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.

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Sep 20 2020

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Aug 3 2020

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 ...

Jul 31 2020

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 ...

Jul 29 2020

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 ...

Jul 28 2020

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 ...

Jul 26 2020

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 ...

Jul 25 2020

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 ...

Jul 23 2020

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 ...

Jul 22 2020

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 ...

Jul 21 2020

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 ...

Jul 20 2020

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. ...

Jul 18 2020

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 ...

Jul 17 2020

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 ...

Jul 16 2020

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 ...

Jul 15 2020

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 ...

Jul 15 2020

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 ...

Jul 13 2020

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 ...

Jul 13 2020

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 ...

Jul 11 2020

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 ...

Jul 10 2020

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 ...

Jul 9 2020

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, ...

Jul 8 2020

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 ...

Jul 7 2020

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 ...

Jul 5 2020

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 ...

Jul 4 2020

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 ...

Jul 3 2020

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 ...

Jul 2 2020

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 ...

Jul 1 2020

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 ...

Jun 30 2020

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 ...

Jun 22 2020

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 ...

Jun 21 2020

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 ...