Fundraiser Josh Garman to trek length of the UK dressed as a Roman soldier before finishing at Portchester Castle

A Roman soldier will walk the length of the UK, and end his journey at Portchester Castle.

Fundraiser Josh Garman will leave Dunnet Head in Caithness, Scotland - the most northerly point of the British mainland - and trek more than 1,000 miles down to the south coast. His winding route will take him through some of the most distinctive Roman areas of the UK, including Hadrian’s Wall, Cirencester and Bath.

He will be wearing full Roman armour including traditional sandals, a helmet and a plume, and pushing a homemade Roman “chariot” - a converted dog trailer that will carry a shield, a banner, Roman coins and half-eaten fruit. He expects the trip to take about two months.

Mr Garman, 27, says he was inspired to undertake the challenge after journeys through Egypt, meeting Sudanese refugees who have fled there. He was devastated by the frequent reports of thousands of families arriving in neighbouring countries without any belongings or support, as well as pregnant women facing the dangerous journey alone.

After returning home, he met Giel Malual in London, who recently walked 900 miles across Britain to raise money for schools in Sudan and South Sudan. Growing close to the British-Sudanese communities, Mr Garman decided to partner with the charities Goodwill Caravan and Steps for Sudan to raise money for those affected by the conflict.

In 2021, he cycled 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain in six months towing a homemade caravan that he slept in, raising £45,000 for children with rare diseases.

He has also cycled with E.T. (the alien) and recently completed walking expeditions in Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, China, and Australia.

Mr Garman, from Godalming in Surrey, believes the Roman armour will draw attention as he walks through Britain and demonstrate how far he is willing to push himself to raise much-needed funds.

He said: “The walk will be a heavy, sweaty, and tiring challenge for me, but nothing compared to the journeys undertaken by countless displaced Sudanese refugees. I believe the people of Britain are kind-hearted and provide some of the best hospitality in the world for adventurers like me. I learnt this in 2021, cycling the coast of Britain. Countless people offered me a place to sleep, food to eat, and even cycled with me.”

The route plan Dunnet Head, Inverness, Perth, Edinburgh, Trimontium Roman Fort, Hadrian’s Wall, Lake District, Blackpool, Preston, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Leicester, Birmingham, Cirencester Amphitheatre, Bath, London, and finally Portchester Castle.

The expedition can be followed through Mr Garman’s social media @roadprovides and donations can be made on the Goodwill Caravan fundraising page https://goodwillcaravan.donorsupport.co/page/romanwalk

He said he hopes people not only donate, but spread the message of his journey, with the hopes of food or a place to sleep along the route. He also encourages others to join him and walk with a Roman for the day.