Walking the walk

CHRIS HOWARD visited Edinburgh on an overnight stop on his 11,000 mile walk around the British coast. He is now on the homeward straight as he began his walk for Children in Need in July 2020. He had been walking for 393 days when we met him in St Andrew Square.

Known as the Coast Walker, Chris left his wife and three “amazing” children behind in Cambridge and set off on foot with a backpack after only three weeks of planning. Relying on the kindness of strangers he has camped out or found bed and board offered to him on his travels. has now raised more than £30,000 for the charity.

He has been intrigued that his unkempt appearance has made him invisible. Chris said: "I suppose in effect I have made myself homeless. In cities people don't really want to talk to me as they clearly think I am homeless. It is a bit of a sad indictment on our society that we won't talk to homeless people. I have found that strange and have been in those shoes for a time now. But I have to stay positive every step is a step closer to home now.”

Donate on Just Giving - search for The Coast Walker