A former army captain is set to trek from John O’Groats to Land’s End
WHEN the former army captain Grant Nicolle was casting around for the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of the construction world, he alighted on his love of horses. But rather than opt for the odd weekend trek, he decided to embark on an epic journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End on a 10-year-old gelding called Marv.
Next month, Nicolle will set off on his 1,300 mile long trot, using back roads and dirt tracks. His horse, a 16.1-hand Clydesdale cross, was bought for £3,000 specifically because of his “weight-bearing, calm temperament, and all-round robustness” which should see them both through the journey.
A former army riding instructor, Nicolle, 34, knows horses well. He spent two years in the Kings Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, whose duties included Trooping the Colour, and performing in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Keeping Marv healthy and fit on the three month trek — which he hopes will raise £10,000 for charity — will be Nicolle’s priority. If his horse gets sick there will be no chance of reaching Land’s End. Where the tracks he rides on deteriorate, Nicolle will dismount to save Marv’s energy.
“For the last three years the trip has been growing in my mind and reached a point where it had to happen or I moved on and forgot about it,” Nicolle says. Initially he thought of taking a group of soldiers and their horses on a 100 mile trek but this was vetoed by the troop’s commanding officer, who said the soldiers were too busy. “I thought that’s a shame but it stuck in my mind,” he says.
This far longer trek is more like a trail ride and will include camping out with the horse. “It’s what people did hundreds of years ago,” he says. “If you sent a letter it would be ridden south all the way to London by a series of people.” He admits that asphalt roads, motorways and rail lines have made long-distance journeys on horseback more difficult. Another drawback is that coaching inns, where riders could get lodging for themselves and their steeds, now exist in name alone.
“We’re going to find out how generous the farmers are en route,” he says. “But my army training enables me to survive for weeks on end. I will be sleeping out with the horse whenever the opportunity allows.” He will carry no more than two days’ food, not wanting to weigh down Marv any more than necessary.
“Probably about one third of nights I’ve managed to sort out already: either with people I know or friends of friends who can give a bed and the horse can go in a field or a stable.” But he is not looking for further volunteers to take him and Marv in, believing that a flexible agenda will make the journey more pleasurable.
Even the weather, which can turn most un-spring-like during April, is not a concern. “I hope it’s cold, as I’d sooner be rained on for the first two weeks, and be midge free-than it being hot and dry, with the horse getting bitten. If the horse gets bitten on its back and it goes septic the trip could be off. If it’s wet we just get wet, we just keep walking and that’s fine.”
Nicolle intends to travel alone but behind the scenes he will be assisted by his girlfriend, Fiona, who will be at home updating his website and coordinating things like vets and farriers. Marv is currently being stabled near Gorebridge and Nicolle has been testing him on hacks through the Midlothian countryside as he builds up towards his planned departure date of 29 April.
Since leaving the army, Nicolle has been an Edinburgh-based project manager with construction company Mace, and is currently involved with the refurbishment of two large Royal Bank of Scotland buildings in Edinburgh’s New Town. He says his employers have been very supportive, allowing him to take a 12 week sabbatical for the trip.
Money raised by Nicolle’s trip will go towards Cancer Research UK, and the International League for the Protection of Horses.
This article was published in the Ecosse section of The Sunday Times on 18 March 2007