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This has the potential to be quite interesting, basically a slightly ill prepared/skilled bloke is attempting to cross the 33 miles of Wales in a straight line - through fields, hedges, rivers etc. Basically whatever lies in his way, trying not to stray off the line by much.
Between the hypothermia, farmers with guns, infected barbed wire cuts, mountain cliff faces, and sheep, this looks interesting! 😁
I watched a fair bit of that last week... not sure how i came across it (you tube rabbit hole!) but thought he was quite fun, interesting,a dn the parts i saw he stayed fairly close to his line.
But, WTF doesn't he wear gloves!
Might sit down and watch it all..
DrP
Yeah it randomly popped up into my YouTube suggested videos, probably due to the 2.2m views in 3 weeks it's had!
I watched the first 3 videos last night, looking forward to the rest.
Reminded me of this book: https://threepointsofthecompass.com/2017/11/05/a-decent-read-two-degrees-west-an-english-journey-by-nicholas-crane/
Brilliant. I watched the first one a few weeks ago, pleased that there are a couple more to watch now.
Edit- 2.2M views now. It was only on a few thousand when I saw it. I'm obviously an online viral talent spotter.
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE TOP CONTENT!
Many others have done this before him.
The gamekeeper he meets earlyish in that first episode seems to decide quite quickly that he's a harmless nutter.
People who enjoy this would definitely enjoy watching Ramsay MacMahon in Mach a Seo! on BBC Alba: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09tx9vb/episodes/guide 9
He's an engaging and charming young lad who sets out from the city every Friday to have adventures around Scotland, most of it is in Gaelic so you'll need the subtitles. He's a lot of fun, really enjoyable to watch.
People who enjoy this would definitely enjoy watching Ramsay MacMahon in Mach a Seo! on BBC Alba: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09tx9vb/episodes/guide /a> 9
Cheers for that. There's some good stuff on BBC Alba. I'm a fan of Dhan Uisge 🙂
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rpbjw
It's brilliant, isn't it!
Much like everyone else it popped up as a recommended watch for me three weeks ago (out of nowhere), and i'm now eagerly awaiting the next episode to come online this evening.
I think it's a combo of the low production value, blunt narration, and the sense he gives off that he isn't entirely confident in what he is doing which makes it an utterly compelling watch!
Saw them the other day too. Seemed like a bonkers challenge, so thought it worth a watch.
I'm sure there would be better potential routes to take to save having to cross a raging torrent or a lake, but it looked to me like he picked the line to have as many challenges as possible.
Many others have done this before him.
Romans like?
@ajaj have a look at their tracking, they've gone about 10-15 miles off the straight line in some areas. Granted its over a much bigger distance but it's not really a straight line 😁
To be honest I think that he's doing the wrong thing. Fine to walk in a straight line, not fine to damage hedges and fencing. In the first bit, when he back out of the pheasant hatchery he damages the netting fence, gives it a cursory lift and pretty much shrugs it off. Not on.
He knows what he is doing is wrong throughout hence his camo so he looks like the military, and possibly to help him be concealed. Likewise he is always a bit anxious about being seen.
Nicholas Crane, mentioned above, walked down the 2° west meridian line, from Berwick to Poole, starting within 1000m either side of the line (between the 99 and 01 grid lines on OS maps).
I don't think he does Ambrose its already hanging off.
Christ I am glad i live in Scotland thats shits archaic that you can't walk where you want.
A post roman straight line attempt
https://www.tate.org.uk/research/publications/tate-papers/17/ten-miles-on-exmoor
Christ I am glad i live in Scotland thats shits archaic that you can’t walk where you want.
100% this., subservient nonsense.
What a character and enjoyed it so much that I binged on 4 episodes last night. Can't wait for more!
That 4th episode got a bit scary there when he was climbing sheer faces in the wet, with a full pack on his back and no safety gear.
The guy is clearly dedicated to the cause!
Bollocks! Mach a seo looks great, no longer available!! BBC ****s!
5th and final episode of his mission now available and it really is a goodie. Was on tenterhooks in between laughing and fingers crossed that he comes up with more daft ideas, the guy's a legend!
Holy thread resurrection, but I just came across this and its in a similar vain to the original topic. Awesome stuff.
Watched the first episode after this thread started. Hilarious.
If he'd done it in Scotland he would only have had to worry about barbed wire and ticks rather than bricking it at any car in view.
I have a similar old Trainline plan for the borders.
He's back!
