The Story
Initial Inspiration
Being one of Britain's Favorite rivers we were first drawn to getting deep down with it through a visit to the river Lugg its largest tributary in 2010.
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Captivated by its beauty we returned in 2013 to walk the river from its source on Pool Hill in the Welsh Radnor Forest to its confluence with the Wye just outside of Hereford England our home. There amazingly two Kingfishers flew over the Wye together and parted like jets. One headed up the Lugg the other continued down the Wye. This brought the Wye into sharp focus hailing an adventure to know it more intimately.
Meet The Hikers Behind Wye Explorer
Paul Jickells
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Brother & Wye Hiker
Mark Jickells
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Wye Hiker
The river nuts were (and still are) wild campers, swimmers and hikers Paul and Mark Jickells twin brothers with a reputation in the past for cosmic exploring too. After the rare Kingfisher display they walked over the next few years 10 of its rivers and explored many more of the Wye's river sources, mountains, hills and vales as well as their forever present inner landscape. Tragically, whilst in the midst of the adventure Paul died suddenly in November 2016 leaving Mark in a very barren wilderness without his life long partner and friend by his side.
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With Paul in his soul though Mark continued the mission and became in 2020 the only person in the UK to walk all of its rivers from source to confluence. Totaling nearly 700 miles tears and calling out Paul's name on remote hills and mountains amid hyper grief was par the course, but as Mark got ever deeper into the Wye it began to heal him.
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The Wye is, not only a majestic river, it's a soulful river also that gives life to many on multiple levels. Mark is testimony to its beauty and strengthening power and as he continues to explore its many hidden corners and gems he invites you to either walk with him or do the same with friends and or solo.