One man has proved that pilgrimage is still an essential part of the modern world and at the same time has proven that preparation in having the right equipment from your outdoor clothing shop, wherever it may be, is part of the same game.

Lindsay Hamon, 61, is difficult to ignore as he walks the UK and beyond, as he carries a cross on his shoulder. Made from wood it weighs almost 25kg, that’s nearly 55lbs in old money and is fitted with a small wheel at the bottom. Over the last quarter of a century he has covered in excess of 5,000 miles and it has taken him to some of the remotest parts of the world, including Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Having started with a walk from Land’s End to Plymouth, they have become gradually bigger and further afield, walking from Berlin to Moscow then taking it to India and beyond. The cross itself does break down into three pieces, but is now the third cross he has had, the first was stolen at Reading Rock Festival and the second was impounded by Indian customs a few years ago. Even so it can be a bit of an a difficult item to transport, especially through an airport

What is amazing about this is it acts an icebreaker wherever he goes, but it does mean he can’t wear a rucksack so everything must be carried from bags on his belt, and if not fully prepared it can lead to difficulties. Forgetting to pack a torch, he found himself walking in the pitch black through Bangladesh and then putting his foot into a pothole. Just goes to show that when packing for any walk preparation and checking that preparation is always important.

Amazingly, he hasn’t finished yet and is looking forward to taking his cross to China, Africa and South America, and wants to keep going until he is unable to do it. His only regret is that he didn’t start it earlier in his life. It just goes to show what we are all capable of when we put our minds to it.

So whatever you are planning to do, trek across the world with a cross on your shoulder, or plan that next walk in the hills outside your own front door, don’t forget to get all your requirements (apart from the cross) from Outdoor Look your favourite outdoor clothing shop for quality and price.