A WALKER has hiked round Portland as part of her three-year journey trekking 20,000 miles around the British and Irish coastlines to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK.

Karen Penny, 55, set off on her monumental journey in January 2019 from her home in Gower, Wales, and has so far walked around Ireland and part of the coast of Britain - a trek of more than 7,500 miles.

She made her way into Dorset last week, arriving on Portland on her 500th day of walking.

She said: "Portland is so beautiful and it is amazing looking out to Weymouth Bay and seeing the cruise ships."

Mrs Penny carries a tent, sleeping bag, power chargers, food, water and a change of clothes with her while she walks. She sleeps in her tent or in any accommodation the local community can offer her - so far she has stayed in a barn, a shed, a conservatory and a garage.

She has already raised an incredible £69,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK and hopes to raise £100,000 by the time she completes the journey, which she predicts will be another 13 months.

Mrs Penny and her husband Mark have a close connection with Alzheimer's after Mark's parents were both diagnosed with the illness. Mrs Penny has previously raised more than £6,000 for the charity after she walked from John O'Groats to Land's End in 2018.

She said: "I want to do something else for their legacy and to raise as much awareness and money as possible for the charity."

After completing her journey around Ireland, Ms Penny set off from Fishguard, Wales, walking clockwise around the British coast until she reached the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland in March this year.

She decided to pause her walk and travel back to Wales when the country went into lockdown.

Mrs Penny, who spent 30 years working in the legal profession, restarted her journey on August 10, this time going anti-clockwise, and hopes to complete the rest of it without travel restrictions forcing her to go home again.

She said: "I know I won't ever give up. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and I will get there in the end."

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thepennyrollson