Walking the Smugglers Way for WRD 2012

In September 2012, a group of veterinary scientists from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA),UK, will be walking the Smugglers Way in Cornwall, UK, for this year’s WorldRabies Day challenge. In the past few years, the group have climbed Mount Snowdon, sailed around the Isle of White and cycled from Paris to London, andt his year’s event will be just as challenging. 

On World Rabies Day 2012 (September 28th),the group will set out from Boscastle on the north Cornwall coast and embark onthe Smugglers Way walk, crossing Bodmin Moor, and finishing in Looe on the south Cornwall coast.  It will take 3f ull days to complete this walk, with overnight camping stops.   The Smugglers Way links two Cornish harbours that were renowned for their smuggling connections, and visits Jamaica Inn, the inspiration for Daphne du Maurier’s novel of smugglers and wreckers. 

The terrain across the moor will be challenging, both rocky and boggy, and includes the two peaks Rough Tor and Brown Willy.  The moor is also linked to legend and folklore – King Arthur is reputed to have died on the shores of Dozmary Pool.  Finally, on the 30thSeptember, the group will reach Looe, where the challenge will end and the walkers can rest their weary legs!

Submitted by Karen Mansfield of the AHVLA. If you would like to sponsor the group,please visit the fundraising webpage (http://www.justgiving.com/Walk-4-Rabies-2012).  All donations will go to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.