A STUDENT from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has proved that the art is in the journey, after walking more than 90 miles from her student house in Farnham to her childhood home in Essex in order to capture landscape shots only possible on foot.

Lucy, 21, spent five days walking to capture the collection of photographs for her BA (Hons) photography final major project. Hiking between 16 and 21 miles a day, the student stayed in four overnight locations before finally arriving back at her childhood home in Benfleet.

“I was so relieved to arrive home. I had put enormous amounts of pressure on myself to make it home with the shots that I needed and wanted to get, so arriving was a big accomplishment for me,” said Lucy.

“The pain, as someone who drives everywhere and doesn’t regularly go on long distance walks, was the biggest challenge. My body was completely unprepared for what I put it through.

“Each morning and evening I would do a number of stretches but nothing could prepare me for nine hours of almost solid walking from sunrise to sunset. My feet were blistered, shoulders bruised and legs aching.

“Throughout the last five miles of the journey, as I was crossing Essex towards Benfleet, I was practically limping because of the horrendous blisters that had formed on the soles of my feet. But I am so happy with the photographs and how the project turned out.”

Setting off from Farnham on Saturday, October 26, and walking more than 16 miles each day, Lucy arrived home on Wednesday, November 2, having hiked through the Surrey Hills, along the North Downs Way and into Sevenoaks.

“The project started because of my fascination with places that lie just off the main road and motorways that I regularly drive on, so my aim was to document the extraordinary that lies just beyond the ordinary that we see every day” she continued.

“I photographed the places that made me stop to take the time to appreciate them for their magnificent beauty, but it was difficult as I knew I had to keep on track with my walk.”