The title of this article could be misconstrued as a reference to the three degrees of Masonry culminating in the progress of a Mason in the west. However, it is an extremely apt description of the three degrees west (TDW) meridian which passes through all of South, Central and Northern England, South and North Wales, Lowland and Highland Scotland and the Northern Isles.
It is the challenge that Nigel Griffiths, a member of St George’s Lodge of Harmony No 32 took on. As far as Nigel believes, no-one has ever attempted to walk this meridian all the way from the English Channel (latitude 50.70o N) to the Northern Isles (latitude 59.35 o N).
As the crow flies, that would be 82/3 lines of latitude, equalling very nearly 600 miles, less the width of the Bristol Channel and Morecambe Bay. But the actual distance walked may be somewhat more than 600 miles, because the route inevitably zig-zags either side of the meridian. Nigel will be walking the coast of the Moray Firth to reach Wick and John O’Groats, even though that coast diverts substantially from the 3-degree meridian. Nigel would gladly welcome sponsors and donations to help raise money for food banks. The need for such donations is sadly vital, and anything that you are willing to donate makes a such a huge difference.
The route that Nigel will take includes a huge variety of areas; most of them rural, some but not many built-up areas, the occasional town centre, fells in the Lake District, mountains in Scotland, coastal areas and resorts such as Weston-Super-Mare and Blackpool, canal towpaths and more locally the Wirral, the Birkenhead to Liverpool ferry and Southport Marine Lake.
Nigel described a challenging first day, to say the least. Access to coast blocked by landlord, redundant railway footpath now redundant jungle, so got through bruised and bloody! Met road closed forcing detour, lane barricaded by impenetrable barbed wire by farmer, nowhere to have a snack because all were closed on Sunday, torrential rain and force 8 gale, iPhone battery ran flat and wouldn’t recharge from extra battery because too wet, map too soggy to read, so navigated after midday by memory and faith! Eventually reaching their first stop off point. Bear Grylls should try this section of the route if he wants a real challenge! Note for future walks; bring wire cutters, machete, flame thrower and dynamite to clear paths
To enable navigation of each stage, Nigel has devised a detailed route of paths, tracks, lanes, (and a few minor roads where unavoidable), that stays close to the meridian, generally deviating from it by less than a mile except where lack of paths or geographical features, (such as marshes, or the river Dee near Erbistock for example), force a wider deviation. Nigel narrates the journeys on his excellent Instagram post where you can keep up with his progress through the challenges. To listen to his post, 
Making steady progress, Nigel, described a small ritual to keep mentally positive about what is an amazing challenge, battling his way through obstructions and barbed wire successfully to follow what should be a path from the main road at Rousdon to the South Coast. There he threw one small ammonite fossil over the cliff into the sea, keeping two more in his pocket for the whole of the TDW journey (all three having been bought in Lyme Regis for £5 total), and planning to throw the second ammonite into the sea after hopefully completing the adventure in the Orkneys’ most northerly island, and then keeping the third one as a remembrance of the trip. This is the usual practice, using three sea-washed stones for coast-to-coast walkers from St Bees Head to Robin Hood Bay, and Nigel still treasures the retained stone from a previous coast-to-coast walk. Ammonites seemed appropriate for an adventure starting on the Jurassic coast, as Nigel stated, these small things keep you going when it gets tough, as no doubt 3deg.west will at some stage.
Describing the next phase of the walk, this started with the usual hazards to hikers, which experience leads one to ignore or circumvent, so only minor delays to the planned route and timing, fortunately. Today’s route progressed from the initially rather grotty surroundings to better and then finally lovely coastal views. The grotty stretch was the walk along the east bank of the River Parrett as one leaves Bridgwater, which has deep banks of shiny, oozy black mud and it is no surprise that there is a sewage works and outfall thereabouts. But as the river widens into an estuary, the colour gradually changes to an attractive one and the outlook to sea, in this beautiful sunny day became inspiring, with a seemingly vast area of nothingness and the open sea beyond. By the end of the walk, at Burnham-on-Sea, there was a wide stretch of firm sand and together with the very traditional seafront buildings, it is clear why people choose to go there for R & R.
Nigel’s plan is to do the walk in stages, with good intervals between as he is in his late 70’s, and this would be a challenge at any age, he won’t be camping! Nigel is keen wherever possible, to limit the planned distance in any one day to 12 miles, so as not to discourage participation by others in sections of the walk! He would really appreciate anyone who would like to join him on any section of the walk. Nigel explains: “I would like to encourage anyone who enjoys walking to join me for any small or large bit of the route that might appeal to them, even if it is only for single days in part of the TDW route that can easily be accessed by car from home but hopefully some may feel more adventurous and join in parts that are further away!” Nigel can be contacted on email 3degwest@adelphiloge6819.org.uk Nigel can then give you more information and dates of walks when they are progressively decided. He would really appreciate the company.
The final leg of the Southwest England stretches of 3degW took Nigel to his destination at Weston-Super-Mare, accompanied by his son Hugh who lives in Bristol. The expected quiet walk along miles of flat sand turned out to be a hive of activity. First sand yachts whizzing along at great speed despite light winds, being pulled by huge parachutes. The beach was also part of a round-trip cycle race that apparently included the Cheddar Gorge. Great free entertainment as they strode along. After a few miles reaching the base of Brean Down, a talk finger of rock that stretches out due west from our north-going route. The next stage of the journey will take place on the South Wales coast, and we look forward to hearing from Nigel as he starts the next phase.
If you would like to support Nigel on his amazing challenge, you can make donations via the Masonic Charitable Fund (MCF), by using the following link below which has been especially set up. Or you can also donate via this QR code;-
100% of the accumulated donations will go direct to those food banks in the areas that Nigel will choose as he is traversing along the three degrees west meridian. The MCF donation method being a significantly more efficient route for every donation to do exactly what it is meant for, namely, to buy food for people who badly need it. Nigel is extremely grateful to anyone who can donate, and we wish him well on his challenge and hearing further updates as he progresses along three degrees west.
