This challenge is more than just a personal achievement for us. Throughout the expedition, we’ll be highlighting key issues facing our green spaces and national parks, and showcasing the vital work of charities and individuals who are tackling these challenges.
We believe that protecting our environment is essential for safeguarding it for future generations. This expedition is our chance to raise awareness and support for these causes, which we consider far more important than personal goals.
Nature has a profound impact on both mental and physical health, and we believe that education is key to ensuring the longevity of our changing world.
Our expedition will see us hiking, cycling, canoeing and running through much of the lake district and across the coast-to-coast walking path.
Throughout the journey, we will be primarily walking, with additional sections of running, cycling and canoeing to add complexity and create a world-first on this specific route; What we are dubbing ‘Wainright’s 850’ our homage to Alfred Wainwright.
The ‘Wainwrights 850’ is a homage to Alfred Wainwright himself, the author of multiple pictorial guides and a pioneer in the lake district.
The expedition will start in Workington on the coast with our first segment; the 16-mile run to Bassenthwaite. Here, we will camp overnight, ditching our running equipment and loading up our canoe, where we will then paddle down through Bassenthwaite to Derwent water and drop the canoe off at Keswick.
This is where the big one starts, the Wainwrights round, walking all 214 Wainwrights in one go a 525 km adventure!
We will stop at planned locations on average every 3 days, picking up more food and basic supplies to keep us going through the long challenge. This will take us about 5 weeks if all goes to plan.
Feel free to come and meet us at every stop to get the inside scoop about what’s happening and how we are dealing with it!
After completing all the Wainwrights we will finish back where we started, in Keswick where we will pick up our bikes and head for St. Bees, the start of the the walking coast to coast.
The ride should take us less than a day with all our walking equipment on our backs ready for a nice steady coast to coast to finish off our challenge.
I’ve never really found contempt in taking it slow or doing things the easy way. If there’s not a challenge, where’s the satisfaction at the end of it all?
I’m Josh, a health and fitness enthusiast, Mechanical Engineer, Vocalist for the world famous band – Contraptions, and I’m here to leave a mark on this beautifully tainted world and, by the end of it, leave it that little bit better.
The goal? Through meticulous planning and hard work, we are creating something that will push us to the limits of our expectations, all the while raising money and, as equally as important, a load of awareness for the ever-endangered beauty that is our natural world; the dying waters, the ever-shrinking green spaces and the concoction of unwanted biotoxins entering our atmosphere due to greed, ignorance, and a sheer lack of respect for earth and its inhabitants.
This is a fight for all that is good in the world. Join us as we run, row, ramble, and ride across the depths and breadth of England, traversing some of the most breathtaking landscapes that you will see on this side of the equator.
Hello, I’m Dan Povey, an outdoor activity instructor, business owner, self-proclaimed explorer from the Northeast of England. I’ve always had a passion for the great outdoors and an unshakable drive for exploration.
The expedition combines that passion with purpose, as we take on an important challenge to raise funds for vital conservation charities.
It will take us through one of my favourite places in the UK, the Lake District; a region very close to my heart, all while championing the protection of our natural world.
My goal is not just to push my own limits, but to inspire others to appreciate, protect, and preserve the environment we all depend on.
This challenge is very important to me, and it was born out of a desire for a better future for our planet and my own drive to push my boundaries. Having Josh do this thing with me and the Team contributing means a lot to me and without them all this wouldn’t be possible.
We chose to fundraise for Mind Over Mountains as part of our challenge because their work aligns closely with both our personal experiences and the values behind this expedition.
After careful consideration, we wanted to support a charity that genuinely reflects the challenges we face, both in the mountains and in everyday life. Mind Over Mountains uses the power of the outdoors to support mental well-being, combining professional mental health support with time in the great outdoors. This approach resonates strongly with us, aligning with the purpose of our journey.
For us, this challenge is not just a physical expedition, but an opportunity to highlight the importance of mental health, resilience and open conversations around wellbeing. By supporting Mind Over Mountains, we aim to bring mental health to the forefront of our expedition and help raise awareness of the vital support they provide to those who need it most.