Tonbridge student returns from adventurous hitchhiking trip raising money for ActionAid

17 September 2010: Jack Holden, 20 from Tonbridge in Kent has just returned from an amazing hitch-hiking adventure from Bristol to the Isle of Skye and back again. His added challenge was to hike the entire 110km length of the island through the rockiest mountain range in the UK.

Harry, together with friend, Jack Holden, decided to embark on the trip to support ActionAid’s relief efforts in Pakistan.

Jack says, “The unfolding disaster in Pakistan inspired me and my friend to set out on a hitchhiking adventure to reach the Isle of Skye aiming to raise £2,000 from the British public. We want the money to go to people in Pakistan in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter. “

On the morning of the 1st of September, the pair set off on their 1,200 mile round trip armed only with their backpacks, a cardboard sign and an ActionAid banner. After a mere five minutes of leaving the front door in Bristol, they were picked up by a woman called Jo, who was on her way to a knitting class. They made it to Glasgow by the first night with the aid of five helpful strangers, including a very relaxed American couple, who decided to hand over the keys to their Renault and let the lads do the driving, while they caught a wink in the back.

Jack and Harry made it across to the Isle of Skye on Friday 10 September by ferry, where they started their hike through the rockiest mountain range in Britain, the Black Cuillin. After sleeping on the beach by a fire to keep warm, the boys planned to walk 30 km in a day setting off from the southern-most point of the island – the Point of Sleat. Half-way along their planned route, they realised that they had miscalculated and instead would have to walk 37 km carrying their heavy 50 lbs backpacks! They did make it, and were told by staff at their youth hostel that this trip usually would take hikers three days to complete.

As for the journey home, the two students were given a tour of the Highlands by a lorry driver complete with a whiskey distillery tour, before they had the incredible luck to be picked up by Scottie, who drove them from Perth the 110 miles to their front door in Bristol.

Jack says: “I’ve never done anything remotely like this before. It was a real adventure and we’ve met some amazing characters on the way. Our trip had all the ingredients of a great holiday, while also raising money for a good cause. I’ve definitely caught the hitch-hiking bug and I plan to hitch-hike to Devon next week.”

So far the dedicated duo has raised £1260, but hope that the public will help them to reach their ultimate target of £2,000. To donate go to: http://twitter.com/skyesthelimit10