A councillor for Croxley Green started a unique walk earlier this month, hoping to raise money for the Stroke Association.
Rupert Barnes, a Conservative councillor on Three Rivers District Council, set off on August 8 to walk the boundary of Hertfordshire, a distance of 170 miles.
Councillor Barnes is hoping to discover lost corners of the county and encourage walking for healthy exercise.
The walk will begins on Shire Lane in Chorleywood on August 8 and then circles Hertfordshire clockwise intending to get to reach Tring, by way of the county’ highest point, on the first day. The Hertfordshire Border Walk is not waymarked and consists of a series of linked paths either on or close to the county border.
Before he left, Cllr Barnes said the walk will be the biggest challenge for a while.
He said: “The route follows the border of the traditional county, not the county council area, as this is a path to embrace the county, not to find the edge of bureaucratic interference. I will have a continuous walk for the first few days and see how far I can push on. The next week I am back to my duties, at work, so I will finish it off over the course following weekends.”
Once finished, Cllr Barnes said he will share the route with others and said he would welcome anyone who wanted to join him.
He said: “Come and join me, and those who are walking sections with me, or follow on. Come out of the comfort zone and be edgy.”
The route of the Hertfordshire Border Walk is mapped on WildthingUK, though councillor Barnes admits that in parts he will be feeling his way to see how practical each stretch is.
The chosen charity, the Stroke Association, is in honour of his friend Stephen Collins, who devised last year’s walk although Cllr Barnes said there was another very good reason why he is doing the walk.
He revealed: “I once saw a friend having a major stroke before my eyes, and I was helpless to do anything. It made me realise how fragile we are and the permanent care needed by those who are struck.”
You can keep up with Cllr Barnes progress by going to wildthinguk.co.uk or sponsor him at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wildthinguk
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