What's the longest walk you've ever taken?

[Harlesden]

At the age of 13 I had to walk from Louth to Grimsby (16 miles) when a booked coach left me behind. It took just under 4 hours.

In my mid-20's I had an early morning job briefly at an Airport Hotel in Colnbrook. I lived in Shepherds Bush and in those days, there was definitely no transport. So I walked - Shepherds Bush-Goldhawk Road-Chiswick-Chiswick Roundabout-Great West Road (endless) past Heathrow Airport. Never late.

Much more recently, living in Wood Green needing to get to an address near Clapham Common at a time when I was flat broke. I walked.
Wood Green-Turnpike Lane-Hornsey-Crouch End-Holloway-Caledonian Eoad (endless)-Grays Inn Road-Holborn-Shaftesbury Avenue-Trafalgar Square-Whitehall-Millbank-Vauxhall Bridge-South Lambeth Road-Stockwell-Clapham Common. Started out around 7:45,arrived shortly before Midnight

 

[ainsworth74]

Gold DofE for me. 4 days and 3 nights and I think we averaged in the region of 15 kilometers per day which might not sound like much but when you've got heavy rucksack on your back it isn't easy.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

In reality I've probably never walked over 3 miles in a go (though I've never needed to walk further). I do find though that if the weather is nice, the landscape's pleasant and I've got my iPod in (or any one of the three), I could walk for miles.

 

[Nym]

DoE Silver was 34 miles over 3 days, carrying about 7st on me back, and someone else for about 2 miles that decided to break their leg.
longest random walk was 26 miles: Bolton - Atherton - Wigan - Atherton - Bolton

 

[Temple Meads]

7 miles, Tiverton to Sampford Peverall on the Grand Western Canal, was exhausted by the end, had to get the bus for the return 7 miles

 

[Bungle73]

In one day? 17 1/4 miles from Otford to the Medway Bridge, when I was doing the North Downs Way.

7 miles, Tiverton to Sampford Peverall on the Grand Western Canal, was exhausted by the end, had to get the bus for the return 7 miles

You were "exhausted" after only 7 miles....along a canal? You're not very fit, are you?

 

[Geezertronic]

The BRMB Walkathon in Birmingham used to be around the 11 bus route which is supposed to be around a marathon mileage - not too sure if it was the whole 11 bus route though

 

[Laryk]

7-8 miles, along the South-West coast path. Between Penzance-Lands End ish. 7-8 miles along the cliffs feels like double

 

[Temple Meads]

You were "exhausted" after only 7 miles....along a canal? You're not very fit, are you?

Nope, not fit at all.

 

[Nym]

Oh, for a point of clarity, that Bolton - Wigan via Atherton and return was done in one night, set off at 7pm, got home at 3am... So yeah, that was 26mi in one day...

And I'm not THAT fit...

 

[Robinson]

I did my first long-distance walk last summer when I completed the Great Glen Way in 6 days. In temperamental weather, plus I was "learning on the job" as it were - I'm quite pleased with my efforts on that! And it got me wanting to do more of the same.

 

[Gathursty]

Lancaster University to Blackpool North Pier (22.6 miles)

Was the ice cream worth it? You bet!! :P

 

[Robinson]

The longest single-day stretch I've done was probably the last day on that (the Great Glen) - Drumnadrochit to Inverness via Abriachan.

 

[sprinterguy]

28 miles, in about seven hours over fairly flat terrain.

 

[Railguy220]

24 miles over a weekend, over Moorland, Woodland etc. With wet feet! ad:

 

[richw]

Cornwall Coast to Coast challenge 35 miles in 2 days,
And The RMHC yorkshire 3 peaks challenge 20-25 miles in 1 day.

 

[Madge Wildfire]

Gold DofE for me. 4 days and 3 nights and I think we averaged in the region of 15 kilometers per day which might not sound like much but when you've got heavy rucksack on your back it isn't easy.

Yes, and if it was in the Peak District it became much more difficult. I remember practising compass work for if the cloud came down over Kinder Scout and we could only see a few yards.

The idea was to send one of the group on a set compass bearing until we could only just see him, walk to him and repeat the process. Apparently it is easy to go around in a circle in thick fog and the top of Kinder Scout is flat and covered in peat, so not easy to navigate.

