Woman to walk through Cumbria as part of epic 5,000 mile journey

Tracey Howe, 60, departed Glasgow on November 1 to walk circuit of entire British coastline

November has seen her walking south through North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway before reaching the border at Gretna to enter into Cumbria.

Tracey's planned route through Cumbria (Image: Supplied) Tracey will walk from Carlisle to Silloth before heading down the West Cumbrian coastline to Millom.

The retired professor has an ambitious target of raising more than £100,000 for five charities.

Tracey, from Glasgow, said: “Angela left a horrific gaping hole in my life when she passed away last September aged just 58 but I want to turn my grief into a positive.

“The long walk, which I have called Tracey’s Trek, will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“It will be tough mentally and physically, but I think Angela would be proud of me.

Tracey and Angela (Image: Supplied) “I am doing it for her and also to raise as much money as possible for charities that are close to my heart.

“When Angela passed away, I found myself falling into a deep depression.

“I was in a dark space. I wasn’t sleeping but then I would spend all day on the sofa and not want to get up again.

“But our dog Poppy needed to be walked and, initially, I had to force myself to take her out. Then I realised that walking was a way of reconnecting with life and nature and the activity became a kind of therapy.

“During my long walk, I will visit a lot of places significant to us as a couple and it will give me an opportunity to think about those memories.

“I think about Angela every day and I talk to her while I’m walking, so this is a pilgrimage of sorts.

“It will be a special way to maintain a connection with Angela, who was my soulmate, and also have a sense of purpose because I am raising money for charity.”

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Tracey, who brought up two sons with Angela, has chosen Beatson Cancer Charity, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel to benefit from the hike.

Friends, family and Poppy are accompanying her in a motorhome, and she is appealing for people along the route to offer a place to park and join her for some the miles.