Notts children’s author sets off on marathon charity bus trip

Notts-based Children’s Adviser and author, Nick Harding will set out on a mega bus adventure in the new year, when he will travel from the toe of the UK, at Land’s End, to the top at John O’Groats.

Nick’s epic journey in aid of charity, will be part of his study leave from his work as Children’s Adviser for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.

He has been supported by Stagecoach for the journey, who have donated a free bus pass for the expedition, which will last about 17 days and include more than 120 hours of travelling on some 100 different buses.

Nick said: “I have always wanted to do a long, complicated and carefully planned bus trip around the UK. I enjoy riding on buses, seeing life from a different angle, hearing bits of conversations, and having time as an anonymous passenger to think and reflect. This gives me the opportunity to travel through hundreds of towns and villages, see places I've never been to before, and raise money for two very good causes.”

The rough journey will include calling at the following towns en route: Mansfield - Kettering - Bognor Regis - Salisbury - Exeter - Plymouth/Land's End - Exeter - Bristol - Mansfield - Kendal - Glasgow - Inverness - John o'Groats/Thurso - Dundee - Glasgow - Whitby – Mansfield.

Nick said he will use the time to do some writing, reading and life watching, he said:

 “I'm really excited about this trip...though I'll probably have had enough of buses for a while by the time I get home!”

The two charities he will raise money for on the journey will be CLIC Sargent – charity which cares for children with cancer and their families and also PedraViva – a Mansfield-based charity which supports children in need in Brazil. Funds raised will go towards providing a mini-bus for the children.

Nick, who lives in Mansfield, is married to Clare and they have two boys - Jared and Callum.