Liz takes on a BIG challenge

One of our students Liz has been on an epic adventure, we asked her to write about her experience.

I am one of Georgia's older pupils, keeping the mind active learning Soanish at 78. I am a supporter of the work done by Hospice, Isle of Man and decided to take part in a challenge to walk 40 miles over 4 days on the Northumberland coast from Alnwick north to Lindisfarne (Holy Island).

I joined Manx Footpaths Conservation Group to train, doing weekly 5 to 7 mile walks. The build up over the preceding months wasn't quite enough to prepare me for Day 1 of the Happiness Hike, which was a 13.8 miles stretch. I was grateful to a fellow walker, who that evening gave me a blissful leg massage. She recommended a rest day to allow my muscles to recover.

So Day 2 was spent in the company of Sally, our support driver. We enjoyed a relaxed 3 mile walk on a glorious beach and inspected a dead whale, washed up the previous day. I ate a large ice cream in Seahouses.

All restored, I resumed the challenge on Day 3. We finished by 2pm to allow time to visit Alnwick Castle gardens. The poison plants section is fascinating. Some plants have both beneficial, medicinal properties and deadly properties.

The highlight of the long hike was walking barefoot at low tide to Holy Island. Water surprisingly tepid and sand soft. We followed the 3 or 4 mile route taken by pilgrims to Lindisfarne.

I feel proud if my achievement. Fun, friendship and physical challenge.

With the walk on Hadrian's wall to the sycamore gap on our drive to Alnwick, and exploring Lindisfarne on foot, I walked about 40 miles in all so can say "challenge completed".

Well done Liz on her incredible achievement - if you'd like to donate to Liz's just giving page click the link.