A ROSS-on-Wye woman is heading to the Netherlands to undertake the world's largest walking event, the ‘Walk of the World’ for her seventh time.

Since January Alice Basey has been training on the back roads around the town and has now completed 500km, in readiness for the event.

Rather than her regulation 40km distance, she will be walking the extended 50km route, as this is the regulation distance of her two, younger, male walking companions.

Alice says, “It is very difficult to describe the event to those who haven’t experienced it. It’s only walking, but 200km on roads over four days is physically hard work.

“It takes 10-12 hours to complete each day, but it is so much fun. The 50km route starts at 4am and even at that time there are plenty of people to cheer you on.

“There are stretches of countryside where it is beautiful and quiet. People walk, talk and laugh.

“The towns are madness; each aiming to hold the biggest and best party for the walkers and themselves. Children line the pavements either wanting ‘high fives’ or holding boxes of free food for the walkers to take.

On the last day with many nursing blisters there is a mixed feeling about finally arriving on to the Via Gladiola, your body desperately wants to get to the end and rest, but your heart is sad that all too soon it will all be over…until next year that is.”

Alice is feeling somewhat guilty about asking for sponsorship this year, as last year she proved that she could walk the 50km route.

But there is a groundswell of support, and as the treasurer of St John the Baptist Church, The Lea, Herefordshire, she states that “I’d hate to miss an opportunity to fundraise for the church, especially when we are just starting positive projects to improve the fabric of the building.”

Each year in the third week of July, 47,000 participants from as young as 11 to over 90, from over 80 different nationalities set out to walk on four consecutive days to earn a coveted military/civic medal.

The event dates back to 1909 and is the largest summer party in the Netherlands. It was born out of a Dutch military test of endurance, that was expanded to include the militaries of other nations and growing numbers of civilians.

The walk, officially known as the 4Days Marches or Vierdaagse, starts and finishes in the city of Nijmegen and it follows a different, circular route each day, taking walkers through the landscapes of Overbetuwe, the Land van Maas en Waal, and the heavily wooded hills of Groesbeek.

The final five kilometres of the last day is known as the Via Gladiola, where the road is lined with thousands of spectators, brass bands, and well-wishers who hand gladioli flowers to the finishers.

In 2025 the oldest finisher was aged 94, completing the 30km route. Another walker completed the challenge for their 65th time.

If you would like to sponsor Alice, the church has a JustGiving.com page and just search alices-walkoftheworld.