British adventurer Lizzie Carr will set out this week in an attempt to become the first person to paddleboard the length of England. Carr hopes to complete the 650km journey in three weeks using an entirely human-powered SUP – better known to superyacht owners as one of the best water toys for children and adults alike.
Carr, who last year joined Ordnance Survey’s Get Outside campaign as an ambassador for adventure in the UK, will complete the challenge using the country’s network of waterways. Starting at the River Wey, Carr will travel north through Oxfordshire, Stoke on Trent and Wigan before finishing her journey in Lancashire.
Carrying 30kg of equipment, including a tent which will provide her only accommodation, Carr will navigate 193 locks, 8km of tunnel and a number of imposing aqueducts during the course of her trip which begins on May 11.
Of course, this trying task is being done with a philanthropic purpose and, alongside raising money for WaterTrek and WaterAid, Carr also hope to raise awareness of the problem of plastic pollution – one of the biggest threats facing the world’s oceans – by mapping out particularly affected areas seen along the way.
“Paddleboarding the length of the country is a great way to show its natural beauty from an altogether different perspective – the water,” said Carr. “Our canals are iconic pieces of history that provide a presence of calm and tranquility in urban settings. They are easily accessible all over the country but they are currently under threat from plastic pollution and debris.
“This challenge is a way to reclaim our waterways in the hope that people care, fall back in love, and take action against the problems we’re facing with plastic pollution.”
To find out more about the challenge and make a donation visit lizzieoutside.co.uk.