What is the D Tour?
The D Tour follows Harriet Thomas’s incredible 900-mile fundraising walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
It’s more than just a walk to raise some much needed funding—it’s also a podcast and a movement to support people living with dementia. The “D” stands for dementia, a detour from everyday life, the vitamin D from the outdoors, and a new way of thinking about dementia. Most importantly, it’s about community—ensuring that no one feels alone in their journey. Join us and be part of this amazing journey!
Listen to the D-Tour Podcast NOW by clicking on one of the episodes below
In this Episode – This special bonus episode of the D Tour reflects on some of the themes raised over the past three months of Harriet’s walk from Lands End to John O’Groats.
We look at the complexities of dementia, as well as how highlighting the importance of wellbeing and the support systems available.
This episode is sponsored by MedicAlert UK
Harriet is still fundraising, so if you’d like to support her, you can text DA5 to 70711 to donate five pounds or visit her page at Dtour.uk
If today’s episode has inspired you, we’d love you to connect with us at Dementia Adventure. Visitdementiaadventure.org to learn more about our work, find information on our carer support sessions and explore the supported breaks we offer.
In this Episode – Three months after setting off from Land’s End on an epic journey on foot, Harriet has made it to John O’Groats.
Her D Tour for Dementia Adventure has taken Harriet through England, parts of Wales and now the very tip of the North East of mainland Scotland.
This week she’s reflecting on that journey, the people she met, the friends she’s made and the recurring themes of the past 90 days.
In this Episode – Harriet shares her thoughts on the challenges she’s faced walking 900 (plus!) miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
She’s dealing with busy roads and a storm as well as crumbling cliff edges. And this has got her to thinking how dementia really is one of life’s ultimate challenges.
You’ll hear from dementia campaigner Nancy McAdam and her daughter Fiona about how they’ve adapted since Nancy was diagnosed over 20 years ago.
But support is out there as Harriet discovers with Wendy Simmons from Connecting Communities and Christina Collison who set up digital resource Dementia Help
In this Episode – During one of her final weeks walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Harriet delves into the challenges faced by individuals with dementia – and their caregivers – who live in rural areas, highlighting how isolation can impact mental and physical health.
Through inspiring conversations with Nancy McAdam, a resident of the Black Isle, and Dementia Adventure founders, Neil Mapes and Lucy Harding, Harriet hears about the positive impact of maintaining relationships and creating supportive networks.
As she walks through the stunning landscapes of Scotland, she reflects on her own connections to nature, family, and community, and the significant roles these play in all our lives.
In this Episode – Harriet explores the themes of independence and community as she walks the West Highland Way.
There’s lots to consider when it comes to independence and a dementia diagnosis, and it’s not just about the independence of the person living with dementia. Their families also face challenges around their independence too.
She’s joined by two Graham’s in this episode – first Graham Horner from Macs Adventure who discusses how self-guided trips empower individuals and then Graham Galloway from Meeting Centres Scotland which helps people adjust to the changes that come with a dementia diagnosis.
In this episode – Harriet explores the profound impact of mood and motivation, particularly during challenging times, drawing parallels between her journey of walking 900 miles and the emotional highs and lows faced in life and caring for those with dementia.
Harriet reflects on her personal experiences, including the anniversary of her mother’s passing, and emphasises the importance of small, meaningful moments in fostering resilience and joy. We hear from clinical psychologist Dr Lizzy Goad about setting up personalised support systems using Positive Behavioral Support (PBS), and from Michael Timmins from the charity Playlist for Life, which uses songs to connect people to their families and friends.
In this Episode: Harriet explores the changing seasons and how they reflect the transitions we experience in our lives, particularly for those living with dementia. As Harriet walks from England to Scotland, she shares her thoughts on the importance of nurturing connections with nature.
We hear from Sue Hinds from Dementia Adventure on the importance of routines and how seasonal shifts can affect both individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Sue offers insights on adapting to these changes, emphasising the need for flexibility and creativity in daily life. We also hear from Freddie Garland, from Freddie’s Flowers, who highlights the therapeutic power of flower arranging as a meaningful activity that can bring connection and joy.
In this Episode: What’s on your bucket list? What adventures do you want to experience? And are all your adventures big epic tasks like Harriet’s 900 journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Well the good news is adventures don’t have to be mega to have huge benefits for you.
In this week’s episode Harriet takes a detour from her D Tour to enjoy some well earned R&R, before heading off to experience a day with a Dementia Adventure supported holiday.
In this Episode: As Harriet heads towards Yorkshire on her 900 mile walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats she’s reflecting on World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September.
