Ex-soldier to trek UK and Ireland towpaths

An ex-solder is aiming to walk 2,500 miles of towpaths to collect cash for a military charity.

Doug Hamilton-Cox has completed the south Wales part of his challenge – which will take him through the UK and Ireland – and he thinks he has covered some 275 miles already, the South Wales Evening Post reports.

All of the money he raises from the expedition will go towards Help for Heroes.

After attending repatriations at Wootton Bassett, Mr Hamilton-Cox made the decision to help injured servicemen and women.

He came up with the idea of trekking through the canals after he completed a walk from John O'Groats to Land's End and decided he would like another challenge.

"I love canals anyway," Mr Hamilton-Cox said. "There's so much engineering and history."

So far, his excursion has seen him walk over eight miles by Swansea Canal and across bogs to access the top end of the Neath.

Posted by Simon Williams