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I progressed into attempting longer and longer walks many years ago after a lifetime of competative running and long distance walking and backpacking since age 11. I had knee surgery and messed it up by running again after only two weeks, still hoping to run in that years London Marathon two months later. Unfortunately returned inflamation took 11 months to settle down.
Aproaching Bolton Abbey.
Burnsall.
Busy at Burnsall.
Suspension Bridge over the Wharfe.
Grassington for supplies.
Bridge at Kettlewell.
On the way to Buckden.
Nethergill.
Dent Bridge.
Malcs Lean.
Sedburgh Bridge.
Lincolns Inn Bridge.
Crook O Lune Bridge.
Dales Way Slate Bench and finish Bowness.
Ilkley Bridge over the Wharfe.
A friend loaned me a book by Mike Cudahey, one of the UK"s original small group of long distance runners. He got into longer stuff after having his knee meniscus totally removed. That's what surgeons did in those days. That gave me hope for my future ambitions.
I didn't fancy trying to run those distances but considered walking them. I didn't mix running and walking, so I'd set off on a walk and walk all of it and if a run I'd run all of it. The tern 'Ultra' was years away from becoming popular for what I termed 'Non Stoppers'.
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I first tried the Ribble Way, 70 miles, non stop. I'd backpacked it with some friends years earlier over 5 days, starting in Longton near Preston, finishing at the river Ribble source on the fells above Ribblehead, Yorkshire. This time I walked the 5 miles up to the source from Ribblehead and started at the source. Managed 60 of the 72 miles which was double my previous best distance. Bruised feet made me realise how important foot management was when going further.
In the following years I gradually learned how to best pre protect the feet after suffering many horrific blisters.
Routes I regularly did, non stop included the Dale's, Cumbria, Ribble, Pendle and Calderdale Ways. I'd do them in the other direction too. All this alongside my fell, cross country and marathon running and racing.
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My running came to an abrupt stop a number of years ago due to a bad self employed works practise lead to severe hip arthritis. In 2021 and 2023 I had my hips replaced with titanium and polythene components. All went well and have been trying to rebuilt my atrophied leg muscles back up ever since.
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The late great Joss Naylor inspired me to try something in later life as he did, when he ran 70 high Lakeland peaks during his 70 at 70 years attempt, which he of course succeeded in completing.
For my 60th birthday, along with Malc a pal that I'd done much stuff in the hills with, Lakes, Munro's and all sorts, we did 6 Munro's at 60 years in a weekend, including travelling up to Scotland and back, from Lancashire.
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Approaching my 80th, gave me the idea of 80 miles at 80 to see if I still could and it seemed clear that the Dale's Way was an obvious route to use.
Apart from two walks beyond 25 miles, since my hip surgeries, I had been mostly doing my local 4/5 mile walks.
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My pal Malc decided to join me, which he had many years since when we managed reaching Bowness in 30.5 hours.
These non stoppers are easier done solo with no distractions, just yourself making all decisions as to pace, where and when if stops to see to feet etc or when to abandon. You also have to be right on your game, any underlying virus, injury etc not evident will find it's way out and cause a failure.
We travelled to Ilkley in my car which we parked up near the bridge over the river Wharfe, to start, in was 8.30am and we were off, hoping to be in Bowness the following mid afternoon.
The start, the jackets didn't stay onfir long.
It turned out that 7th April 2026 was quite a hot day, wearing only base layer top, we didn't need any other top until around 9.30pm and wished we'd started in shorts, all was going well although at a slower pace than usual.
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Malc, a very strong hill walker now 64 years, informed me that he'd only just finished a course of antibiotics for his fairly frequent athletic induced asthma. He assured me that he was much better but had been having sleep problems and issues with his back. Of course being competative, little niggles never stopped us doing or having a go at anything. I raced two London marathons whilst on antbiotics for a chest infection, and finished both so there was no concern at this point.
Between Kettlewell and Buckden the pace significantly slowed. Upon reaching Buckden the decision was to made to make differences to our totally non stop rules in which absolutely no rest stops were allowed, only allowing a few minutes to deal with the likes of bad blisters. We had a meal in the Buck Inn.
Left there and was soon passing through Hubberholme as it became dark and headtorches on..
Yockenthwaite soon came and the prehistoric stone circle. Couldn't remember which way you're supposed to walk round so we did full circle in both directions.
Prehistoric Stone Circle.
I was ok in fact I felt really good and wondered where the bounce in my legs had come from on such little long distance practise in recent years.
Beckermonds Bridge and Oughtershaw passed through.
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At Nethergill and Malc needing to get at least a little sleep, we, as quietly as we could, wandered around the back looking for their honesty facility, hoping it was open despite it nearly midnight. Next thing, the owners came out. They asked if we were the ones doing 80 at 80 and showed in the honesty facility. Lovely couple who couldn't have been more helpful. They left us to it, we had a couple of brews, something to eat, them Malc had 45 minutes sleep. He was out like a light, I didn't feel unduly tired so didn't bother. His back had also been troubling him from the start.
It was highly unusual for him to be the one suffering fatigue etc as normally he's that far ahead that when our small group would get together during our Munro bagging campaign, we nicknamed him the Stag.
Stags would be seen on the skyline of a mountain ridge looking down on us mere mortals, shaking their head side to side, that was Malc all over.
