Dean Parker follows in the footsteps of first recorded walk from John O'Groats to Land's End
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The first recorded walk from John O' Groats to Land's End in 1871 – 150 years ago – is currently being replicated by stroke survivor Dean Parker.
Dean (55), originally from Liverpool but now lives in Hastings on England's southeast coast, says he is lucky to be alive after suffering a haemorrhagic stroke just before lockdown in March last year. The medical team did not expect him to survive and his family were prepared for the worst.
He said: "Through my own determination and with the love and support of my partner, and family and friends my recovery has been remarkable and I, even more so than before, make the most of every day.
"I know I am not the same person I was, my left side is weak, and my brain is mashed but in many ways I have become a much better person. I have a renewed purpose for living, I won't let things stand in my way and I won't be beaten."
Dean, who is walking in aid of Stroke Association UK, set off on his challenge on September 15, and plans to cover about 1370 miles in total following the walk done by Robert and John Naylor who wrote From John O'Groat's to Lands End, published 45 years later in 1916.
The Naylor brothers from Cheshire took a week to reach the start of their walk after initially arriving in Wick on the SS St Magnus from Aberdeen. They were told if they walked to John O'Groats from the town they would only be following the same way back so they opted to stay on the ship and head to its destination at Lerwick, Shetland.
The next evening they took the St Magnus to Kirkwall and went on foot to Stromness where after some exploring they crossed the Pentland Firth on a sloop arriving in Thurso on September 14, 1871. The following day they took the Wick coach for six miles before walking the remaining 15 miles to John O'Groats, staying at the Huna Inn.
On September 18, they set off on their walk through Caithness followed a route from their accommodation to Canisbay, and along the coast to Bucholie Castle Keiss and on to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, Wick harbour, Mid Clyth, Lybster, Dunbeath and Berriedale. They also took the time to head in towards Braemore and explore the local hill, Maiden Pap.
Trying to follow the Naylor's itinerary, Dean arrived in Thurso by train earlier this month and walked across to John O'Groats, however some of the routes the brothers took are proving a little tricky for him as he suffers from stroke fatigue so he is having to make some alterations. He plans to walk 15 miles each day and set up his tent wherever he ends up, spending just £10 each day on food.
"I am reading through their book as I am going," he explained. "They travelled 25-35 miles a day, at least twice of what I am doing. I have gone through some of the places like Keiss Castle and Lybster harbour but they did some local hills. I could see Maiden Pap in the distance but thought that looked like a two day walk for me."
Today (Monday) Dean reached Drumnadrochit where he treated himself to a bed and breakfast stay so that he could enjoy a rest and dry out after getting soaking wet in the rain. "My body has taken a bit of a battering the last few days," he said.
From Drumnadrochit he will follow the Great Glen Way to Fort William and then down along the West Highland Way to Drymen. He hopes to complete his challenge in the middle of December. "A lot depends on my own body," he pointed out.
Each evening he sends his location to his partner Fiona Ward so she knows where he is and can plot it on a map and follow his journey.
While in Caithness Dean said he enjoyed meeting people while at The Village Inn at Keiss, and a lovely couple living near the harbour at Lybster took him in for tea and biscuits. He is hoping to go back and visit them when he returns to the area next year on a more leisurely trip round Scotland with Fiona.
He has continued to meet interesting characters along the way inspired by his challenge. "The most unusual was in the woods near Dornoch, and I heard my name being called," said Dean. "It was a young girl on her way up to John O'Groats and she recognised my tent from one of my Instagram posts."
Dean, a former support worker, plans to write about his journey and has already documented a couple of shorter walks he did earlier this year. His progress can be followed on Instagram at @dean260566.
He added: "Any donation will be welcomed with extreme gratitude and will give me the extra determination to carry on."
Donations can be made to Deanies JOGLE Walk on JustGiving.