Currently, there are around 982,000 people living with a dementia diagnosis in the UK, a number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Of these, 70,800 are under the age of 65, known as Young Onset Dementia.
This week she’s exploring the importance of inclusion and how creating welcoming spaces for people living with dementia and their careers is vital.
In this Episode: Don’t stop me now: Harriet takes a bit of a detour from the D Tour this week as she pops over to Lichfield in Staffordshire to meet pop legend Tony Christie and his wife Sue. Tony is an ambassador for Music For Dementia and he shares his experience of living with dementia and how music is helping him thrive. Music and sound plays an important role in so many people’s lives and this episode explores those connections between nature, music and well being.
You’ll also hear from Sarah Metcalfe from the Utley Foundation who are sponsoring this episode and sharing all episodes on m4dradio.com
In this Episode: From the edge of Wales: Beautiful soundscapes from the edge of Wales are the backdrop to meeting people who create meaningful, personal experiences for people living with dementia. Sheila Jones hosts holidays for Dementia Adventure, Sue and Keith run a cafe and actress Sian Reeves joins Harriet for a singing session at a care home in Much Wenlock. Carl Case talks about the family experience that inspired his Caribbean Toolkit to use with the Windrush generation. Manpreet at Dementia Adventure talks about how the phsyical and emotional effects of happy moments can last for hours, even if someone with dementia cannot remember them. Marianne Sciucco, founder of Alz Authors, shares helpful tips for family carers.
In this Episode: Pendeen to Wales: A mouth-watering episode about emotions and food. Harriet starts out ‘hangry’ but is soon put right by a coffee and an apricot croissant. Sue and Dr Rajah from Dementia Adventure join the walk on Harriet’s 61st birthday and have a fascinating conversation about the cultural, physical and emotional aspects of food for people with dementia. Adventure-chef Adam Purcell shares his passion for cooking outside over naked flames, Cris Cohen explains the cultural ethos of his 2 restaurants and nutritionist Kate Taylor talks about food and nutrition for brain health.
In this Episode: Boscastle to Devon: Harriet reflects on the nature of friendship and the power of connecting in the moment. She is joined by her old friend Lucy for a few days and introduces us to some of the new friends she has made on her journey so far. Pete and Deb (from episode 1) continue their thought-provoking conversation about how dementia has shaped their friendship, Anne McKiernan of Barnstaple Memory Cafe speaks movingly about how music helped one guest connect with the group, and Anthony from Collacott Farm discusses how their retreats use horses to help people reconnect with themselves.
In this Episode: Lands End to Beeny – Harriet sets out in blazing sunshine and gets lost in rain-soaked bracken above St Ives. She makes up a song to the rhythm of her feet and meets aroma specialist Pix Ashworth in Newquay. Sue Hinds and Ruth Thompson of Dementia Adventure reflect on the connection between smells and memory, and how smells may change when you are living with dementia.
In this Episode: Meet singer songwriter Harriet as she gets ready for her journey travelling 900 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats in aid of Dementia Adventure. Can a tent really weigh only 830g? What are the first two songs on her walking playlist? And will she and Dementia Adventure CEO Fiona Pettit remember an umbrella on their rainy training walk?
Harriet Thomas, a passionate hiker at 60, is walking 900 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise £25,000 for the Dementia Adventure Support Fund.
In this short introduction Harriet Thomas talks about the D-Tour – a 900 mile walk from Lands End to John O’Groats for Dementia Adventure.
Join Harriet on her inspiring fundraising walk and listen in as she records a special podcast series along the way, sharing powerful stories of resilience and hope.
Each episode will feature a different guest, sharing their personal experiences with dementia—from carers to people living with dementia themselves. From heartwarming moments of triumph to challenging times of struggle, these stories will leave you feeling moved, inspired, and motivated to make a difference.
Tune in and join Harriet on her journey as she takes on this incredible adventure. The D Tour will be available on all of the usual channels you usually access your podcasts.
There will be a new episode every Friday.
Why is Harriet taking on this challenge?
Harriet Thomas, a passionate hiker at 60, is walking 900 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise £25,000 for the Dementia Adventure Support Fund.
This mission is deeply personal—her mum lived with dementia for nine years. Even in her mum’s final years, they shared precious moments of connection and joy in the garden, surrounded by nature. Inspired by these experiences, Harriet wants to help other families find peace, joy, and inspiration through Dementia Adventure’s supported breaks.
Every mile of Harriet’s journey represents 1,000 people in the UK living with dementia. Every step is meaningful and shows recognition of the challenges this condition can bring and the importance of the right support. Community is crucial—no one should feel alone with this condition. After all, with the right support, we believe that anything is possible. Life shouldn’t end with a dementia diagnosis.
