Being on your first set of teeth’s no barrier to Britain’s biggest walking challenge, as these guys are here to prove (especially when there are trees to climb, ponds to explore, crabapples to kick, and chocolate to devour…)
Get a chart like Elizabeth’s! www.walk1000miles.co.uk/charts.
Meet the inspector
Elizabeth Wood, five, from Bath, Somerset helps the homeless, mile by mile
Why do the challenge? Elizabeth’s walking 100 miles to raise money for Julian House homeless charity. Homelessness concerns her and she originally wanted to help by buying someone a house. When told that wasn’t practical she decided to do this sponsored challenge instead.
Who slows down who? Elizabeth will often walk at one-mile-per-hour as she spends A LOT of time looking at wildflowers, birds, snail shells, animal tracks, and her current favourite – dead animals!
The best bit? As well as examining everything she sees, Elizabeth enjoys crabapple football, scavenger hunts, puddle jumping, and playing trolls and goats at any bridge she passes.
The worst bit? When it's very windy.
Favourite walk? Anywhere there are animals or ponds. She recently spotted some newts, and once found a tiny frog.
Favourite snacks? Malt loaf, Cheddars, smoothies, cheese, dried strawberries, Marmite and peanut butter sandwiches... and chocolate!
Milestones made of chocolate
Reuben and Lukas Armour (seven and 12), Kilmarnock, Ayrshire are fundraising, competing, and enjoying their milestone chocolate
Why do the challenge? Lukas was going to do the West Highland Way last year, but Covid meant that couldn’t happen, so he signed up to #walk1000miles. Just after New Year Reuben decided he wanted to do it to raise money for Beaver Scouts.
Who slows down who? Some days the kids are the most motivated, other days it’s the adults.
The best bit? The competition with each other and the sense of achievement… as well as getting a big bar of chocolate every time they pass 100 miles. Lukas also loves nature and how the colours change with the seasons.
The worst bit? The wind and rain (which isn’t infrequent in Ayrshire!).
Favourite walk? Whitelee Windfarm. It’s the largest onshore wind farm in the country with 215 turbines and dozens of tracks.
Favourite snacks? Cocktail sausages, Scotch eggs, Baybel, crisps, chocolate… anything that’s in the fridge or cupboard!
Miles into money
Jessica and Jenson Clarke (eight and four), from Whitefield, near Manchester are using #walk1000miles to save for their next holiday
Why do the challenge? It’s something the whole Clarke family can do together, and they need £2000 for their summer holiday next year, so are saving £2 for every mile they walk.
Who slows down who? Sometimes Jenson can have a meltdown if he’s tired, but with a bit of encouragement he might end up being the ‘winner of the walk’ (not bad for possibly the youngest Mile-let this year).
The best bit? Discovering new places and playing games like hide and seek. Jenson loves Sonic the Hedgehog so will often pretend to be him, running off using his 'super speed'. Jessica prefers taking pictures and looking at wildlife, and is constantly singing and dancing.
The worst bit? Getting out the door in the first place (though they normally enjoy it once they’re out).
Favourite walk? On the beach, or anywhere with a playground.
Must-have snacks? A home-baked treat, or some fruit and a yoghurt (either way, food will be asked for on EVERY walk, no matter how short!).
Hollie & the trolls
Hollie Drummond, six, from Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire just loves the natural world (apart from hills… and dark woods)
Why do the challenge? Mum signed up for it, so Hollie did too.
Who slows down who? Hollie will often be off climbing trees and saying hello to every dog she passes.
The best bit? Enjoying nature – listening to the birds, spotting new animals, and seeing different colours and shapes of leaves and trees. She also likes to imagine she’s in a land of fairies, elves and trolls.
The worst bit? Dark woods and steep hills.
Favourite walk? A local walk at Pappert Well, where she’s spotted a fox, some deer, some sheep and loads of birds.
Must-have snacks? Cookies, crisps, Haribo and diluted juice (in her cat bottle).
The clean team
Jacob and Thomas Glossop (nine and seven), from Sleaford, Lincolnshire clean up the countryside as they go
Why do the challenge? After finishing last year on 1000.5 miles, they fancied continuing the mission. They like to look after the environment and they’ve become known locally for picking litter as they go.
Who slows down who? The adults slow down the boys, especially this year as mum is pregnant with her surrogate baby.
The best bit? Geocaching, playing Pokémon Go, collecting sticks and rocks, and spotting birds and animals (Thomas recently saw an otter). Jacob loves getting his medals, and has invented a game called pine cone batting (hitting cones with a stick).
The worst bit? For Jacob it’s the aching legs after a long walk, and for Thomas it’s the sun not being out all the time.
Favourite walk? Jacob enjoys any walk with a play park on the way, while Thomas prefers the woods so he can climb trees.
Must-have snacks? For Jacob it’s fruit and cheese, and for Thomas oranges and bananas (what healthy lads they are!).
