AN intrepid walker has completed yet another phenomenal marathon.
Patrick Davies has become the first English man to walk non-stop and unsupported around Southern and Northern Ireland.
The 56-year-old, from Mobberley, trudged through persistent rain and completed 1,400 miles in 73 days.
This is his fourth epic trek and every step has been taken for the love of his dad, Roy, who has dementia.
Over the last three years, Patrick has raised more than £60,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Patrick said: “The disease has relentlessly taken its toll and my father recently moved into full time care. It’s hard to watch.
“Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of death in the UK. There’s no cure.
“I want to do all I can to raise much-needed money to find better treatments and eventually a cure.”
His first hike walking the entire length of Britain took him 1,400 miles from Lizard Point, the southern most tip to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point.
On his 73-day expedition, Patrick even climbed the country’s highest mountains, Scafell Pike in England, Snowdon in Wales and Ben Nevis in Scotland.
His quest for challenge continued and over the following two years, he completed a 774-mile solo trek across the French Pyrenees and 720 miles crossing the Vosges, Jura and the Alps.
Trudging around Ireland, sleeping in a tent, posed different challenges to his previous treks.
Patrick said: “It doesn’t have many footpaths, so the majority of the time I was walking on quiet roads and lanes, which can be really tough on the feet.
“It’s the hardest walk I’ve done so far.
“Then there was the weather! The west of Ireland had its wettest summer for years.
“Parts of the north west had three times more rain than normal.
“That meant the walk was pretty gruelling at times.
“It was more a psychological challenge than a physical one, just keep going every day in grey and wet weather.”
Despite constant rain and repeated blisters, Patrick was overwhelmed by breathtaking views.
“Ireland is a beautiful country,” he said.
“It’s incredibly green.
“My first day in Dublin was stunningly beautiful, clear blue skies.
“The Wicklow Mountains were lovely.
“The west coast is all very rugged. The coastline is stunning.”
Even though he was on his own for most of the journey, he received a warm welcome along the way.
“All the people I met were incredibly friendly,” said Patrick.
“I had so many chats with farmers, workmen and shop owners.
“They all thought I was slightly mad to try and walk around their country!
“They would say goodbye with a ‘fair play to ya’ and a wave.”
Accomplishing such long distances on foot has given him a new sense of purpose.
He quit his enviable Foreign Office career travelling all over the world, after discovering his dad had dementia.
Without a job or home, he embarked on a personal crusade in the hope of finding out what to do next.
“Doing something as simple as walking every day, having a goal, and then completing it gives you a sense of focus,” said Patrick.
“In normal life, you’re running around busy in a job, interacting with people.
“There are always demands on your time, noise and interference.
“Doing a long distance walk gives you a sense of achievement. It is very fulfilling.”
Patrick turned his emotional journey into a moving story of the healing power of walking.
His book ‘Where Skylarks Sing’ captures the beauty, kindness and inspiration he discovered on his first trek.
Writing about his Irish experience will be his next challenge.
Proceeds from both books will continue to support his charity appeal.
To donate visit justgiving.com/page/patrickdavies2024
To buy his book visit linktr.ee/patrickjdavies
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