Preparation

We’re travelling lighter this time around, partly because of age and partly because of health. Sharon’s back has never quite recovered from 2022 and hours of gardening hasn’t helped. And then there’s the bunion! Pete continues to think he’s younger than he is, racking up injuries at a rate that may break the NZ health system. (Three months on from falling down a crevice and walking out of the bush 7 hours later, both sitting and walking are still pretty painful.)

We are seeing family and friends in both London and Glasgow so some degree of smart clothing is required, but we have whittled everything down to a single bag between us. This will be flicked on once we start walking and we’ll just work with small backpacks for the 17 days on the trail.

So, what do you need? Your feet are the most important thing. Pete’ hasn’t bought anything but Salewa trail shoes for years, Sharon is a Hoka fan. Pete’s are new (the last pair going in a bin in Edinburgh, 2022), while Sharon is giving a final glimpse of fame to the shoes that got her from Rye to Gretna Green. Sharon’s socks are Injinji toe socks and she won’t wear anything else. Pete wears Marks & Spencer walking socks with women’s boot liners (almost like crew length tights). Short gaiters of course.

We’ll both carry light packs, full sets of waterproofs, hats & gloves, something warm and anti-midge head nets. Sharon will carry any lunch, Pete will take the first aid kit, water, bug spray, sunblock, compass, knife, etc. We’ll both have phones, power banks and, for the times we’ve had enough of each other, ear pods. Billy Connolly once joked that Scotland has two seasons, June and Winter. Certainly it will rain and therefore a dry version of all forms of clothing will also be required.

We’ll be using OS maps on our phones, both to guide us and track our route each day. It’s so much easier than paper maps these days. We’ll both have details of everything on our phones so if we lose or break one we have back up.

We’ve got the route down pat and all our accommodation and evening meals are booked. Each day’s destination has been sussed on line, as have anything of interest en route.

All we have to do now is walk.