer - although the distance ...
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