As it turned out the weather was hot and sunny with no cloud, but that made it even worse as we only had limited liquid for the day.

 

[33056]

40 miles in 24 hours on the Lyke Wake Walk (a long time ago)

 

[SteveP29]

Hatch Beauchamp to Yeovil
21 miles in 5 hours

On my way back from college in Taunton to where I was living at the time in Yeovil.
Motorbike had a puncture, almost fell off into the oncoming traffic with the way the tyre was wobbling on the rim.
Dumped it behind a petrol station and told the owner it was there and asked if they would keep an eye on it (which they did, thanks!!)
Nowhere near a service bus route, and the only person that could have possibly picked me up was still at work and would be till around midnight.
So I did what anyone else wouldn't have done and set myself away walking.
Walked into my digs after 11pm and then proceeded to get a lecture at how irresponsible I was for not ringing them to tell them I would be late, notwithstanding the fact I just wanted to get home.
Needless to say, I moved digs as soon as I possibly could, ungrateful pair of gits that they were haha

 

[furryfeet]

colne stn to rowsley stn ( site of ) - 67 miles

on my 21st birthday, and not a drop to drink !

 

[Peter Mugridge]

About 5 miles in my case for a regular walk - Yarmouth Ferry Terminal to Alum Bay via Fort Victoria and Headon Warren. Done that several times either the full distance or starting from Fort Victoria; it's my favourite walk.

Have done some longer walks on West Wight but did not measure them. Totland Bay to Calbourne Mill and back ( slightly different route each way )for example.

One while in the Scouts at school was probably quite a bit longer; it was from Coombe Gibbett via Newbury to the school ( located about a mile south of M4 Jct 13 ) - starting at midnight! I'd guess that one at close to 10 miles?

Twice done Newbury to Kintbury along the canal, train back.

 

[Minilad]

About 7 miles from Birmingham Centre home to Northfield after a...erm....late night liaison caused me to miss the last bus and lack of funds meant a taxi was out of the question

 

[SS4]

~3 miles up the Chester Road to the station of the same name in order to get my daytripper since I didn't want to spend £1.90 on the bus!

 

[Eagle]

Continuous: 7 miles in 1h50 (was highly intoxicated at the time I broke this record).

Noncontinuous: 19 miles over 11 hours (those hours were 01.00 to 12.00, and it was round in circles).

 

[martinsh]

Boulder to Birmingham !

http://www.songlyrics.com/emmylou-harris/boulder-to-birmingham-lyrics/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTry1yKvxZM

More seriously, a 50 mile sponsored walk around Sheffield many years ago

 

[Ivo]

Not nearly as far as some of you, at only ~5 miles (taking ~75 minutes). However, there was a daft side to this. At the time I had butterflies (:roll about a girl I really liked, and my thoughts were distorted to say the least. So this idea of walking the five miles from Uni to the bus station via the A4 came along, which isn't too bad... having not eaten for 48 hours. Oops I would have walked back as well, buit I bought some lemonade with what little money I had.

The most difficult one I've had to do was at ~2300 from the bus depot to Uni, which is roughly three miles, in heavy snow.

 

[table38]

I just looked up Slathwaite to Failsworth, when I walked home one night many years ago after someone said they would drive me home, but got all amorous and decided they wanted me to stay the night instead.

Evidently I decided a 15 mile walk was a small price to pay to avoid their unrequited attention

 

[TGVDUDE]

walked a little over 7 miles along the Thames near Letchlade a few years ago in one go, although on random walks out that I haven't noticed distance there's a good chance I've doubled that

 

[43106]

I don't know what the distance is/was, but it was from the Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley (Potteries) to Stafford. There was a gig at the Machine by Golden Earring (who had just charted with "Radar Love" - good single) just before Christmas 1973. It finished late, and I didn't know the buses, so I walked, following the A34 south. The whole way, I had my thumb hanging out, trying to hitch a lift (mean lot in Staffordshire, weren't you?), but to no avail. I reckon I was walking for over 7 hours, so it must be more than 20 miles.

 

[Eagle]

I reckon I was walking for over 7 hours, so it must be more than 20 miles.

More or less... :P