A man walking the entire length of Britain’s coastline for charity is feeling optimistic on reaching Bristol, with 1,000 miles more legwork ahead of him. Retired sailor Jim Morton, 62, set out on his round-Britain ramble on April 12, 2021 – the day Covid-19 lockdown ended – covering around 7,500 miles to date while raising about £24,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
“When I set off I’d only set myself a target of £5,000,” said Jim, “but I’ve raised that to £50,000 now. I’m hoping a lot of the money will come in as I get near to finishing it – with 1,000 miles still to go, there’s plenty of time. I normally aim to do twenty miles a day, but I could only do about 14 or 15 in Scotland – it was hard going. And if I get talking to a lot of people, I can lose two or three hours in a day. But it’s important to let people know what I’m doing and why.
“I made good time down the east coast of England. I’ve only had two blisters so far. When I got the first one I was wearing anti-blister socks, so they went straight in the bin.” Bristol Live spoke to Jim on day 473 of his 18-month expedition, as he approached Brean. The eventful effort has seen him rescue two sheep and one goat, being nearly swept away by floodwaters and falling off a cliff in Inverness, which saw him airlifted to hospital.
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“I was transported all the way across Scotland in a helicopter when a section of cliff I was walking on collapsed underneath me,” he explained. “I had three days in bed with a head injury and then I was out walking on day four, although I only did ten miles that day.” The former seaman served on HMS Gurkha , beginning his connection with the British Army’s elite Nepalese soldiers. He hopes to finish his epic journey in September or October, having raised cash to help rebuild Nepalese villages devastated by an earthquake in 2015.
“I met a lot of Gurkhas in the forces,” said Jim. “They came and served the British Army for twenty years, to make a better life for their families and look after their parents, then an earthquake wiped out everything they’d ever saved for.” He is also motivated by a childhood love of lighthouses, all of which he intends to see as he makes his way around the country. “I’ve seen all of them and been up a few of them as well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the one at Burnham-on-Sea.”
Jim is accompanied on the journey by his wife Sue, who has been driving the motorhome which Jim sleeps in each night, plus their two dogs. Generous supporters have allowed them to stay at campsites and on driveways free of charge.
“The highlight has been the people, the generosity of the British public,” said Jim. “A café in Burnham-on-Sea has offered me lunch and all the campsites have said we can stay free of charge, including one at Brean and one at Weston-super-Mare.”
He added: “If anyone spots me out walking, with my rucksack with two flags on, one Royal Navy and one Gurkha, come and say hello.”
Anyone wanting to know more about Jim’s mission can follow him via his Facebook page , which also has a link to his JustGiving fundraising page.
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