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ISLAND WALK BADGE

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Embroiderd cloth badge.

March 1st. 2026 - Christening my 150th. pair of boots, walking the Thames Path.!

THE ESSEX PRIORY WAY - 20 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping
THE PEAKLAND WAY - 100 MILES £9.95 FREE shipping

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A WALKERS GUIDE TO THE LLANGOLLEN CANAL - 50 MILES £9.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE CHESHIRE RING - 97 MILES £9.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE OXFORD CANAL - END TO END - 85 MILES £10.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE GRAND UNION CANAL - LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM - 153 MILES £10.95 FREE shipping
THE CHESTERFIELD CANAL - END TO END - 46 MILES £12.95 FREE shipping
END TO END WALKS OF THE CANALS OF CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE - 14, 17 AND 27 MILES. £9.95 FREE shipping
THE COLNE VALLEY - RICKMANSWORTH TO BRENTWOOD- 20 MILES £8.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE TRENT & MERSEY CANAL - END TO END - 100 MILES £10.95 FREE shipping

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WALKING THE HIGH PEAK TRAIL END TO END - 27 MILES £8.50 FREE shipping
WALKING THE MONSAL AND SETT VALLEY TRAILS - END TO END £7.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE TISSINGTON TRAIL - BADGE AND CERTIFICATE - END TO END £5.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE TRAILS OF NORTH-EAST DERBYSHIRE £7.95 FREE shipping

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WALKING THE UPPER DON TRAIL £7.95 FREE shipping
WALKING THE LONGDENDALE TRAIL £7.95 FREE shipping

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WALKING AROUND JERSEY'S COASTLINE - 51 MILES £9.95 FREE shipping
COASTLINE WALKS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS - 100 miles £7.95 FREE shipping

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THE WATER WAY - ST. ALBANS CATHEDRAL TO GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL - 76 MILES;

£9.95 FREE shipping

ABOUT THE WALK AND MY STORY -

As always on completion a walk guidebook, I ask myself, “What next!* I was a litle stumped as several ideas floated through my mind. But none grabbed my aitention. I slept on it and when I awoke the idea of linking two of our.major cathedrals together was on my lips - St. Albans to Guildford!

I have walked and explored both many times, but never linked them
together. I pulled out the relevant maps and studied the rights of way, but nothing leapt out at me. But, I did spot the rivers and navigations and wondered why not a river walk rather than pilgrimage walk, visiting the churches along the way. The idea grew and although having walked all the rivers before, it would make a complete change and see most of them on the opposite direction.

So, the following Saturday I set off from St. Albans and first walked the River Ver to Bricket Wood and then the River Colne to Watford. Here a short walk through the town through Cassiobury Park brought me to the Grand Union Canal. This I would be walking southwards, instead of my usual route northwards to Birmingham. I pressed on towards Uxbridge and West Drayton. Here I had weave my around the motorways and reservoirs, largely following the Colne Brook, to gain the River Thames at Staines. Beside this to Chertsey and onto the passenger Ferry. Crossing to the start of River Wey, my last river Navigation. It made fitting finale with few people about and a narrow historical canal fo follow.

Alas in due course I neared Guildford and the cathedral beckoned on
the top of Stag Hill. Reluctantly, as I hate the end of walk, I wove around through Surrey University to the cathedral. But, as luck woul have it, it was bursting with activity with an arts and crafts fair in the nave. | therefore could not explore the cathedral. I returned the next week and all was quiet and I could explore and admire the building in solitude. It was only a short walk but I returned to the River Wey Navigation and walked the remainder of it to its end in Godalming. So | didn’t fee lguilty!

I thoroughly enjoyed walking these rivers between the two cathedrals
and because it was late February few people were about and only the
occasional narrow boat passed by. I hope you enjoy this walk along the rivers and seeing and exploring two of our premier cathedrals.

Hoyoy walking!
Revi. John M Merrill

HOW TO DO IT

I did the walk over 5 days and used public transport - trains - to the start of each section. Being January and February I was restricted by daylight hours and transport problems! But, this just added to fun of each day! There is accomdation along the route and a good sprinkling of inns and cafe’s beside the route.

Enjoy!

A5 Guidebook. Wire bound and signed by John Merrill.

Pligrim cloth embroidered badge and signed certificate are available from John Merrill.

Al walkers added to Walkers Roll of Honour page.

See details

A WALK AROUND HAYLING ISLAND - 24 MILES & THORNEY ISLAND -8 MILES. £7.95 FREE shipping
ISLAND WALK BADGE £6.00 FREE shipping
JOHN MERRILL'S PORTLAND BILL CHALLENGE WALK - 24 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping
THE ISLE OF THANET CHALLENGE WALK (KENT) - 25 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping
THE PAPS OF JURA CHALLENGE WALK - 18 MILES AND 4 SUMMITS. £7.95 FREE shipping
THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST PATH £5.00 FREE shipping
WALKING AROUND THE ISLE OF ANGELSEY COAST PATH - 130 miles £8.50 FREE shipping
WALKING THE ISLE OF WIGHT COAST PATH - 77 MILES £9.95 FREE shipping

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WALKING THE ISLE OF MAN COAST PATH - 100 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping

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FOUR CHALLENGE WALK CLOTH BADGE AND SIGNED CERTIFICATR £11.00 FREE shipping
TWO CHALLENGE WALK BADGE AND CERTIFICATE £11.00 FREE shipping

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TEN CHALLENGE WALK AWARD CUP AND CERTIFICATE. £25.00 FREE shipping

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JOHN MERRILL'S DARK PEAK CHALLENGE WALK - 24 MILES, 3,300 FT OF ASCENT. £7.95 FREE shipping
THE JOHN SCHORNE PEREGRINATION - 27 MILES by Michael Mooney, £8.95 FREE shipping
JOHN MERRILL'S HAPPY HIKER CHALLENGE WALK =- 26 MILES 2,600 ft of ascent.. White Peak Challenge Walk No. 2. £7.95 FREE shipping
THE PEAK DISTRICT - THREE COUNTIES CHALLENGE WALK - 28 MILES, 4,800 FT. OF ASCENT £7.95 FREE shipping

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THE CAL-DER-WENT WALK - 30 MILES £8.50 FREE shipping
WALKING THE DERBY CANAL RING - 28 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping
THE SALT & SAILS TRAIL- 20 MILES by David Burkhill -Howarth £7.95 FREE shipping
THE MIDDLEWICH CHALLENGE WALK - 22 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping

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JOHN MERRILL'S FOREST OF BOWLAND CHALLENGE WALK - 27 MILES, 3,000ft of ascent £7.95 FREE shipping
JOHN MERRILL'S SWEET PEA CHALLENGE WALK - 27 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping
THE QUANTOCK WALK - 33 or 40 miles £7.95 FREE shipping
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLES AND HIS MARCH THROUGH DERBYSHIRE IN 1745 - 20 MILES £7.95 FREE shipping