A hiker has completed the “UK’s rudest walk” after trekking 326 miles from his home in Cockermouth to his brother’s address in Lickey End.
James Forrest, 39, undertook 11 marathons in 11 days during his innuendo-fueled hilarious hike, summiting peaks such as Great Cockup, Little Cockup and Andrew’s Knob.
He also visited woodland labelled Nanny’s Breast, a nature reserve called Nob End, and a waterway titled Bottoms Reservoir in his pursuit of pun-filled places.
And he visited crudely named streets in Cumbria, Staffordshire and the West Midlands, such as Bell End, Cocking Yard, Ten Butts Crescent, and Number 2 Passage.
He said: “There was a certain poetry to it, with me living in Cockermouth and my brother moving to near Lickey End – and some silly banter led to a bet that I wouldn’t do it.
“I hate losing so I ended up going for it, just to prove my brother wrong. 526kms later and I reckon I might just have completed the UK’s rudest hike.”
Adventurer James, a freelance writer, said he came up with the hilarious idea after his brother moved home and then challenged him to take on the epic journey.
And he said his incredible trek, which he did to raise money for testicular cancer charity Baggy Trousers UK, was a fun-filled celebration of “British eccentricity and quirkiness".
He added: “Some people think it’s inevitably a bit childish. But I think most of those people just don’t have a sense of humour, and many saw the funny side.
“Ultimately, I like to think my journey was a celebration of the very best of British eccentricity and quirkiness.”
James, who began on October 26 and completed his journey on November 5, said he treated finding rudely named roads, peaks and points of interest like a “treasure hunt”.
His favourite finds included Willey Lane in Cockerham, Butt’s Fold in Cockermouth and Twatling Street in the Lickey Hills.
And he said he was particularly proud of himself for finding the hilariously-titled Gloryhole sculpture in Bilston, West Mids.
He said: “That was a really tricky one to find.
"It’s a sculpture dedicated to industrial heritage in the region – it’s called the ‘Gloryhole’, and there’s a sign saying ‘Gloryhole’ next to it.
“I was wandering around Bilston trying to find this sculpture. I didn’t want to say to someone, “Excuse me, do you know where the Gloryhole is?”
“When I found it, I got a photo. That one gave me the most satisfaction.”
James' hike raised money for Baggy Trousers UK, a charity tackling testicular cancer.
Lee Procter, from inov-8, the sports brand that supported James’ walk, said he had grabbed his opportunity "by the balls."
He added: “James grabbed this challenge by the balls and raised crucial awareness for something of huge importance.
“He might be the butt of a few jokes in the days to come, but we’re all super-proud of his achievement.”
To donate to James' fundraising efforts, visit www.justgiving.com/page/rudest-walk-uk
Full list of places James visited included:
- Cockermouth – town in Cumbria
- Butt’s Fold – road in Cockermouth, Cumbria
- Great Cockup – 526m hill in the Lake District
- Little Cockup – 395m hill in the Lake District
- Dale Bottom Farm – near Keswick, Lake District
- Willie Wife Moor – a hillside in the Lake District, near Helvellyn
- Little Tongue – a ridge in the Lake District, to the north of Grasmere
- Great Tongue – a ridge in the Lake District, to the north of Grasmere
- High Lickbarrow Farm – near Windermere
- Hag End Farm – to the east of Bowness-on-Windermere
- Swallow Close, Kendal – street in Kendal
- Cockrigg Lane – street to the south of Kendal
- Sexton Hagg – a woodland near Holme, south Cumbria
- Cocking Yard, Burton-in-Kendal – street in Burton-in-Kendal
- Cockersand Drive, Lancaster – street in Lancaster
- Willey Lane, Cockerham – street in Cockerham village, Lancashire
- Cockerham – village in Lancashire
- Butt Hill Lane – road in Lancashire, north of Preston
- Brock Bottom – picnic site and nature site, near Preston
- Nanny’s Breast – woodland in Lancashire
- Clitheroe – market town in Lancashire
- Game Cock Inn – pub in Austwick, Lancaster
- Cock Bridge, Great Harwood – bridge in Lancashire, NE of Blackburn
- Ramsbottom – market town near Bury
- Dick Field Clough, Ramsbottom – agricultural land
- Nut Street, Bolton – street in Bolton
- Doffcocker, Bolton – residential district of Bolton
- Doffcocker Inn, Bolton – pub in Bolton
- Turton Bottoms – hamlet in Lancashire
- Nob End, Bolton – nature reserve in Bolton
- Titterington Avenue – street in Chorlton-cum-Hardy
- Chorlton-cum-Hardy – suburb of Manchester
- Number 2 Passage, Manchester – street in Manchester
- Hardicker Street, Manchester – street in Manchester
- Bottoms Mill Road – street in Marple
- Windybottom Farm – farm near Marple
- Cock Head Farm, Disley – farm in Disley, Cheshire
- Cock Knoll – farm near Disley, Cheshire
- Dandy Cock – pub in Disley, Cheshire
- Andrew’s Knob – 360m hill in Cheshire
- The Cock In Treacle – pub in Macclesfield
- Bottoms Reservoir, Langley – reservoir in Cheshire
- Cock Hall Lane, Langley – street in Lagley, Cheshire
- Sourbutts Farm – farm near Macclesfield, Cheshire
- Old Butt Lane, Talke – street in Staffordshire
- Cock’s Entry, Burslem – alleyway in Stoke-on-Trent
- Slippery Lane, Hanley – street in Stoke-on-Trent
- Tittensor – village in Staffordshire
- Tittensore Hill – 163m hill in Staffordshire
- Tittensor Chase – public garden in Staffordshire
- The Hempbutts, Stone – street in Staffordshire village
- Ten Butts Crescent – street in Stafford
- Cock Lane, Bednall – street in Staffordshire
- Beaver Close, Wolverhampton – street in Wolverhampton
- Doctor’s Piece, Willenhall - street in West Midlands
- Angel Passage, Willenhall – alleyway in West Midlands
- Gloryhole, Bilston – sculpture in West Midlands
- Bell End, Rowley Regis – street in Sandwell, West Midlands
- Bumble Hole – nature reserve in Dudley, West Midlands
- Bell End – village in Worcestershire
- Lickey Hills – country park in Worcestershire
- Twatling Road – street in Barnt Green
- Lickey End – village in Worcestershire
