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Freddie and Joe.(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\nFreddie Armstrong, 25, and Joe de Ferranti, 24, walked the length of Britain to discover Kilt makers, pot makers and dry stone wallers.Freddie and Joe.(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\n
A pair of university friends embarked on a four-month challenge, walking<\/a> from Land\u2019s End to John O\u2019Groats to discover the art of traditional British crafts.<\/p>\n Edinburgh<\/a> University graduates Freddie Armstrong, 25, and Joe de Ferranti, 24, covered more than 1,000 miles on their challenge as they crisscrossed their way the countryside from Cornwall to Caithness.<\/p>\n They sought out artisans, craft and tradespeople throughout the country, raising money and awareness for the charities Heritage Crafts and the Queen Elizabeth<\/a> Scholarship Trust (QEST).<\/p>\n Meeting all kinds of people on the way, including withy pot makers in Cornwall, swill basket makers in Yorkshire, dry stone wallers in Derbyshire, and kilt makers in Scotland, they hope their journey can help shine a light on the rich and unique legacy of British crafts, and inspire young people to undertake the lifelong journey to mastering one.<\/p>\n As well as being immensely welcoming to the duo, people were happy to share the secrets of their trades as well as explain the mounting challenges that face them in the 21st century.<\/p>\n Freddie said: \u201cThe perception in the media today is that people in Britain are unwelcoming.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the hospitality and generosity we received were amazing and showed that this is a beautiful country.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should be so proud of the crafts that we still have here. There\u2019s a whole artistic and creative world that is flourishing.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe said: \u201cI feel inspired by the people we met to pursue something in life that gives me the same satisfaction and soul-giving.\u201d<\/p>\n The motivations for beginning the journey were different for the two friends from university<\/a>.<\/p>\n Freddie had long been interested in craft and had begun a picture framing and restoration apprenticeship in Florence, but he was keen to explore more of Britain\u2019s heritage.<\/p>\n He was also keen to undertake a physical challenge. Suffering from long Covid and an irregular heartbeat, he had lost confidence in his own physical capabilities.<\/p>\n \u201cLast Christmas, I was struggling to run, and didn\u2019t want to do anything physically<\/a>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that a challenge like this would help change my mindset. I knew that if I was capable of doing it, then the confidence would return.\u201d<\/p>\n Having graduated with a product design degree Joe, meanwhile, was working for an engineering<\/a> company but he was eager to work with his hands more and connect with ancient crafts.<\/p>\n The idea to walk<\/a> the length of the country was partly inspired by their favourite author Robert McFarlane and his book about walking, The Old Ways.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a craving to go on a big journey,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was doing short walks<\/a> but looking at the horizon, I wanted to continue heading for it.<\/p>\n \u201cReading The Old Ways and other books like it turned walking<\/a> for me from something mundane into something that can be beautiful.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wondered what we could learn about on the journey that is also connected to the land<\/a> we would be passing through. Crafts were the perfect answer.\u201d<\/p>\n The two set off from Land\u2019s End, Cornwall, in May this year. Considering Freddie\u2019s physical struggles, they kept a steady pace to begin with as they built up fitness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Initially, they organised meetings with craftspeople through Heritage Live and QEST, but as the journey progressed, they heard about others through word of mouth.<\/p>\n One of their favourite experiences was meeting the withy pot makers in Gorran Haven, Cornwall, where they stayed for several days.<\/p>\n \u201cWithy pots are crab pots made from willow trees,\u201d Freddie explained.<\/p>\n \u201cHistorically, people would grow the willows nearby. It was amazing to see that connection between land<\/a> and sea.\u201d<\/p>\n They were even taken out to sea by a local fisherman<\/a>. When they hauled in the lobster pots, they were amazed to discover three large octopuses, highlighting how the changing natural environment is becoming apparent throughout the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the rest of our time there, everyone referred to us as the two fellas that caught the octopuses!\u201d Freddie said.<\/p>\n As they continued their journey through Britain, Freddie grew confident in his physical abilities until they could comfortably walk 20 miles in a day.<\/p>\n However, it soon became apparent that his biggest physical challenge was, in fact, his feet.<\/p>\n Despite being a size too small, he stubbornly wore his boots for more than 600 miles until at last, in the Peak District, he relented and bought a pair that fitted.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a day when I went full Frodo Baggins and walked<\/a> barefoot because the pain was so bad,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great day\u2019s walking until the following morning when I realised the bracken had slashed the skin between my toes. That was the closest I came to giving up.\u201d<\/p>\n When Freddie\u2019s feet were not hurting him, their favourite period to walk<\/a> was the evening stretch, between 6pm and 10.30pm.<\/p>\n \u201cThey felt like free miles. The wind would drop, there was no one around, and it was cooler. We wouldn\u2019t want to stop,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n As daylight disappeared, they would pitch their tent near the path and sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d go from walking to fast asleep in five minutes. Walk<\/a>, sleep, walk,\u201d Joe recalled.<\/p>\n As they continued, they met many other craftspeople, including Bonfield Block Printers in Dorset, a leather tanner in Yorkshire and a gold and silk engraver in Scotland.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was fascinating was seeing how closely related the surrounding environment<\/a> was to all their work,\u201d Freddie said.<\/p>\n \u201cMany would show us the surrounding landscape<\/a> before talking about their craft because it is such an important part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was also inspiring to see just how difficult these crafts were to master,\u201d Joe adds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe met a wood turner in Bristol who had a job as a software engineer at a car<\/a> manufacturer, but he wasn\u2019t happy or nourished, so he chose this path.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said it would take a year to learn how to be a software engineer<\/a>; he\u2019d be in his 70s before he learned how to turn a bowl properly.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Heritage Craft, there are 285 crafts still alive in Britain, a majority of which are in danger. Some 70 are in critical danger.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of these skills need a lifetime to hone,\u201d Freddie said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see so many young people interested in taking them up, but the people who still practise them are often getting very old, meaning decades of skill will be lost when they die.\u201d<\/p>\n The friends reached John O\u2019Groats in August, at which point they reflected on their journey and the hospitality, kindness and generosity they received from everyone they met, craftspeople or not.<\/p>\n Freddie hopes to complete his apprenticeship in Florence next year and continue working with his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very hard for anyone our age to get into craft but I\u2019m hoping to make it work financially,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why Heritage Craft and QEST do such important work for anyone who wants to do this kind of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe is still unsure which path to take. Though he is keen to find a job that connects him to the land<\/a> and his hands, he is keeping his options open and exploring different avenues.<\/p>\n Having begun an Instagram<\/a> account called Slow Ways, they hope to continue building a following and bringing the work of craftspeople throughout the country to new audiences.<\/p>\n You can donate to their GoFundMe here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_PEOPLE_Craft_07010244.jpg\")
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(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_PEOPLE_Craft_07010239.jpg\")
(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_PEOPLE_Craft_07010236.jpg\")
(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_PEOPLE_Craft_07010243.jpg\")
(Image: Collect\/PA Real Life)<\/p>\n