630-mile walk at the age of 80, and still raring for more!

At 7:30pm on 15 April 2024, Watson’s Books will host the launch party for Walking the West by local author John Smith, aged 80. The book charts John’s non-stop walk last year along the entire 630 miles of the South West Coast Path, taking in the pleasures, trials, sights and people he met along the way.

Walking the West tracks John’s journey from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall to Poole Harbour in Dorset, travelling through two World Heritage Sites: Cornwall’s Historic Mining Landscape and Devon’s Jurassic Coast. John’s easy writing style and warm personality mean that he has plenty of fascinating stories to tell about the people he met and the challenges he faced, such as his ongoing disagreements with seagulls, and an unexpected meeting with a certain celebrity in Padstow when John twisted his ankle.

After a career in local-government finance, John realised that he had had enough of offices and decided to spend as much time as he could outdoors. He has previously followed Wainwright’s walks in the Lake District and completed the Cotswold Way.

‘Walking the South West Coast Path was an amazing experience,’ says John. ‘It was something I always wanted to do, and I decided “It’s now or never”. Coastal walking isn’t just something for young people. If I can do it, anyone can. Now I’m planning the next one!’

Watson’s Books, Boscawen Street

Walking the West is published by Swallow Books

John Smith is represented by All Artists Associates