He has walked 400 miles, run away from stampeding cows and

got stuck knee deep in a river.

But Bristol comedian Mark Olver has finally made it to

Edinburgh, raising thousands of pounds for charity in the

process.

The self-confessed cuddly comedian has lost almost a stone in

weight, and gathered a wealth of material for his Fringe

Festival show.

Friends  thought the 33-year-old was joking when he said

he was planning to walk to Scotland for his gig but when he set

off from Bristol just over four weeks ago, they soon realised

he was deadly serious.

Mark, of  Brislington,  walked an impressive 54

miles in the last two days of his trip.  He said: “I was

trying to get there as quickly as possible by the end. I really

pushed myself and  literally crawled into my hotel in

Edinburgh.

“But the next day I was out again walking around the city.

I’ve noticed the changes in my body and mind, I’ve lost weight

but can already feel it coming back on. Spending so much time

on my own I really did experience a whole range of

emotions.

“At times it was raining, I was missing my girlfriend, Martha,

and Bristol and so I put my head down and listened to Radiohead

and got on with it. Then you’d turn the corner and see the most

beautiful view. Other days, the sun was shining and I’d walk

along singing to Dolly Parton.

“I did learn just how much I rely on my friends and family in

Bristol as well as the kindness of strangers.”

Mark, who has been compared to Samwise in  Lord of the

Rings, spent  most  nights with  people  he

met on the way. At other times he camped.

Experiences that are likely to get a mention in his Edinburgh

show include waking up in a hostel to find a false limb in a

bag at the bottom of the bed and having an egg thrown at him

from the window of a car.

As Mark  brushed shoulders with seasoned ramblers he

picked up hints and tips for making his experience easier. But

he said: “I got lost at least once a day. When I got near West

Auckland in the North East, I ended up at the River Tees.

“I could see where I was meant to end up but was the wrong

side of the river. It looked pretty shallow so rather than do a

four mile detour I decided to try to cross it. I got in as far

as my knees when the map fell out of my mouth and I realised it

was a lot deeper. I got out and walked the long way.”

So far he has raised around £5,000 for Help the Hospices,

including St Peter’s Hospice which cared for his uncle.

Mark  is appearing  at the Alma Tavern in

Clifton,  next Friday and Saturday, to preview next

month’July 25 and 26s Edinburgh show.