The Long Way Home began as a long-held ambition to walk from my childhood home in Surrey back to my home in Dorset. When Scarlet, my Dales Pony, came into my life, that idea became a long-distance, multi-day horse hike, walking alongside each other and carrying what we needed.

We left Surrey in mid-October 2024, relying on pre-arranged stop-off points for Scarlet and accepting that I would either camp, sleep in a barn, or be provided with a bed for the night. B&Bs and pub stays were not part of the plan, although at times I wished they were.

The early stages were physically and mentally demanding. Managing Scarlet’s needs, testing equipment and daily distances, and navigating blocked or flooded bridleways required constant adjustment. When travelling on foot with a horse, you are committed to each day’s walk, with no shortcuts.

As the journey continued through Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire and into Dorset, both of us settled into the rhythm of walking day after day. Confidence grew, routes became clearer, and travelling together began to feel increasingly natural.

The journey took eighteen days and covered 200 miles. It would not have been possible without the help and kindness of the people we met, or without Scarlet’s strength, intelligence and adaptability as a Dales Pony.

The Dorset Horse Hike grew out of what Scarlet and I discovered on The Long Way Home.