Home   News   Article

Chris Lewis' unique adventure continues in Moray


By Alistair Whitfield

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

A remarkable man who's been on the road for the past three years is currently walking through Moray in the direction of Cullen.

Nearly 70,000 people now follow Chris Lewis' adventures online.

The former paratrooper set off in August 2017 to walk around the UK coastline with nothing but £10 in his pockets.

Along the way he's adopted a trusty companion, a lurcher called Jet.

He's found a girlfriend, Kate, who's walking with him.

What's more, he's raised an incredible £170,000 for SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

Speaking earlier today, the 40-year-old said: "I've had a brilliant welcome in Moray. Some people even came out onto the streets in Lossiemouth to clap us, which was really lovely.

"We were given a guided tour of the air base by the top man.

"And I also gave a talk at Kinloss Primary, where Jet proved very popular with the kids.

"As word had spread about what I'm doing, I keep finding a very warm welcome wherever I go.

"I'd like to thank everyone in Moray for their hospitality. It means a lot."

Chris hit the headlines during the start of lockdown, which came into force as he was walking around the Shetlands.

He'd spent the previous five months island-hopping and the winter at such a northerly latitude had proved very hard at times.

On his first night in Shetland the wind had completely torn his tent to shreds.

He ended up walking round the capital, Lerwick, trying to find a public toilet where he could sleep.

But the emerging Spring weather brought better times.

He was about to leave Shetland when the lockdown regulations came in.

Chris was unsure about what to do, but then a local fisherman gave him permission to stay on the tiny uninhabited island of Hildasay.

For the next three-and-a-half months Chris lived there in a shed with no running water or electricity, foraging for food and picking up the occasional boat-load of supplies.

He describes it as one of the happiest times in his life.

His story found its way into the national papers and thousands began to follow his Facebook page – Chris Walks the UK

He recalls: "Lerwick seemed absolutely huge after being by myself on the island for so long.

"And arriving in Inverness the other month blew my mind a little bit. It was the first city I'd seen in over two years."

Talking about what's long become a way of life for him, he adds: "I try to get away from making plans and having any set routines.

"If you start setting yourself targets, such as how far you're going to walk a day, you can leave yourself open to disappointment.

"I love waking up in the morning and not knowing what will happen or who we'll meet.

"All I know is that at some point I'm going to have to make it back to Swansea because that's where I set off from.

"But I've fallen in love with Scotland. I don't think I'll ever permanently live south of here again."


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More