Sam’s big walk home

For the past three years, Manchester has been my home while studying photography at university. This summer, instead of catching the train back to Bridgnorth, my hometown, I decided to walk the entire journey, raising money for Crisis -the UK’s national homelessness charity, and photographing my surroundings as I did so. Seventy-five miles, over one hundred and fifty thousand steps, 5 packs of plasters, 2000 photos taken and of course, temperatures reaching up to thirty-six degrees in what was, unfortunately for me, the hottest week in June on record. An arduous walk home, but for such a good cause.  

I chose to raise money for Crisis because, despite any discomfort I experienced on this walk, it is nothing compared to what thousands of people experiencing homelessness go through every day. Currently, £1300 has been raised.

The final view of my room in Manchester before leaving for the walk.

The idea for the walk was inspired by the story of American adventurer Christopher Mcandless. It started as somewhat of a stray thought, but after making the GoFundMe live, the mass amount of donations for the cause made me realise that this was a feasible idea worth pursuing.

I loved the freedom the journey offered. In a time where everything feels in flux as I establish myself after education, having time to focus on one thing felt relieving. Walking for hours with nothing but music, a camera, and the ever-changing surroundings allowed me to disconnect from everyday distractions and appreciate my surroundings. Yet simultaneously, the walk was one of the most uncomfortable and challenging things I have done.

To tackle the heat, I would leave at 4am each day, which meant I could make some progress before facing the sun at its hottest point of the day. It is probably worth noting I am not much of a morning person.

Photographs from a motel I stayed at in Whitchurch while I waited for the kettle to boil for a very strong coffee before leaving.

Trying to be creative in moments of physical discomfort from the heat and blisters was difficult, I had to ignore it, disconnect and continue making and moving.

It was interesting to observe the subtle changes as I moved through the country, as I went on the images I made began to repeat themselves. Initially, doing so wasn’t my intention but I began to lean into it. Searching for those reoccurring subjects and creating a typology focused series became entertaining, and a distraction from unease.

I came across so many considerate people along the way. While walking from Whitchurch to Shrewsbury, I found myself on long, unshaded country roads and went through my water much sooner than I had anticipated. As I passed a farm, I noticed a man working in a shed and asked if I could refill my bottle.

He welcomed me into his home, where I met his three friendly dogs. He gave me water, ice, and a chance to gain some respite -which was far more than I had asked for. His name was Nigel, and I will always be grateful for his kindness. My water supply was close to running out, and in thirty-five-degree heat, that was not something I could afford to risk.

Nigel’s Farm

Nearing the end of the walk I felt such a mix of emotions, some of them were perhaps down to the heat making me delirious, but I can pinpoint one moment where I felt particularly happy. I came across a sign showing that Shrewsbury was just ten miles away. I don't really consider Shrewsbury to be home, per se, but I spent two years there at college and have always been very fond of the town. Seeing that sign was the first moment I truly felt close to home. From that point on, I was back in familiar territory.

When the walk was close to being done, I met two of my friends to walk the last 5 miles. As I waited for them I felt a sense of achievement, but also acknowledgement that it was nearly over. I didn’t know what to think about that, because despite the discomfort I enjoyed the process thoroughly.

The rock I sat on while waiting for my friends.

Although the walk is now in the past, I want to continue developing the project. I plan to host fundraising events in Bridgnorth and Manchester in the coming months, showcasing the work I made to sell the work physically and grow donations for Crisis. 

Now that time has passed, I already feel drawn to doing something like this again, perhaps even bigger, but maybe when the sun is a bit more stereotypically English.

A link to the fundraiser and a link to more of the work I made are attached below.