What better guest can there be to talk all things LeJog than Steve Athawes – route advisor for the Land's End to John o'Groats Association – who completed his 1,200-mile, 93 day adventure in 2017? In this amiable rambling chat, we discuss the joys of Dovedale, Blaise Hamlet and the South West Coast Path (alongside the even bigger joy of knowing you're walking while others are working); we hear about Steve's pre-walk training regime – and his return to fitness aged 59, just one year after getting a hip replacement; we consider the unlikely combination of Fish & Chips, beer and weight loss; we learn about the confidence Steve acquired from completing his LeJog; and we reflect on the serendipity of 'trail magic'.

• You can find out more about the Land's End to John o'Groats Association at https://lejog.org/
• You can buy Steve's book at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Walk-Steve-Athawes/dp/1839522127 or, for a physica; copy by emailing Steve at steve.athawes@yahoo.co.uk

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Author, Rambler and access campaigner Jack Cornish walked LEJOG in 2017, clocking up 1,550 miles over 82 days. Unlike most LEJOGers, Jack didn't prioritise efficiency or even scenic beauty. Instead he put pins in a map, then crafted a route that linked them all – even if it did zig-zag across the country, from Liverpool to Sheffield, Allonby to Newcastle... In this episode, we chat about Jack's formative walking experiences in his home city of London; we consider the magic of the wooded Wye Valley; we reflect on the end-of-day importance of jeans and T-shirt; we discuss the misery of the Somerset Levels (again); and we learn why Colman's Mustard is a must-have in the long-distance walker's backpack.

• Jack can be found in various locations online; his Linktree is here.
• Jack's website is here: .jackfcornish.com/
• And his LEJOG account can be found here: https://www.jackfcornish.com/hit-the-road-jack-1

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Sheila Gordon walked her 1,200-mile LEJOG in 1997 with husband Frank to mark his retirement. The couple had two rules: no mechanised transport; and if one couldn't complete the walk, the other had to continue. After 18 months of prep (including walking the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast Walk), the couple set off using a series of classic long distance walking routes, including the SW Coast Path, The Cotswolds Way, the Alternative Pennine Way and – Sheila's highlight – the West Highland Way. With lowlights including the Somerset Levels (boo!) and a very high aquaduct, the couple kept up an amiable pace twinning camping with occasional nights in B&Bs. We chat about the dynamics of walking with a companion, about connection with nature, about the gritty Pennine Way and hear about the mixed feelings of the couples' last day, when Frank told Sheila if he had a choice he would have turned round and walked all the way back to John o'Groats.

• Sheila's 'Lady Anne's Way' long distance footpath can be found at: ladyannesway.co.uk/

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