LLANFAIR Waterdine couple, Rebecca and Phil Morris, have successfully completed the 44 mile Across Wales Walk. Last year Rebecca walked the 1050 mile perimeter of Wales in aid of Shelter Cymru, but this years effort has a more local ring to it.

Rebecca was walking to raise funds for the Knucklas Castle Community Land Project where the couple have an allotment and Phil's effort was for the Everest Hall in Llanfair Waterdine.

Rebecca and Phil left home at 1.40am on Saturday morning, caught a bus from Newtown to be dropped off down the Dyfi estuary to the west of Machynlleth.

Phil said "Savaged by midges as we signed in we set off walking at 4.10am into mist and some drizzle and the grey of the approaching dawn. Still very much full of trepidation, and thinking whether or not we could do it. This was something, the like of which either of us had ever attempted before."

The official distance was 44 miles (or 70.8km), the eventual distance was a bit longer as due to inclement weather on the part of the route from Glaslyn to Staylittle they were diverted from a planned part of the route over high moorland and along roads instead, the checkpoint staff reckoned it was an extra two miles. To put this distance in context, during Rebecca's epic walk around the perimeter of Wales last year her longest day's walk was 21 miles, their walk on Saturday was double that distance plus two miles! All 98 walkers were shepherded along the route and very well fed and watered by the Rotary Clubs of Newtown, Llanidloes and Machynlleth.

Phil says "We feel we've done something quite special together, it was such a challenge". They have thanked everybody who has generously sponsored them (so far). Phil says that the sponsor forms will remain open for some time yet. Contact Rebecca or Phil on 01547 520621 or email p.j.morris@live.co.uk with any more pledges.