A man's heartwarming charity tour of the UK coast

A man from Tiverton is touring the UK coast to raise money for Exeter-based charity Hospiscare, which cared for his much-loved sister Emma before she died of cancer.

Since embarking on the approximately 11 thousand mile tour in early July, Jim Bray has now reached the Exe estuary after travelling anti-clockwise from Tenby in South West Wales.

Journeying by car, Jim is also taking on the challenge of visiting and photographing every seaside pub on the mainland of the British Isles and its larger islands.

Above: Jim Bray

The inspiration behind this mammoth-road trip, titled Exploring Britain’s Coast and Seaside Pubs, came after the cash-strapped local charity cared for his sister, Emma Ansley, before she died of cancer aged 48.

This is the closest Jim will be to his home and to Hospiscare’s base in Exeter.

After being on the road for a total of 23 days, Jim is currently continuing his tour from Exmouth, heading east towards Dorset.

He has taken thousands of photos of iconic coastal views, landmarks, and seaside pubs, all of which can be viewed on the public Facebook page for Exploring Britain’s Coast and Seaside Pubs.

His highlights include Pembrokeshire, the impressive cliffs of North Devon and North Cornwall, Bedruthan Steps near Newquay, the large golden sandy beaches around St Ives Bay, the mines around Botallack, the Roseland Peninsula, and the coastline around Salcombe.

Above: Jim Bray

His progress has, however, been impacted by the Cornish "mizzle," a term used to describe Cornwall’s characteristic misty and drizzly weather, which often reduces visibility.

Jim said: “I’ve been progressing slower than I intended so far, mainly because I’ve been keen to see as many of the lovely coves, bays, beaches, and coastal features as possible and have been taking so many photos and videos for Facebook.

“I’m familiar with the Devon and Cornwall coastline already, having walked the entire South West Coast Path in 2016, so I know the many viewpoints and features to look out for.

“While this has benefits, it has slowed me down somewhat! At the current speed, the tour would probably take many months to finish.

“I plan to try a different approach from here on—concentrating more on miles travelled than photos taken.

“I still plan to drive on the same coastal roads, see all the main resorts and features, and visit the most interesting pubs with the best sea views.

“I’m looking forward to reaching Hampshire and from then on visiting places I’ve never seen before, apart from a few.”

Earlier this summer, Hospicare issued an urgent appeal for fair funding to safeguard its long-term future as it weighs up difficult decisions around staffing and services.

A funding shortfall and higher costs mean that the charity is facing a daunting £2.5 million deficit this year.

The charity has already recognised Jim in its latest Hospiscare Heroes feature.

After three “exciting years” as manager of Tiverton Pannier Market, Jim decided to leave the role last month to rest, recharge, and seek out a new challenge.

You can follow his daily updates and journey on Facebook and can make a donation to Hospiscare through JustGiving.