Jen Lowthrop walked 1000 miles through all ten of England's national parks with rescue dog Cookie, raising £10,000 matched by the Alpkit Foundation.
Outdoor enthusiast Jen Lowthrop shares her story of walking 1000 miles across England's ten national parks, raising £10,000 along the way.
The idea behind Jen's epic walk was simple: "I did my 'a walk in the parks' adventure as both a personal challenge and to raise much needed funds."
What followed was ten weeks of hiking through every national park in England, accompanied by her rescue dog Cookie. Her 1000-mile journey took in highlights from Northumberland to Exmoor.
"I walked through the incredible scenery our national parks offer, be it ragged undulating coastlines, epic views from mountain tops or winding country lanes with birds bobbing along in front of us."
The experience quickly became more than a fundraising effort. It was an immersion into landscapes she had long championed, offering a rare chance to slow down and truly connect with them.
"My time outside in nature getting to know our national parks up close has changed me," she reflects.
Absolute contentment
Days on the trail brought both challenge and joy. Hiking continuously for ten weeks created a rhythm shaped by terrain, weather and the unexpected.
"There are so many memories, good and bad," Jen says. One moment saw her and Cookie pinned against a stone wall by curious young cows, until passing hikers came to the rescue.
But it's the quieter moments, the "absolute and total contentment" that have stayed with her most.
Walking in unfamiliar places sharpened her awareness too. "I rarely listened to music or a podcast," Jen recounts, "wanting to be alert to a turning I might miss, a new view I hadn't seen before."
Changing track
Returning home, Jen found the impact of the journey lingered. "The feeling of calm and contentment in nature hasn't left me," she says.
Time spent in the parks also reinforced her commitment to protecting them. She noticed the effects of climate change and land use firsthand, from eroded coastal paths to a lack of tree cover on hot days.
At the same time, she encountered inspiring people working to improve access and restore habitats. These experiences strengthened her belief in the importance of national parks, not just as places of beauty, but as spaces that support wellbeing and biodiversity.
Since completing the walk, Jen has begun reshaping her career to spend more time outdoors, helping others experience the benefits of nature connection.
"There isn't a day that goes by when I don't take myself back," she says. And with plans already forming for a future anniversary hike, it's clear the journey is far from over.
The Alpkit Foundation match funded the £10,000 that Jen raised, supporting projects focused on accessibility and inclusivity, wellbeing and climate change across all ten national parks. Read more about how that funding was put to work.
Celebrate the wild places on your doorstep. Sunday 24 May marks the very first UK National Parks Day. Join Jen and get out there.