80-Year-Old Woman Completes Annual 600-Mile Trek with Her Pony and Dog

For most people, an 80-year-old’s autumn might involve cozying up at home. But for Jane Dotchin of Hexham, Northumberland, it means saddling up her pony and embarking on a 600-mile trek to Scotland.

Since 1972, Jane has made this annual journey to Inverness on horseback. What began as a single adventure more than five decades ago has become a cherished tradition—and a testament to her spirit of resilience and freedom.

This year, she set off on August 31 with her trusted 13-year-old horse, Diamond, and her disabled Jack Russell terrier, Dinky, perched comfortably for the ride. Together, the trio travels between 15 and 20 miles a day, carrying only the essentials: a tent, food, and a few belongings tucked into her saddlebags.

The trip typically takes around seven weeks, depending on the weather. Along the way, Jane often stops to visit friends she’s made over the years in small towns and villages, including near Fort Augustus in the Scottish Highlands.

Her lifestyle on the road is simple but sufficient—sustained by porridge, oatcakes, and cheese, and guided by a trusty old mobile phone whose battery astonishingly lasts six weeks.

To Jane, the journey is about far more than miles covered. It’s about connection—with people, with nature, and with herself. Every autumn, she proves that adventure doesn’t fade with age; if anything, it becomes richer with time.

Jane’s remarkable trek reminds us that freedom is not about speed or luxury—it’s about courage, simplicity, and the will to keep going.