NEW BOOK - 6/2/2026
I have, so far, walked more than 2,300 marathons - 26 to 42 miles per day. on my long distance walks throughout the world, I have had no back up and most were done with 50 to 60lbs on my back. Many in remote country with no emergency help - or carrying a mobile phone - often walking for 14 days without seeing another human being. I have not purposefully set out to do this, but found the on-going commitment and and continuous daily walking natural and easy! A rest day is not in my vocabulary and doesn’t do any good. You lose the dedication, momentum and commitment the exercise required. It takes a day to get back into the routine. I should add that I do not use walking poles, relying solely on my two eegs, wearing full leather boots.
My only tentative connection with the London Marathon is that on walking the entire British Coastline - 7,000 miles, doing a marathon or more each day for ten months, Chris Brasher met me on the North Devon coast to walk with me, for a day, for a feature in the Observer newspaper.
I walk all terrains - flat, mountainous and deserts - it doesn't matter. You ascend slightly slower but descend quicker! Temperature is never a problem from -40F in Norway to crossing the Mojave desert in 140F degrees walking more than 32 miles with 6i pounds on my back, and drinking no water, nor do I carrying any.. It is all mind over matter, I listen to no advice, I do my own thing.. Each night before I programme my brain with the next day’s route, irrespective of the ascent and descents. The day’s destination is the goal and it is unimportant how long it takes. It just unfolds gracefully and I never tick off the miles.
I was a gifted runner at school breaking all records but found no one to lead me on. I was running the mile, at 16, faster than Roger Bannister at that age. I found marathon walking more challenging, not reaching my peak until 2,500 miles and could still walk a high mileage for the next 2,000 miles. On the Appalachian trail in the USA I walked 32 miles a day with 60lbs on my back for 10 days, but eased off back to 27 miles fearing I would strain my feet.
I should also add that I am walking in the same body I was born with. No hips, knees or ankles replaced. I have had to have my leg in plaster, once, to stop me from walking! On my coast walk after 3,000 miles I felt pain in my right foot and it swelled up. I was ahead of schedule so I had an easy day.
and continued on the next day and did another 400 miles to Greenock. There I had my foot x-rayed and learnt I had a stress fracture, as I had walked too much! I had to have it in plaster to stop me from walking! I stayed where I was for a month and saw the specialist. The plaster was removed and foot x-rayed again. It had healed nicely and the specialist advised just doing 2 miles a day and maybe in 3 months time I could set off again! I said nothing and put my feet up that afternoon. The next day my boots were on and I climbed a Munroe. Over the next 6 days I did a Munroe a day! I saw the specialist again and told him I was setting off again next day. I admit I was limping and struggling to do 16 miles, but I walked my foot back into walking order. 3,500 miles later as I neared London on the Essex coast I had stabbing pains in my legs! Again I had walked too much but pressed on to St. Paul’s cathedral, where I had begun 10 months previously.
Since then I have walked a further 200,000 miles wearing out 158 pairs of boots but no foot trouble or broken bones!
I have walked 1,000’s miles in London, doing every long walk and countless short walks. Someone asked me if I had run the marathon but I hadn’t. I decided to walk the London marathon route to discover the history the runners passed unknowingly and had a throughly enjoyable four days in January’s short freezing winter days. Enjoy the marathon walk and discover for yourself the remarkable history passed at 3 mph.
Marathon hiker,
John Merrill.
A5. Spiral bound, signed by author.
90 pages, 11maps, 96 photos.
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THE HEART OF ESSEX CHALLENGE WALK - 25 MILES
INTRODUCTION
I stumbled on this area of Essex by accident. The templar’s have always fascinated me and I have been to many of their locations in England and France. I learnt that Witham was originally Templar property and not far away are their barns at Cressing, which I had never explored. I began to look closely at the area’e history and discovered that one of the first witch’s to be hung, Agnes Waterhouse - on July 26th. 1556, came from Hatfield Peverel. But I could find no plaque of moment there. I had just finished walking to all the Protestant Martyr sites in Essex and knew of them in the Notley’s. So bearing all this in mind I worked out this route and walked it! What struck me most was the countryside was unusual for Essex. Wide flat open fields, good paths and tracks and unspoilt villages. The icing on the cake was the Cressing Templar Barns.
