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: 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.
