Explainer

What does it take to walk round the world and return?

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It began in Punta Arenas, Chile, with a wheeled cart and a few dollars. His rules were simple: use no transport, and do not go home until it was finished. It ended in Hull, back at his mother's door.

Chile to Hull

Punta Arenas and Hull

He had planned 12 years. It ran to 28 years, and in each pause he lived in Mexico, then resumed exactly where he had stopped.

Planned versus actual duration of the walk
  • Planned duration12 years
  • Actual duration28 years

He told AFP that visas, the financial crisis and Covid had cost him 14 of his 28 years, along with his sponsors.

14

years lost to visas, crisis and CovidSource: SWI swissinfo.ch · 02.11.2026

In Hull hundreds cheered him at City Hall, and a crowd held a Welcome Home Son banner outside his mother's house. I didn't do this alone. There was a big team. The biggest team. Earth.

“I didn't do this alone. There was a big team. The biggest team. Earth.”

Karl Bushby

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The story

Karl Bushby completes 28-year walk around the world, returning to his mother's home in HullRead the article

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