I didn’t rush and did the walk over two days, checking the paths and exploring the villages and churches. I used Hadfield Peverel as my break point - rail station - for there is little public transport after until Silver End, off the route, near Cressing. There is minor road walking, mostly on pavements to join the rights of way together. The road to Terling is a delight, tree-lined and very quiet. There is a scattering of inns, cafe’s and shops along the route. I met nor saw any other walkers!
You see several fine unspoilt churches with fine monuments. The villages have historic houses and conservation areas. As you re-enter Witham you pass Dorothy Sayers Drive. The popular Crime Novelist - 1895 - 1957 - lived in Witham. Overall this is quiet circuit in the Heart of Essex and will come as a surprise to many.
Have a good walk and enjoy the places you see and pass.
……..May I wish you Happy Walking!
John Merrill
Beautiful remote 25 mile walk in Essex, from Witham. Past attractive villagers where witches, protestant martyrs and Knights Templars lived.
A5. Walking instructions, amenities guide, history notes and walk log.
Successful walkers can get a special embroidered hert shaped badge and signed certificate.
Name added to the Walkers Roll of Honour page.
Signed by author
SEA TO SUMMIT TWO
Ravenglass to Scafell Pike and back - 34 miles.
Basic route - Ravenglass — Chapel Hill — Ross’s Camp — Eskdale Green —
Dalegarth — Woolpack Inn — Brotherilkeld — Throstle Garth —
Cam Spout — Mickledore — Scafell Pikes — Mickledore — Cam
Spout — Throstle Garth — Brotherilkeld — Dalegarth — Eskdale
Green — Ross’s Camp — Chapel Hill — Ravenglass
My story from “Turn Right at Land’s End.”-
That night I stayed in a bed and breakfast. I had reached the
point on the coastline where I would make my second walk inland
to climb Scafell Pike, the second of the three mountains that I in-
tended to climb on the walk. The guest house would provide some-
where to leave all my equipment so that I could travel light with just
my waterproof clothing.
I left early in the morning and crossed through the mountains of
Hooker Crag and Ross’s Camp to the Eskdale valley. This time, I
didn’t experience any of the twinges of regret about leaving the coast
that I had experienced when ascending Snowdon. In Eskdale I
walked up the road past Dalegarth station, the northern end of the
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and on to Brotherilkeld. From
there I moved into the mountains to Throstle Garth, Cam Spout
and on to Mickledore. I relished being in the mountains and stopped
often just to enjoy the stillness and absorb the silence. I hadn’t
realised how noisy the coast was with the sounds of the sea, birds
and wind. After so many muddy estuaries it was refreshing to see
the crystal clear water of the mountain streams.
From just above the waterfall of Cam Spout I reached snow. I
carried on totally absorbed in the ascent and not bothered by the
cold even though I was only wearing shorts. From Mickledore the
snow became quite deep and I frequently sank to my knees in it. The
summit of Scafell Pike was shrouded in cloud. As I approached I
saw a few climbers dressed in breeches and gaiters and armed with
rope and ice-axes. Seeing me just walking up in shorts and an open
necked shirt, they fell about laughing. But the most stunning sur-
prise came two minutes later when someone approached me, and
said ‘Hello John, it’s good to see you here!’ At first I couldn’t place
him, then I realised that we had met on the summit of Snowdon a
month before! Our parting words were, ‘See you on Ben Nevis!’
The cloud was very thick and to get back to Mickledore and its
mountain rescue box I had to use the compass. From there I took
another bearing to Cam Spout and as I approached the waterfall I
walked out of the cloud and could see the path towards Throstle
Garth. I retraced my steps back to Brotherilkeld, Dalegarth, Ross’s
Camp and into Ravenglass. I had walked thirty-four miles, climbed
several thousands of feet, and all in the space of ten hours. For the
first time since leaving London I felt tired. Overall I had walked
almost 2800 miles, and Scotland was just round the corner. I slept
deeply and contentedly that night.
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