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Five months after my latest hip replacement, I joined Malc doing the Cape Wrath Trail, he in his usual excellent form, disapearing into the distance, me strangley struggling for breath on every ascent. On day four with pain shooting across my diaphram, I abandoned my Cape Wrath, leaving him to carry on, while I switched to the easier Afric Kintail Way and Great Glen Way. Blood test a week later, I was suffering from Anaemia, lack of iron and blood oxygen.
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Continuing on he eventually developed the Ultra lean, when one side of the back goes into bad spasm. The muscles tighten up pulling the body over that side. The more one carries on, the more they tighten, the more the lean.
By the time we'd got to Dent in daylight, he considered stopping but was still toying with the idea of somehow carrying on. We'd lost a lot of time and I was becoming concerned, although I'd not set a definitive finishing schedule, I needed to catch the last train out of Windermere to be back home.
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Despite trying his best to keep going it was clear that there was not going to be any improvement or lessening of pain so at Sedburgh he finally retired, absolutely gutted, the pair of us parted. Him for the bus, me turning left to carry
I increased pace in an effort to claw back some time.
Still feeling good for some miles, though legs beginning to feel it on ascents, feet protected by pre taping with Rocktape, uncomfortable on outer sole for around half an hour before discomfort going somewhere else, then settling down to absolutely fine again before the signs if occasional hot spots. It's always the same, not worth worrying about, blisters are never as bad as they feel with the exception of ball of foot blisters which can bring everything to an eventual retirement.
Lincolns Inn Bridge seemed to take forever to reach, next milestone being Crook O Lune Bridge, my failure point last time, checking my watch, down by 5 hours 56 minutes on planned hopeful time, I realised that i'd be walking into my second night. I took a few minutes here, soaked my Spine Race buff in the river, placed on my head, wonderful cooling sensation after becoming quite sun blasted bleary.
While here I phoned my wife.
Pat suffered a life changing accident 14 months previously and consequently I hadn't been able to leave her overnight to do anything like this or get away backpacking, as she needed some help still with every day things. However, one night she told me that if the lads (all extremely active) wanted to do something for my 80th then I must go. I responded by saying that I couldn't leave her. She insisted she'd manage for one night. I was initially reluctant but thought about the 8 at 80, if only to see if I could still do it. Now I was asking if she'd be ok for a second night as I was obviously going to miss the last train from Windermere. She told me she'd cope, be careful and to try and get ab&b ince there.
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Onwards and upwards, carried on. Passing familiar landmarks like the viaduct, from one rver to the next, their bridges, having to backtrack after missing that and the next turning. I always feel relieved once over the M6 farm bridge, entering the outskirts of the Lake District National Park.
It was very hot and with sleep deprivation setting in I took advantage of a couple of honesty drink stations. At Green head farm near Grayrigg, I wasn't sure to pass through to the right or left of farm buildings. However the farmer showed me the way, asked me if i wanted a drink and a sit. His wife brought cans of drinks and snacks. We had a chat, she had seen about my 80 at 80. Before leaving I packed some cans and snack including a Banana and asked how much I owed him. He wouldn't tale any money, mentioning that i was raising funds for charity. I thinked him and continued on my way. You meet some lovely people while walking.
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Daylight fading once again which I hadn't been prepared for in the initial and usual plan.
Passing through Burneside and Staveley, the end felt like it was in sight but I realised the finish would be late in the day, no point in rushing, so intentionaly slowed down. Well before Hags Head Farm, it was headtorch time again. Impressed by the improvement to that place and the path, which had always previously been quite scrappy.
Beyond there passing through woods and fields approaching Bowness is quite straight forward in daylight but now in the dark was very confusing with the myriad of paths criss crossing everywhere. It took time in making sure I followed the correct line.
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Then over the last rise, I was there at the slate bench and the end of the Dale's Way.
It was 30 minutes past midnight, too late for accommodation and 6 hours before the first train home.
I wandered the dark streets of Bowness, slowly until 3.30am, gradually making my way up to Windermere rail station where I found a seat in the covered waiting area.
I put on my insulated jacket, hood up and gloves on and nodded off, waking up a couple of hours later.
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Train arrived around 6.40am to Oxenholme, next train to Preston where I had some breakfast then on to Chorley and finally a taxi.
My wife was relieved to see me after she'd had a sleepless night worrying about me getting cold in the dark. She knows I've plenty of experience and been doing these things for many years, I always carry a tracker with its emergency button should I need it, but when one isn't there the imagination can take over.
Shower followed, then went upstairs for a few hours sleep, telling my wife to wake me around teatime.
I woke needing the loo, thinking I'd overslept into the next day but once downstairs found it was only 5pm the same day.
Friday we caught 4 trains to Ilkley to collect our car and drive it home.
Saturday it finaly hit me, weary and sleepy all day, then saturating sweats all night in bed, the usual after effects of ultra distance events as the body repairs itself.
So that was it, managed it, time wasn't important, unfortunately couldn't finish it with Malc, but no damage done, feet remained good, just one small heel blister and swollen big toe, both of which I never felt during the walk and a slight quad muscle stiffness from a severe cramp whilst clambering over over barbed wire crumbling low wall during a little nav error.
We had really good weather, had it been bad it would have no doubt been a different story.
Dave Lee.
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