Join us for an evening with bestselling author Christian Lewis as he talks about his new book Hildasay to Home – how he found a family by walking the UK’s coastline.
Walking saved his life. Now it will help find him a family. In the follow-up to his Sunday Times bestselling Finding Hildasay, Christian Lewis takes his next steps.
Since his time on Hildasay, Chris’ adventure has only gotten wilder. No one was more surprised than Chris when, in November 2020, he had an unlikely (seemingly destined) encounter with fellow adventurer Kate. The two turned out to be kindred spirits and – even more astonishingly – Kate made the bold decision to join Chris on the walk of a lifetime. Day in, day out, as they trekked the coastline down from Scotland together, their relationship grew, and soon the couple were thrown in at the deep end when their first child – baby Magnus – arrived.
But away from Scotland, Chris’ struggles with mental health returned. The solitude of Hildasay seemed far away, and he unravelled once again. Several times Chris was attacked by groups of youths because of his unruly appearance, and as a result he became more and more anxious and withdrawn, avoiding almost any interactions with new people. Through injuries and setbacks, with Jet the dog aging and baby Magnus growing by the day, the adventurous family of four had to find their feet and come together to complete this epic challenge. They’ve navigated the east coast of Scotland, through Yorkshire and East Anglia, and struggled through to the Jurassic Coast where Chris slowly came back into himself. With the home stretch to Wales in sight and almost half a million pounds raised, Chris reflects on all that he’s learned and the family he’s found for himself along the way.
We’re delighted to welcome Christian Lewis to Oswestry to celebrate the publication of Hildasay to Home. This is sure to be an inspirational event!
On 1 August 2017, former paratrooper Christian Lewis set off from Swansea to walk the entire coastline of the UK. Christian’s search for self-discovery, and his goal to raise awareness and funds for the veterans’ charity SSAFA, would become a journey beyond his or anyone’s expectations. From raising over a quarter of a million pounds to adopting a dog called Jet to finding love with fellow adventurer Kate, he had no idea when he started this once-in-a-lifetime experience that he would be crossing the finish line some five and a half years later with a fiancée, a baby and renewed sense of purpose. His story is one of survival and hope, but it’s also proof that, with the right mindset, anything is possible. Finding Hildasay, Christian’s first book about his journey, was a Sunday Times bestseller.
Tickets: £8 without book (Admits One, ticket redeemable against a signed copy Hildasay to Home or £20 with book (Admits One, includes a signed copy of Hildasay to Home).