She Hikes The South West Coast Path

As there’s now less than two months until I set off on the first leg of my SWCP adventure I thought it might be time to share a little more about my motivation to undertake this challenge.

Why this walk?

The south west corner of the UK feels, in many ways, like home. A constant anchor in my life to date. Since childhood holidays on the north Cornwall coast, when we returned en famille year upon year, to my first post-Covid holiday, these stretches of coastline have provided thirty three years of comfort, inspiration, sanctuary and love. The feeling that comes from being lashed by the salt spray of the Atlantic somehow allows me to be stripped back to the very truest Helen. Just me.

Why now?

Quite simply, why not?

As I touched on in my first post, this is a walk I’ve had my sights set on since I was a teenager. In busy, twenty first century life it’s increasingly easy to find reasons to put off relaxing or taking time for lengthy projects. So much of our instant “want it now” culture seems actively designed to put people off slowly chipping away at goals that might take years to achieve.

Why alone?

I don’t think it’s a secret to anyone that I found myself very unexpectedly single last year. One of the biggest parts of the healing and learning I’ve been fortunate enough to engage in over the past few months has been analysing the societal pressure placed upon us (especially thirty-something year old women) that can make being alone feel like something of a failure. The smug marrieds of the Bridget Jones era, if you will. As if those who are alone are to be pitied or haven’t yet “made it”.

I’ve already had several people look surprised, shocked, or maybe even concerned, when they hear I’m planning to do this walk on my own. But do you know what? I don’t think we stand a chance of really re-writing that societal view if people don’t see women out there actively enjoying life unpartnered, without “an other half”. (Am I allowed to point out I’m already whole?!)

I’m not trying to say it’s better than being in a healthy relationship. But it certainly isn’t worse.

And this way, I can go as slow as I like climbing the steeper stretches!