That’s so swindon
His recent YouTube series where he backpacks across Europe with his mate is also very entertaining.
His recent YouTube series where he backpacks across Europe with his mate is also very entertaining.
Just watched part 1 and what a hoot! That man is brilliant and reckon I'll be watching part 2 pretty soon.
That’s so swindon
Could be anywhere! This Geoguessr malarkey really appeals, looks good fun although couldn't cope with being in a car blindfolded.
Attempt number 2. With Added Welsh Greg.
Thanks for this!
Running version across the lakes:
http://longdistancechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/05/102-west-may-2012.html?m=1
Awesome!
He's back and in Norway this time
Enjoy!
Attempt number 3...
He's at it again
As above.>
< He also set it as a challenge for Storror recently.
He broke Storror on that one, they are a great bunch of guys with amazing skills and fitness but I don't think they expected it to be quite so hard.
Yeh was funny watching Storror struggle largely out of their element, he gave them an 'easy' line too compared to most of his. The quarry guys were great sports.
Been enjoying Toby Segar's other climbing stuff too.
Yeah it was a funny choice to send Storror across Dartmoor instead of...Crawley or somewhere 😂
Yes, this came up in my Youtube recommendations! Started watching the US of A one, last year I think, and gave up due to boredom and lack of laughs. Surprised he hasn't been back to Scotland, can't have those youngsters (teenagers?) holding the record.
Some catching up to do I see!
Yeah I tried the USA one and thought it was boring also. Loads of content about buying a boat and then getting nowhere quickly in it. Switched off.
The Europe one from a few years back is good though, but not as good as straight line.
Also if you are a fan of illegal trespassing peril, Brave Dave's Big Fat Freight Hop is worth a look.
I'm obviously have a bit of a rule-taking personality, as I get very tense watching him throw himself over fences and hoof across fields.
Also if you are a fan of illegal trespassing peril, Brave Dave’s Big Fat Freight Hop is worth a look.
Entertaining, but I see he got turned round at immigration the next time he tried to enter Canada and is now banned from Canada and the USa.
These guys attempted to cross Scotland in a completely straight line.
Middle of lockdown to make things spicy.
Started near Dunmore, and then went via Cowie (what were they thinking!), motorway services and into the Touch Hills. I thought I knew the area like the back of my hand but some bits had me looking at the map.
I watched that latest attempt 4 Day 1 vid the other night. The majority of it is in areas where I have been on the bike or running close to where we live.
He certainly hypes up the 'danger' of being found.
The farm where crossed with the MX tracks is open land with a BW across it and various paths. Ive gone wrong on there before and had a friendly chat with the farmer.
Also been running up some of the valleys where he was and never been questioned.
The bit I dont agree with is the crawling through hedges and over fences. If everyone did it they would be knackered.
Thats the straight line bit though dunc
There was a bit where he "dangerously" crosses a garden in the first Wales attempt, and you can see his footprints from when he did it previously. Assuming he forgot to switch the gopro on!
Fair play though. Just looking at a map, I couldn't do the 10k from home to work in a straight line.
Hadn't heard of Storror so watched the first part, oh dear!! So much faffing with a big group though and such a shame that there doesn't appear to be any ladies doing similar, why not??
Can't wait til the second episodes, hope we're not forced to wait a whole week.
I think (massive sweeping generalisation alert) women have a higher self preservation level so are less keen to throw themselves off stupid things in stupid places. When I have seen women do parkour they tend to be more focused and considered and while technically better a touch less dramatic.
I'm impressed with anyone doing anything in a straight line like this though I do sometimes wince as hedges and fences are trampled.
The Scotland one was interesting - when caught, in the Stirling council area (loved a reckless conduct charge), I expected the worst. However the police backed off, presumably because Tom was working at the time. I know a few folk who pulled that one and am kicking myself for not "writing a guidebook" at the time of the postcode lottery in 2021.
He did get into hot water however with the railway crossing at Cowie.
Since then Scotland has been done, with a nearby line, which contained the utter horror of a long traverse of the Carron Valley forestry. Ouch!
As for the fences and hedges - I'm the mellowest of landowners, but try that on me and I would go the full Hoogstraten. Not on!
Now caught up although awaiting Geowizard's episode no. 3. Great stuff, really enjoy these but do grimace when they're squeezing through/climbing over hedgerows as there's no attempt to do it as considerately as possible. But THAT FARMER, good grief!!
Roll on next week.
And he just couldn't resist running across Wales, accompanied by a couple of ultrarunners. Check out that weather, blimey!