<div>Hello All,  My name is Matthew and I am looking to raise money for The British Heart Foundation.
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<div>My son was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. Even in adult life it’s a condition that intermittently requires surgery for valve replacement. Other heart conditions have also run in the family.
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<div>Most people will know someone who has a form of heart condition and requires treatment. The British Heart Foundation funds research into heart disease and raises awareness into the prevention of heart disease.
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<div>For full information of this great cause please look up the British Heart Foundation website.
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<div>Ok, now what am I doing to raise money?
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<div>I am going to walk to Torquay with a twist: Walking by canals and waterways as much as possible along the way!
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<div>We have calculated that it will be a total of approximately 348 miles spread over a couple of weeks. I have had an interest in canals and the canal network for some time and have walked and completed quite a few of the canals in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
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<div>This time I will be walking along new waterways and exploring as I go.
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<div>My planned route will be as follows:
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<div>Walking from Home in Alkrington, Middleton up to the Rochdale canal on Foxdenton lane.
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<div>Follow the Rochdale canal up to just before Failsworth.
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<div>Walk across to Crime Lake and follow the Hollinwood branch canal.
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<div>Cut across to Portland basin in Ashton.
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<div>From Portland Basin follow the Peak Forest Canal down to Marple junction.
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<div>Walk along the Macclesfield canal to near Kidsgrove.
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<div>From Kidsgrove walk along the Trent and Mersey Canal to Great Heywood Junction.
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<div>Walk the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Wolverhampton.
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<div>Walk the Wolverhampton locks and back to Aldersley Junction (21 locks over 2 miles).
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<div>Walk the rest of Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Stourport on Severn.
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<div>From Stourport-on-Severn, walk the river Severn to Gloucester.
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<div>Follow the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Sharpness Docks.
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<div>Walk the best possible coastal Path Through Bristol to the river Parrett.
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<div>Follow the river Parrett up to the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal.
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<div>Walk the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal to Taunton.
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<div>Walk the pathway of the abandoned eastern section of the Grand Western Canal from Taunton to Lowdells.
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<div>Follow the Grand Western Canal to Tiverton.
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<div>Follow the river Exe from Tiverton to Exeter.
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<div>Walk the Exeter Shipping Canal to Turf lock.
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<div>Final walk along the coast from Turf lock to Torquay Harbour.
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<div>I am looking to walk a marathon a day (26.2 miles minimum) however along the journey if I do find interesting/historic parts I may have to take abit of time out to explore!
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<div>For anyone unfamiliar with the canal network they offer an insight into the Industrial Revolution, our engineering past and the historical importance of what was for a brief time our main use of transporting heavy goods. They eventually become abandoned, derelict or lost over time as railways took over. In more Modern times they now enjoy a resurgence, used for leisure, recreational purposes and benefits for wildlife.
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<div>Thanks for taking the time to read about my challenge! The walk will be during March 2026. The pictures are from previous walks.
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Matthew Pilkington

Brian McCall

Anonymous

Val Pilkington

MARK HERRING

Ian Flint

Julie Turner

Kim & Adam Thomas

James Small

Peter Fields

Carla Walsh

David Kershaw

Katy Tuxford

Rachel Ferrar

British Heart Foundation sponsored walk

Just £299£301£300£299£298£297 to go! Make an impact.

British Heart Foundation sponsored walk

Just £299 to go!
Make an impact.