MANSFIELD pensioner Anthony Allsop has been officially recognised as the oldest man to walk solo between Land’s End and John O’Groats — the length of the UK mainland.

Anthony (75), completed the walk, covering more than 900 miles, on 2nd September after setting off on 9th July.
Guinness World Records has now recognised his achievement with conformation that he holds the world record for the walk, being the oldest male to complete it aged 75 years and 88 days.

Earlier in the summer, having travelled to Land’s End and beginning the walk, he had to abandon his hopes of beating 74-year-old Reg Savill’s 13-year-old record through ill health, after just a few days.
On his second attempt, based on an idea he thought up several years previously — which he had been talked out of by his wife — Anthony bought a used Seat Alhambra for the trek and converted it into what he dubbed a SMB — a small mobile bedroom.

Anthony did the trek alone — apart from his teddy bear mascot, Darwin — and without back-up, taking in some of Offa’s Dyke, many miles of used and disused canal systems, disused railways, The West Highland Way and The Great Glen Way.

He used GPS tracking, CCTV and receipts to submit his bid to Guinness World Records.

Anthony, of Little Barn Lane, walked for eight to nine hours each day and then used public transport, taxis and the occasional lift from generous people to return to his vehicle, parking overnight wherever he could — including in many pubs and Tesco car parks courtesy of the management.

Along the way the determined pensioner received welcome, random acts of kindness from people he met.
One family gave him a lift to Gretna Green, invited him in for an evening meal, offered him a bed for the night, washed his clothes and allowed him to have a bath.

Others invited him in for a meal and many allowed him use a garden seat while inviting him to have a tea or coffee.

Anthony, who asked people to donate to Prostate Cancer Awareness in support of his walk, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed this ‘stroll’. The weather was brilliant for most of the time and if it was up to me I would do it every year until I dropped.

“As it is, I can hardly wait for my 80th birthday when I would like to have a crack at it again and maybe push the age record for the walk ‘beyond mere mortals.’

“However, when the time comes to take it on again I would like to have back-up in the shape of a mobile home — complete with a driver — and maybe a companion for the driver, too.

“A fit and active retired couple seeking a little adventure would be ideal, especially if they had the necessary mobile home. The costs could by met by me, of course.”

Last summer was not the first time Anthony had undertaken this walk. In 1993, he walked from Thurso in the very north of Scotland, via John o’ Groats to Land’s End. That time he did the whole walk backpacking.