First day nerves on the Pilgrims' Way! #1

[@carrieannbeckerfishman4292]

I love your podcast soooo much and it's just too wonderful to travel with you on this journey!

[@toughgirlchallenges]

Thank you so much!! That's so awesome to hear - lots more vlogs coming. Every Wednesday and Friday at 7am UK time!!!!

[@paulriddell6512]

Just found your video, you got a new sub! I am taking on this walk next year, I have always wanted to do it after walking the Shipwrights way twice before. I am on episode #1 of your series so look forward to watching the rest over the next few days, Thank you!

[@toughgirlchallenges]

thank you so much for watching and being a new sub!!! Hope you enjoyed the series and that your planning and preparation are coming along well. Best of luck with your walk - I'm sure you will have a fantastic time!

[@lesbananes671]

Great video. I watched them all because I'm hatching a plot to do this later in the year if I can get the time. I'm interested in the wild camping aspect because if I have to pay to stop somewhere every night its going to get very expensive. But I've never done that and I can imagine I'd just be lying awake all night listening for every little sound and expecting someone to come and turf me off! Might have to do some practice ones.

[@toughgirlchallenges]

I think that a great idea - do some small practice ones to get use to the sounds. Also you arrive late, set up your tent late and leave early (leave no mess etc) and you will be fine. You also get better at picking the spots which feel comfortable for you. it's a great way of keeping the costs down.

[@katiewiddowson]

Sarah, hey! I watched your PW series a couple of weeks ago and received my guide book by Cicerone - argh! I'm looking at doing the walk in stages across the weekends in August + September but am a bit nervous about wild camping! Would you recommend pitching a tent in fields over forests? Have you ever been reported/received any problems from people/farmers ect? Any tent recommendations? Any tips from anyone would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and I love you channel and podcast

[@toughgirlchallenges]

hey hey! Thanks so much for watching and I'm so excited for you. You will have a great time. With wild camping, it's just keeping an eye out for places, which are flat and out of site. I've camped in fields (edges) with no animals and also in forests, where I'm a little bit more hidden away. I've never had any problems. Most people don't care - they are going about their day. Pitch late, pack up early and get moving. I'm loving my Terra Nova tent. I've just gone back to it - after using an MSR tent while in New Zealand. Top tips would be - take it one day at a time. don't overthink - you will get in the flow. you've done the most important thing which is getting started and getting the date booked in. Go out and enjoy it!!! Have fun xx

[@katiewiddowson]

@@toughgirlchallenges Argh, thank you so much for replying Sarah! That's all great advice and thanks for the recommendation of the tent! Have also started listening to your podcast and i LOVE it!! xxx

[@toughgirlchallenges]

@@katiewiddowson that's brilliant - I've spoken to lots of women who've done hikes before and they share so many amazing pieces of advice and top tips!!!

[@londontrada]

If I didn't want to camp are there hotels along the way?

[@toughgirlchallenges]

@@londontrada they would be a range of accommodation available. But you may have to go off trail to get it.

[@davidhowarth6489]

Nice video - do you buy the passport in the cathedral?

[@toughgirlchallenges]

I didnt' get a passport for the pilgrims way - I don't think they do that for the uk pilgrims hike - I could be wrong. But if you are walking in Spain and doing the pilgrims routes over there you would be able to get the passport from the cathedral

[@endurance-adventures]

Shame you couldn't get the stamps - was that due to Covid?

[@toughgirlchallenges]

a lot of the churches were locked but many just didn't have stamps available. or they were not easy to find. A few places did and they left the box of stamps outside so it was easy to do. I also think it's just not as well set up as the camino are for example. where every place has a stamp

[@endurance-adventures]

@@toughgirlchallenges That's a shame - hopefully things will become more organised there. I love looking round churches and noticed that most were locked last year, but this year they seem to be open again

[@albert2395]

Why were you walking on so many lanes, and not the footpaths?

[@toughgirlchallenges]

to my understanding I was following the route!