A man from Brighton has walked 400 miles to his brother’s pub in Falmouth all in aid of charity.

Brian Oliver decided to raise £2,200 for the Go Beyond charity, which helps disadvantaged children enjoy a countryside holiday, and for some, it’s the first holiday they have ever had.

He said: “Go Beyond owns its own places in the countryside in Cornwall, Devon, and Derbyshire and it gives holidays that can change a child’s life.

“The kids need the best care and professional leaders for their adventures, so it’s an expensive week for them. If I can raise enough for a couple of children to have a great holiday, my long walk will have been worth it."

Brian averaged about 15 miles a day and passed the 400-mile mark on his final walk to the Sea View Inn, Falmouth, run by his brother Michael - ending with the 111 steps of Jacob's Ladder in Falmouth on Wednesday.

Brian walked inland from Brighton on the South Downs Way and Itchen Way to Winchester, then took the Clarendon Way to Salisbury. From there it was across the country to the Wessex Ridgeway, down to the Southwest Coast Path at Abbotsbury, near Bridport, and along to Teignmouth.

To take in Dartmoor he then headed up to Newton Abbot and Widecombe-in-the-Moor, across to Tavistock, and made his way back to the Coast Path just east of Looe before staying on it all the way to Falmouth.

“I walk a lot all over the country and I find it very sad that so many people, especially young people, never get the chance to see how beautiful Britain is.

“People complain all the time about life in Britain - politics, rail strikes, and endless bad news – but our landscape is the match of anywhere in the world, and there are nearly 150,000 miles of footpaths to walk and take it all in. We live in a fantastic country," Brian adds.

Although it was a very long way to go for a pint, Brian waited until he reached the end of his journey before enjoying a well-deserved pint of Guinness with his brother at the Sea View Inn.

And the challenge has also resulted in another benefit - it has helped him reach his lowest weight in 30 years.

"It's helped me to shed a good few pounds, so I’d better not be drinking too many pints or it’ll soon go back on!" added Brian. 

Brian is only £400 away from his £2,200 target, if you would like to donate you can visit his fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brianoliver