A DEDICATED hospice supporter will spend months walking and wild camping across entire the length of the country.

Neil Jordan has started a trek spanning about 1,200 miles from The Lizard in Cornwall to Cape Wrath in Scotland, to mark a decade since his first fundraising feat for Sobell House Hospice.

The 67-year-old, who lives in Wantage, has been a keen advocate of the Headington hospice since his late wife Linda, who had cancer, did there in 2007.

He said: "It would be difficult to overstate the care and compassion shown to Linda and the family by [hospice] staff, and it is vital money is raised to enable this work to continue."

Mother-of-two Mrs Jordan, who was an infant school teacher in the Wantage and Didcot area, was 56 when she died.

In 2008 keen walker Mr Jordan took on his first fundraiser for Sobell, walking from John o' Groats to Lands End, which also spans the length of the country.

He said he and his two sons discussed how to mark their mother's 10-year memorial, adding: "We put a bench with a little plaque overlooking the beach, near where she grew up.

“But I thought she would probably would have wanted a slightly more practical demonstration, so I thought of doing another walk.

“I used to do lots of hill walking and rock climbing when I was younger, and a group of friends and I go away hill walking every month.”

Retiree Mr Jordan, who used to oversee logistics and distributions at Debenhams, started his journey last week and expects to finish in almost four months.

He has had to lug his camping gear and food and drink supplies in the sweltering heat, although he will also be making the occasional overnight stop at hotels.

He said: "It’s blisteringly hot but I would rather it be hot and dry than wet - there have been days when I have got soaked.

“But I like the simplicity of these big trips - the only thing I have to worry about is having enough food and drink."

Mr Jordan is relying on paper maps to follow his pre-planned route, which snakes along coastal footpaths, remote countryside and mountain terrain, but he will pick up a GPS maps device in time for The Pennines.

The trip is largely solo but he said certain friends will join him on some stretches. He aims to cover 20-25 kilometres daily and has been setting out at 7am.

Just 11 days have been set aside for rest, and he hopes to reach his destination in early October.

Sobell House fundraiser Bert Corbyn-Smith said: "It sounds like an incredible experience.

"We are so grateful to have people willing to take on such extreme challenges.

"It makes a real difference to our ability to continue providing care for the people of Oxfordshire now and in the future."

To sponsor Mr Jordan, who has already raised £1,500, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/neil-jordan4.