'There is nothing like it': 11,000-mile charity Coast Walker arrives in Skegness and has a ball

Chris Howard, the Coast Walker, has been trekking now for more than 400 days with a 25kilo rucksack on his back and arrived in Skegness on Friday.

He is raising money for BBC Children in Need in an epic journey that has nearly taken two years.

In Shegness he re-united with his family from Cambridge, who he hasn't seen since Christmas - and they were kindly offered free accommodation for the weekend at Rosie Flanagan's guest house.

We caught up with him after he attended Skegness Pier for the launch of their new attraction for half term - Gelly Ball - and he even managed to muster enough energy to have a go.

"The welcome along the Lincolnshire Coast has been wonderful," he said. "There is nothing like it.

"There are many picturesque coastal resorts around the county but no-one does 'seaside resorts' like Lincolnshire.

"It's really unique and I love it.

"I spend the first night camping in his tent at Sutton-on-Sea, then had a steady walk to Skegness as part of my marathon a day target.

"I met the owners of Rosie Flanagan's guest house when they were on holiday in Scotland and they said to look them up when I arrived in Skegness and they agreed to put my family up who are meeting me.

"It was really kind of them and means a lot as I haven't seen them since Christmas."

While in Skegness they visited the North Sea Observatory, Skegness Pier and were 'sand blasted' on the beach as it was very bracing on Saturday.

However, as well as collecting some treasures they also did some litter picking.

When Chris went live on Facebook with daughter eight year old daughter Nala, she showed some rubbish she had found and said: "Don't drop litter!"

Chris explained: "Nala is currently trying to set up an eco council/committee at school and organises local litter picks.

""They are all good at recycling and litter picking because I'm passionate about the environment and protecting it.

"We do beach cleans together everywhere we go."

After his stay in Skegness, Chris headed out to Gibraltar Point to follow the sea bank towards Boston on the last leg of his epic journey.

It was on July 29, 2020 that Chris, a 36-year-old builder from Cambridge, began the 11,000 trek from Heacham South Beach in Norfolk - and he has kept going throughout the pandemic by walking a marathon a day to inspire others.

So far having raised nearly £33,000, the journey has not been easy and Chris says he endured hypothermia, the grueling pain of immersion foot and a good few cuts and bruises along the way.

However, the thought of beginning the final stretch of his challenge is driving him on.

"I always knew the challenge would be hard physically and mentally and it was the endurance side that attracted me most," said Chris.

"It can be lonely and I haven't seen my family since Christmas but the kindness of strangers along the way has been overwhelming.

"As well as bringing me food and drinks, on occasion I have been offered accommodation.

"But I have my tent and sleeping bag in my backpack and I've even slept in a lighthouse, a boat and a telephone box."

No stranger to adventure having explored Southeast Asia, India, Russia and much of Europe, he says walking around the UK is new territory for him

We spoke to him just a few miles away from Grimsby with the Lincolnshire coast on the horizon and Mablethorpe around four days away.

A bearded Chris said: "I'm really looking forward to exploring the Lincolnshire coast heading to Skegness, which I have never visited before.

"The coast around the UK is so different and diverse, which I love.

"Wales is beautiful and so is Scotland, but the going was particularly hard there as it was winter.

"As I approach Grimsby, it looks more industrial and I can't wait to see what Lincolnshire looks like."

The trek, which will go inland to Boston for when Chris crosses the River Witham, has not been made easier by gaps in the much-publicised Coastal Path.

"It was amazing in Wales and made such a difference but in other parts that was not the case, especially along the Yorkshire coast where in many parts it had eroded away," commented Chris.

A father of three daughters, Chris says it is his ultimate goal to raise as much money as he can for Children in Need that will spur him on the final stretch of his journey.

"I chose Children in Need having visited some really deprived areas on the UK and seeing how lucky my own children are," he explained.

"Children in Need seems to be the only charity really doing things to make a difference."

It will be two years when Chris finally returns to his home in Cambridge. "It has been a huge sacrifice being away from my family over the past two years," he said. "I am hoping I have building work to go back to when I get home but at the moment I am focusing on raising as much money as I can for BBC Children In Need."

You can make a donation to The Coast Walker by visiting https://thecoastwalker.com/ which links through to the Chris is Walking the coastline of Britain JustGiving page.

He will be passing Boston along his way to Heacham South Beach in Norfolk, where be began his challenge on July 29, 2020.

If you would like to offer accommodation or even a cup of tea on his epic journey, visit here.

For the full story, visit Lincolnshire World here.

To make a donation visit Chris is Walking the coastline of Britain at JustGiving here.